What a wonderful way to wake up on my last morning. The new room faced east and I set my alarm to wake up with the sunrise around 7:15. Gorgeous!
I was supposed to do sunrise yoga today, but instead I read in bed and pittered in my computer 
until it was time to meet mom and dad for breakfast at 8:30.
I was craving cold cereal again, so I had another half cup baggie of GoLean crunch topped with fresh fruit and coconut and some skim milk.
They also had a raspberry cheese danish on the buffet. For the most part I am not tempted by pastries in the morning, but my Grandmother Younger always served us raspberry danish for breakfast so I had some in her honor this morning. Just a bite 😉
Plus more fresh OJ for my cold (which is still inhabiting my lungs and nose but luckily has been minor)
And coffee x 2 small mugs.
Breakfast was lonely without the whole gang today. Larbs + Matt took the 7:30 am ferry this morning to make their flights out of Raleigh.
After we ate my parents and I set out for our morning activity – a marsh walk/hike for them and a run for me starting from Middle Island, a strip of land that juts out into the preserved marsh. We hopped in the golf cart to drive the 5ish miles around the island to get there.
I left my parents there and ran the appx. 5 miles back to the Harbor Village!
My route – green dot is start; yellow dot is finish. Wish I could share more running routes this way.
It was a wonderful run – I felt like I was floating. The beauty was magnified by Pachelbel’s Canon in D, the piano version, on my iPod. Matt Allen would have loved the run – hopefully we can do it the next time we’re there.
We left the island on the 12:30 ferry, although what we didn’t know was there was no 12:30 ferry! We luckily were there 30 minutes early and had to race on to make the 12:10 ferry. So I had no time to blog breakfast.
The Original Three
We made it to Wilmington to have a farewell lunch by the Cape Fear River.
For years we have been coming to these two waterfront restaurants for lunch when we visit the Carolina beaches. Today we chose Elijah’s. As soon as we sat down my mom announced that it was “the original three” of us – before Larbs was born and husbands joined the family.
For the second meal in a row, we had fabulous bread. I had one of these mini cornbread muffins. I was pretty hungry, but not as hungry as you’d think I’d be after a medium-small breakfast and a 5 mile run 5 hours later! But these sure tasted good.
I started with an iced tea, but I took a sip of mom’s diet coke and it was good nice and fizzy that I switched!
For lunch I had a great spinach salad topped with a piece of rare grilled salmon, cranberries, carrots, tomatoes, walnuts, and blue cheese.
I only ate half of the salmon so I could take home the rest to have for dinner on a sandwich during my transit to Charlotte.
A french fry (more for artistic purposes than the eating record)
And I also had a doughy sweet roll – SO GOOD!! (More for the eating record than artistic purposes )
We enjoyed lunch in December on the porch, which was perfectly comfortable in 60* with plastic dividers.
I actually found a wireless signal at a gas station and was going to upload from somewhere in Eastern North Carolina (I’d blogged from my laptop in the car) but the signal never went through 🙁
So now I am back in Hillsborough – just loaded up the whole car – and I am about to eat the Most Glamourous KERF Dinner Ever!!
Leftover salmon plopped on Nature’s Own bread with a little mustard, mayo + dill
Three pickles –
A 7-Up and a peppermint patty!
Eating on the go at its worst/best –
I’m hitting the road for Charlotte in about 30 minutes. ETA: 10pm.
Can’t wait for an oatmeal breakfast!! (Although I might have to walk to the grocery store for milk + bananas before I can dig in 😎 )
Heather McD (heather eats almond butter) says
Way to glam up dinner with the pickles. Always a nice touch 🙂
Safe travels back home Kath!
Kay says
Looks like a lovely place to celebrate during this wonderful CHRISTmas season. Sure makes you appreciate our wonderful Creator and all the fabulous places like this that He has made for us to enjoy! Praying that God will give you traveling mercy as you make your way back home. Have a Happy New Year and don’t forget to thank God for His goodness. I just lost my dear Dad unexpectedly right before Christmas and sure would love to spend another vacation with him. You are blessed to still have yours and know you had so much fun with your parents. Can’t wait to see mine again someday in Heaven, but until then will just think on lots of sweet memories.
Oh She Glows says
Who hoo oatmeal will return! hehe
Kath you are too cute in your photos!
I love your running outfit- where is the black fleece from?
Angela
www.ohsheglows.com
VeggieGirl says
BEYOND gorgeous sunrise and other photos!! And that raspberry cheese danish is quite gorgeous as well 😉
Mel says
What a beautiful way to wake up!
Your lunch looks amazing and the scenery makes it even better!
Mara says
I love all those photos, and I’m in utter awe of your run.
Sharon says
Wow, so much fun!
zestycook says
Kath, Safe travels back to Charlotte… I will be looking for some Oatmeal in the morning 🙂
zesty
Meg says
I LOVE Canon in D! What a beautiful sunrise and an awesome run! Have a safe trip!
sharon says
Hey Kath,
What it must feel like to run that far and feel like you are floating. I’m so jealous. But that leads to my question. Do you ever get nervous when running by yourself as far as strangers go? Have you ever had any weird experiences? Do you bring any protection? I get kinda spooked sometimes walking in my neighborhood which is very populated. I hate that we live in a world where you have to think of those things! I carry pepper spray in one pocket and a phone in the other. Probably over paranoid but better safe than sorry I guess. Have a great new year!
Sarah says
Sounds like a great end to a great trip! Way to think ahead with the salmon.
Can’t wait to see what I expect to be a glorious bowl of oats in the morning!
Shelby says
Beyond Gorgeous pictures, Kath!
Marilyn says
Your run sounds lovely – I thought I was the only one who runs with classical music! Oh, and I am really close to Wilmington, so if you’re ever there again, let me know. 🙂
Kelly Turner says
haha, thats how all my dinners look- complete with the paper plate
Kelly Turner
www.everygymsnightmare.com
Amanda says
I hear what you are saying, Sharon. I have always been overly trusting of people and just recently considered the fact that my early morning runs in the dark may not be the absolute safest. (Thanks to a post from Meghann a few months ago). I got a really cool xmas gift … a gift card to roadID.com … you make your own bracelet/anklet/shoe tag with your info and personal contacts in case you are hurt (aka hit by a car, heart attack, etc) .. doesn’t really prevent against stranger attacks, but it rules out one running issue.
Definitely better safe than sorry 🙂
Biz319 says
What a way to top off your vacation! Um, cheese danishes, any flavor, are devine!
K says
Welcome back!! Thanks for sharing your fantastic vaca with all of us 🙂 I’ve enjoyed living vicariously through you!!
Ruth Mauntz says
hey kath! so glad you are having a great time! I was wondering if you ever used mapmyrun.com, it’s a very useful way to map out your run ANYWHERE and a figure out mileage. I love it! 😀
ashley (sweet & natural) says
Glad you had such a wonderful vacation! Welcome home. 🙂
SYL says
I was going to mention mapmyrun.com but it looks like someone beat me to it! It’s a great website and highly recommended.
Welcome back home!
Rose says
Looks like you are really enjoying your vacation! I am totally jealous.
whateverrrr says
I think this is slightly neurotic. Why must you record EVERY little bite you eat? I mean, really, the one fry could have been omitted. You really feed eating disorder behavior and those who constantly worry about calories. I think you can show healthy eating without mentioning every. little. bite.
Camille says
Hey Kath,
How did you start to like exercising? Do you do it mainly for the health benefits…or do you actually enjoy it?
I tried running today and run/walked around 4 miles (i got lost!) and it was HARD!!! How do you run 5 miles and stay active all throughout the day?!? I’m a little worried because I feel like I do not get enough exercise… I live a pretty sedentary lifestyle (desk job!) and I exercise about once a week when I go on a 30 minute walk/run…and I stretch daily and sometimes jumprope a little (10 minutes?)…is this enough?
However, I eat around the same amount as you…Should I exercise more? I’m also around the same height.
M says
Whatev, I think if K didn’t show the tiny bites and everything, people would be all in an uproar, asking, “Don’t you ever just sneak a bite of something?!” Past posts indicate that no matter how she logs, she can’t please everyone. And there are certainly times that she posts a recap of something and mentions she had this or that, without a picture — like at a buffet or something.
That said, I was just thinking last night, it must be impossible to explain to people that you have a food blog. It’s one thing if you’re paid for it (I think K earns a good amount through the ads), but if it’s a literal “every bite I put in my mouth” blog, people who aren’t familiar with the blog world must thing it’s insane.
Buzz says
Plus Kath wrote, “This is for artistic purposes.” She is a photographer. Note the fun in that photo. The single fry against the other elements of the lunch table.
Kate says
Can anyone point me to a good article/database re: Superfoods
Jen says
Pretty sunrise!!
Bridget says
Haha is it bad that I got really excited when I remembered that Wilmington is where Dawson’s Creek was filmed 🙂 I used to be OBSESSED with that show!! Your vacation looks amazing and relaxing…it reminds me of New England kind of…although its much colder here! I’d love to visit that island someday!
Caitlin says
It looks so relaxing and calm there-I love it!
Safe travels!
Kath says
Kay ,
I am so sorry to hear about your father. Hope you were able to enjoy a Christmas of his memories.
Oh She Glows,
My fleece is Land’s End – inexpensive and super comfy!
sharon ,
I am careful to run in populated places. My neighborhood usually has cars and people out and about and I usually do not run in the dark. I probably wouldn’t run anywhere by myself where there weren’t other runners, or I’d take a partner with me. So I guess I use ‘safety in numbers’ as my reasoning.
Marilyn ,
I’ll def. be back to Wilmington. Email me if you see me mention it!
Camille ,
There’s no set “enough” amount of exercise. The AHA recommends 60-90 minutes of activity per day for those trying to lose or maintain weight loss. But activity can be cleaning, walking, or a hard workout for part or all of the time. It depends on your own personal lifestyle and goals. I have always liked exercise and the way it makes me feel, but it’s not always easy (trust me, I have runs where I am dragging in mud – not floating!). I think you have to find what types of exercise appeal to you. CardioFunk classes, yoga, running outdoors, spinning, walking with a book. Once you start to enjoy it it does get easier.
Bridget ,
I used to love Dawson’s Creek too 🙂 And I always felt cool knowing it was filmed nearby.
Kate ,
Here’s the book’s site with lots of info:
http://www.superfoodsrx.com/
Kath
runjess says
I’m not tempted by pastries in the morning either, a trait for which i am eternally grateful.