Sunscreen bottles highlighting harmful chemicals and promoting mineral-based options from Greg's Truckload.
July 23, 2024

The Dark Side of Sunscreen and Things to Consider

When it comes to outdoor activities, protecting yourself from the sun is not just a matter of comfort; it’s a health necessity. Many of us reach for popular sunscreens like Coppertone, but what if I told you these products could do more harm than good?

While preparing for a recent trip where I planned snorkeling, I was advised to use only reef-safe sunscreen. And as much as I hate to admit it, I had never heard of it, so I investigated it and went down a rabbit hole of information about all cancer-causing hormone-disrupting and all sorts of the bad stuff they put in these products to stay safe. Coincidentally, I went to the bathroom where we had a dozen or more bottles, cans, and tubes of this stuff, and sure enough, each of them had all the ingredients I was learning to avoid from just about every brand on the shelf. What’s worse is that these ingredients, such as oxybenzone, were present at levels that would prohibit its sale in other countries. These chemicals are very good at absorbing into the skin, breaking the barrier, and entering the bloodstream. I’ll pass. Fortunately, there are ways to avoid these products and stay safe from the damaging sun. Please be sure to look for reef-safe or mineral-based sunscreens. Not only are they safe for aquatic life, but they are also safe and effective for people. I wear a wide hat and rash guard shirt, which has been very effective even when I work outside all day (trust me, I’m a professional). I hope this helps or inspires you to do your own research. It’s important to take responsibility for your health and safety by staying informed.

Oh, and one more thing to consider when someone says they love getting out in the sun for some free vitamin D is the effect sunscreen has on our ability to produce vitamin D from the sun’s UV rays. Applying sunscreen can halt the production of vitamin D and hinder the benefits of sun exposure. This topic deserves further exploration, but that’s a subject for another day. See ya outside!

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Travel, Uncategorized
Three Unique Lake Trips You Can Do in a Long Weekend, by Greg Yopp Every summer, I plan at least one trip to the lake. Here are three unique lake trips, each with its flare. It is hard to choose. These trips are for leaving the camping gear at home and enjoying a bed, private bath, and air conditioning. I will tell you what I like about Dale Hollow, Lake Barkley, and Norris Lake, all from firsthand experiences. I will also tell you what you can do in a long weekend and why I want to stay longer. Let’s start with Dale Hollow Lake. Book your stay at Dale Hollow Lake State Resort Park. You can choose between cottages or hotel rooms at Lure Lodge. You can request adjoining rooms as well. The cottages offer a more intimate setting and also a kitchen. Every room at Lure Lodge has a balcony and overlooks the lake and islands from high up on a ridge. You might want more than one cup of coffee in the morning to watch the sunrise and enjoy the sounds of birds singing while the rest of the family starts to wake up. Before heading out for the day, visit the Island View restaurant within the lodge building for a bite to eat and more stunning lake views. Afterward, pack the coolers and snacks, head down the hill to Dale Hollow Marina, and get that pontoon for the day.Remember to reserve in advance. You can get a standard or double-decker with a slide. It’s likely warming up nicely by now, and you’ll want to find a nice sheltered cove for a dip. One of my absolute favorite attributes of Dale Hollow is the water clarity. Don’t leave your snorkel gear at home for this trip. Maps are available with locations of all the dive sites, including a schoolhouse and many remnants of the days before the dam was built. Also, you can look at all of the fish swimming below. While out on the lake, I like to visit the many marinas.One year, we made it a point to get an ice cream or popsicle from every marina on the lake, which was a fun adventure; however, we spent a lot on gas that weekend. Many marinas also have restaurants if you want someone else to make lunch. Ask the attendants where to find some cliff jumping. Fun stuff, even if you don’t jump. One time, while watching jumpers, a small helicopter came in and hovered just a couple feet off the water so close we could feel the wind from the rotors. That was something to see. As the day winds down, I enjoy taking it nice and slow back to the marina, watching the shoreline closely for wildlife. If you’re lucky, you might see a deer, bear, and bobcat. One of the islands is inhabited by goats. If I had more time here at Dale Hollow, I would spend more time fishing. I would explore the nearby towns. I would bust out the paddle boards. I would take a hike. I would explore Cindy Cave. I would play a round of frisbee golf. You will not get bored at Dale Hollow Lake; check it out.Now, let’s talk about Norris Lake, east of Knoxville, Tennessee; this lake encompasses two central bodies of water. The Powell River feeds the northern section, and the Clinch River feeds the southern section of the lake. I will focus on the Powel River today as I have not visited Clinch. I’ll never forget the 1st time I visited Norris Lake after driving through the mountains on I75; once you exit the expressway, the entire drive eastward is stunning and at the base of Cumberland mountains. No matter where you stay on the lake, the area of land between Clinch and Powell is called the Chuck Swan Nature Preserve and has no development, so your views are natural and untouched land without human development. Norris Lake has three state parks, multiple resorts, hotels, cabins, cottages, and campgrounds. Hence, the possibilities are many, but I’m gonna tell you about my experiences here, which were nothing short of fantastic.The first thing that separates Norris from most lakes I have visited is that property owners can own land right to the water’s edge and have private docks, which is not allowed on popular Dale Hollow and opens up a gazillion opportunities. 2nd thing to note is that lodging doesn’t stop at the shoreline; you can rent a floating house. These are not parked on the docks like you may have seen on some Kentucky lakes. These homes are out in the bay and require a boat to access, but that is half the fun. Equipped with full kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms, and living room, but floating on the water. Multiple marinas have this option, but we utilized flat hollow due to having a friend with a home there but also because it’s the best part of the lake from what I’ve seen. We stayed in the outermost section of dwellings with an unobstructed view of the preserve, and since it was the 4th of July, we also watched the fireworks show.What a time! The fireworks were almost overhead as I grilled chicken wings on the deck. The deck also had a ladder leading to a slide for splashing into the water. It also came with a peddle boat the kids used to return to the marina for ice cream and popsicles. The deck had a gated-off section in front of the entry for the safety of younger kids. The deck railing had rod holders and plenty of seating, with a picnic table next to the grill and a dining table under the porch. With all this, you don’t need to leave the house, but we can’t sit still, so we packed the cooler and loaded the boat.With 23 marinas on the lake, there is no shortage of ice cream. Our favorite stops were the tiki hut for lunch and a cold beverage. On a separate trip to Norris, we rented a land-based home, which was nice when sharing with friends. It offered more space inside and outside. Huge living room with walls of windows looking out at the lake, a big wraparound deck. A hot tub and seating area with a firepit were off to the side. Down the hill is your private dock, which was super cool as it had two slips for your and your friend’s boat and was covered. It was not just covered; it had a second level. It was a massive deck up top with seating, a slide, and a gate in railing for jumping. Spend the evenings watching kids swim and mornings with a line in water and coffee in hand. This is just a 1-minute boat ride from a flat hollow marina, Where they have a restaurant, bar, and live music. There is never enough time for us to visit Norris Lake. I have yet to see the swim-in cave or the jumping bridge. I’ve never seen the dam or any of the clinch river side of the lake. I also want to explore the Chuck Swan Nature Preserve in the center. The map shows several caves located there. It’s time to plan a trip.Lastly, I will discuss Lake Barkley State Resort Park in western Kentucky. Like Dale Hollow, they have cottages and a lodge. The lodge rooms have balconies with gorgeous views of the lake and marina. There is also a fitness center with an indoor pool if you encounter a rainy day while visiting. The lodge’s post and beam construction is tucked into the hillside and contains three and a half acres of glass, so views abound. Windows on the Water restaurant offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and hosts many special events, from wild game night to seafood dinners. The park offers golf, pickleball, hiking, and clay shooting. The outdoor pool overlooks the lake. Down the hill is the marina, where you can rent a boat and explore the lake. It is a massive lake at almost 60 thousand acres, but not as big as its neighbor, Kentucky Lake, at over 160 thousand acres. A canal on the north side connects these lakes. The dammed-up Cumberland River forms Lake Barkley, and the Tennesse River forms Kentucky Lake. Adjacent to the Kentucky Lake Dam is a lock system that lets traffic go from the lake to the Ohio River and vice versa. This is a busy shipping route for barges and is also utilized by the great loopers making their way south who would prefer to enter the gulf by way of Mobile Bay as opposed to the hard-to-navigate mouth of Mississippi. The land between the lakes lies in the middle between Barkley and Kentucky lakes. It is federal land and has been designated a national recreation area. There is an offroad park, an elk and bison refuge, and a planetarium—campgrounds plus dispersed camping and miles and miles of trails. If you like visiting small towns, you can do so by car or boat. Don’t go home without trying some local BBQ. Next time I see this area I’d like to take sailing lessons as this activity is very popular here. Also, there are lakes within land between the lakes that are smaller and separate from the heavy boat traffic and look like a great place to bring the canoes. Sara wants to make the trip in our boat by going down Ohio and up the Tennesse through locks. It might take a while, but it sounds fun if we can find time.I hope this inspires and helps you plan a memorable trip to one of these super fun Waterworld destinations in America’s heartland. Be on the lookout for an article about lakeside camping and why that might be an option you would enjoy.
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Travel, Uncategorized
The Early Bird Catches the World; Why I’m Happy We Brought the Kids Along – Greg Yopp
August 4, 2024