We made it all the way ashore and back today. It’s quite the trip to make with the ferry and all. I thought Wilmington was just a skip and a jump from Southport, but the drive ended up being close to an hour! It was OK, though because we got to visit with Holly and Great Harvest 
I had restless legs this morning. Despite the fact that my lower legs were sore from our speedy 7 miler yesterday, I had the craving to run just to get the blood flowing and stiffness out. Matt and I set out on a post-breakfast easy run. We ended up doing 4 really slow miles and chatting the whole way. And sure enough my legs felt better when we returned.
We pittered around, helped Karen + Andrew pack and made the 12:30 ferry quite hungry already. Luckily Karen had packed a few almonds for Andrew’s lunch and we stole a few. Mothers are always prepared!
So long Andrew + Karen!
An hour drive through the middle of nowhere and then a stop-light filled city, we arrived ready for a stiff drink:
Blog reader Holly met us for lunch at Lovey’s Co-Op, a super healthy tofu-kinda restaurant that couldn’t have been a better choice for my break from the island given it’s huge salad bar! Holly was awesome and we talked our way through lunch in-between tofu bites
I got a big salad with all the fixins – kale salad, tofu x2, sweet potato, olives, noodles, grapeleaf, veggies, sprouts, garbanzos, blue cheese, curried quinoa, and more. It was awesome!!
Plus a kombocha I actually prefer the green ones!!
And for dessert – a coconuty date, which was just like a big date rolled in coconut.
The snacking continued as I sampled the freshly ground PB + AB in the store and we bought some of the almond butter for breakfasts 
And then we made our way to our one tourist stop: Great Harvest!
Despite being full from lunch, we tried two new breads from the bread board. It’s fun to discuss differences in breads, recipes and systems between stores. The owner was kind enough to show us around the store.
Loved the tin counter design!
We bought a loaf of whole wheat pumpernickel since Matt’s store doesn’t sell it. Can’t wait to give it a try!
We made it back to the 5PM ferry just in time thanks to a short cut navigated on the iPhone. Whew! When we returned to the Marsh Harbor Inn, we were greeted by a gathering of guests enjoying cocktail hour. After our long visit to the mainland, I kind of felt like we were home again! We chatted with the guests and told about our plans for a bakery and thus my food blog came up and I have a few new readers coming to check out tonight’s post!
We even gave them a homebrew tasting!
After chatting for a while we had to head back out on our bikes to pick up a few veggies for tonight’s dinner. It was SCARY out there. There are no street lights or stop lights (because there are only golf carts on the island) and our only bike lights were on the back of our seats so we only had the moonlight to guide us. I was scared we’d come across Foxy the Island Fox!!
A ways down the road we did make it to the Maritime Market
Note my nice velcroed-up leg so my pants don’t get stuck in the gears like the last time I rode Matt’s bike!
Upon our return it was time to head back to the ferry to pick up our guests: Justin + Amanda!
We set out a little welcome table to greet them
I had a piece of cheese and cracker for a snack
They brought a whole SUITCASE of entertainment!! Wii included!!
We are so klassy drinking from our wine cubes these days
I had a taste of red in a BHI champagne glass, but I quickly missed the aromatics and switched to a bigger glass
We cooked a late, practical dinner: Simple Spaghetti with Veggies
Whole wheat thin spaghetti with a semi-homemade mushroom + pepper spiked Ragu. Plus tomatoes and leftover pepperoni. And parm chez.
Matt and I shared one of his rolls with dinner
I had a bit more wine with dinner
Cheers!
Leftover lemon cake came out for dessert. Luckily Amanda loves lemon!!
I had a piece….or two (I ate the glaze off of a smaller sliver )
Very tired – I hope i can stay up until midnight tomorrow!! A nap might be required!
{ 52 comments… read them below or add one }
quite an eventful day! Sleep tight and catch up on those ZZZs so you can celebrate tomorrow night!
I’m about to head for some sleep so we can celebrate tomorrow
I can’t wait!
I’m trying to decide how late to sleep in tomorrow (8?) to make it to midnight without being exhausted. Getting to be old!
The fact that I am an 80 year old woman trapped in the body of a 24 year old definitely has me nervous about making it to midnight! I’m thinking a nap and a latte will definitely be in order!
Looks like a great day! Have a great New Year’s Eve, KERF-style
Another totally fun day Kath! That lunch looks so delicious, and what a great, simple dinner.
What a full day! and a fun one at that!! Everything in your salad sounded awweesome, and that lemon cake sounds so good!
Your whole day looks like so much fun! I love, LOVE busy days that hop from one exciting thing to another. Lunch, dinner AND that lemon cake look divine.
I’m with ya on staying up until midnight tomorrow
It’s going to be a challenge for sure! lol
Jenn
You know what’s sad? I check your blog so often that when you didn’t make a lunch post, I started to get WORRIED about you. Geez. Excuse me while I go find a life.
Awww thanks for being worried
I LOVE coconut rolled dates! I wish we had salad bars like that around here
My mom loves coconut dates. I haven’t found a likin’ for ‘em yet : )
I need a great harvest near me, the bread always looks amazing!
that’s some mighty-fine lookin’ spaghetti! glad you were able to run 4 slow miles today…sometimes that’s really all you can do to get the legs feeling better after a hard day!
I have never had coconut rolled dates but these days, I am on a major coconut kick so I bet I would love them.
Looks like you had a really fun day and that you guys are enjoying your vacation!
What a gorgeous looking evening! So cosy and fun
Good luck to those of you trying to make it to midnight tonight. I’m not even going to try to stay up–I’m running my first 5K in the morning and I want to make sure I’m rested.
I hope you aren’t getting the icky drizzly weather that we’ve got in Raleigh over on the coast!
I love the entertainment bag-that’s so smart!!
Mmmm…lemon cake is my fave!
HEY!!! That’s my Great Harvest Bread Company! Well not actually mine but that’s where I get my bread! Haha… It’s like a celebrity went to the same store as me
Haha! Fun!
Aw I love the cocktail hour guest picture! Hahaha it’s so cute!
I love homemade bread. While I lived in Germany earlier this year for 3 months I use to eat this one roll that had pumpkin seeds in it. Wow it was the best ever!
Wow, what a busy day! So good you got your workout in!
What fun to meet some new readers!! Yay!
Small WORLD!! I have known Holly (aka Holly-Claire) for about….6 years! I lived in Wilmington for 7 years and worked with her at the food co-op (which was beside the Great Harvest you visited). She is sweet sweet sweet. LOVE that girl! What a fun trip!
I love it when that happens
Ah, life goes on without us at the inn. Glad you’re having fun.
Happy New Year everyone!
It’s weird here without you!
Happy New Year Kath!! Hope you guys enjoy yourselves and you manage to make it w/o a nap :O)
I spy Super Mario Galaxy! Love that game
Wow what a day! I could imagine why you’re tired. Great job on the run again today. You’re such an inspiration.
While dinner was simple, it looks fabulous!
I’m no wine aficionado, but I always think wine from a box tastes great!
Yay! Thanks for a fun lunch yesterday! I REALLY enjoyed meeting you and Matt! Have fun with the Wii and happy New Year
Love you sweetie!!!!
PS- Hey Marlow! Thanks for the comment shout out, I found this blog by way of yours when you referenced kale chips about a year or so ago
See you again sometime soon!
aw, i did my undergrad in wilmington so reading this really made me smile! did you make it to tidal creek? it’s right next to great harvest and is another co-op – make sure you check it out next time!
We wanted to but ran out of time. Next visit!
Happy New Year’s Eve to you. I’m definitely going to have to take a nap to make it to midnight.
What a great day! I bet you guys are a hit with the guests at your inn–how cool to be able to share the news of your bakery, blog and home brewing with them
I hope I can make it til midnight as well! It will definitely take some sort of motivation.
GAH! You have to have Matt use his Great Harvest powers to make them open one in Hoboken, NJ!! I am so jealous every time!
Lots of pictures, love it! Your meet up sounded like a blast!
Yay for fun bloggy meetups! I love meeting other bloggers. And I really like those wine cubes from Target, good stuff!
*Check out my Boomi Bar giveaway @ MonicaOnTheGo.com*
A Great Harvest really needs to come to the North East!
I’ve seen those wine cubes all over and really need to try them! Love how ya doctor up the ragu with more veggies
We have a Great Harvest here, but I have never been to it. I will have to make a trip there soon. It stinks now because my husband (who loves fresh bread) has celiac, so I don’t go to bakeries like that any more. I sounds like you had quite the day! Good luck staying up tonight!
Happy New Year’s Eve, your vacation looks like so much fun! But seriously, isn’t there someone single out in blogland that you can hook Andrew up with? He looks too cute to be in all those pics by himself! LOL.
Haha. He has a girlfriend!! She was in Saudi Arabia for Christmas so she couldn’t join us.
Gotcha! Just looking out for the brother in-law! Happy New Year!!
Great lunch and dinner!!
I’m an old lady. I’m gonna have to nap, too!
conversation or shoes, sandals, Christian Louboutin, you
may encounter. The first thing is to make clear what the style of clothes and show what part
Hi!!! I’m I finally found your blog. I was the one of the people that waited on you when you came to Great Harvest
!!! I’m so glad that you have a great time down here and I hope that you come to see us again. I have heard of your blog from so many people and I’m glad that got to see it again.