Penn Mar Hike

For Easter Sunday we headed out on a hike with the wanderbirds, my moms hiking group. We hiked at Penn Mar, which as the name suggests is on the Pennsylvania Maryland border.  I didn't technically step into PA, so I would only get in 4 states + DC in my 6 days off :)

While only about 6-7 hours drive from NC, spring was no where near penn mar. Amazing difference compared to Pinehurst. 

We planned to lunch at high point rock, but the massive wind gusts and cool temps meant we just took some pictures and kept walking! 

Jesse and Moms new favorite pose. 

Great views despite the wind. 

I was pretty sure I might take off during this picture. This is where th hang gliders take off...

Unfortunately the Rock has become a Mecca for graffiti. 

I think this is looking over Pennsylvania? Of note this is the actual mason Dixon line. Many people (particularly those in Maryland) think the line is between virginia and Maryland. 

We ended at the park. We had been on the AT  for the hike. Very well marked. Didn't see any thru hikers though, too early in the season I suppose. 

Plenty of time for post hike brews. Also a little chilly but at least we had sun. 

It was almost moms birthday so she had much celebration and cake!

Plus two other birthdays, so I had more sugar that I'd had in the past month! A great hike and great way to spend a Sunday!

Opening Day

We had a gorgeous day for baseball opening day on April 6. We got there early in case there was a line for the brewery event we were heading to. There was no line so we wandered along the waterfront, which is actually quite nice! 

This area used to be pretty rough, but since the nats came, it has been completely revitalized. 

We found some nice chairs to lounge on while waiting for the brewery festivities to begin. 

Gorgeous day. It was also the day before moms birthday, so we had plenty to celebrate. 

Leftover NZ sunscreen! 

The game started at 4pm in gorgeous sun. 

Unfortunately he Nats didn't win, but we still had a great time. 

And a great sunset on the metro ride home!

River Walk

I headed back down to Conway SC to visit grandma on April 10. On the way back I checked out the Conway Riverwalk. 

It was a nice area however it was all I could do to get a 5k run out of it. The entire riverfront is less than a mile. 

So I ran over the bridge and back as well...

And around town enough to make 5k. Good run, if short!

NC Trails

The nice thing about having every other day off is I can explore a lot of new running spots. I first chose raven rock state park. 

There was a good 5.9mile trail around to the Lanier falls. 

And then to the raven rock which wasn't terribly impressive. But it allowed me to get to my goal of 8 miles!

Cape fear river above. 

And my full route. 

Of course there's a leas the golf course trails around my house. Including a train going by below. 

On Monday I took a roadtrip to Charlotte. I visited one of my favorite places, US national whitewater center. Trails weren't open but had a nice walk and nice lunch :) 

My next adventure was to mcalpine greenway. Enjoyed the turtles :)

When I got back to Pinehurst I figured out that rassie wicker park is very close to work 

So a nice spot to take a break on call. On my second to last call I met Shoffeitt for a drink. Well deserved brew!

And he told me about reservoir park.  Great trails and scenery. 

Cheers to NC!