After my 20-mile historic tour, I was determined to not get lost again running the second half of the island. I followed my hubby’s advice and made a left at the Carrabba’s Grill to stay on the trail, which was supposed to be a straight loop of the bottom part of the island about 13 miles.

Unlike the cloudy and rainy day that I had during my first part of the tour, this time the sun bounced its orange globe and peaked through the clouds before 8 a.m. I knew that I had to finish before it got too hot, as the air laden with the salty smells of the ocean and marshes already felt heavy and sticky. I started my run at a low 8s pace and felt great. This time, I brought my wireless headset with me so that I could listen to podcasts and not focus on my profuse sweating and uneven breathing. Along the way, I made a few quick stops to take pictures and catch my breath. I knew that due to the humidity, my breathing felt shallow and not too synchronized with my stride.

Hilton Head’s gorgeous views

After about six miles, I made a right on Arrow Rd. that was going to take me over the Broad Creek Bridge, long and arched like a cat’s back. The views of Broad Creek where we had been on a sunset dolphin cruise the previous evening encompassed both sides of the river with long piers and homes in the distant background. I finally found a hill on this bridge, as the entire island was as flat and smooth as the boogie board we all used to ride the waves every day. After snapping a few panoramic pictures, I made a right onto Marshland Rd. and knew that I had another six miles, or so to complete my full tour of Hilton Head. Although my face, arms, and my whole body felt as salty as the marshlands I ran by, my stride and cadence were stable. My body felt strong; my joy reverberated and crashed on the shores of sanity that running so readily provides.

 

As I felt on track, I even stopped and chatted with a local woman who was walking her dog. We also both passed a legless lizard and were careful to make room for it. The woman who seemed to be in her early 20s and as warm-hearted as South Carolina’s beach sand  took this picture of me jumping with joy.

The young woman also started to talk to me as if we had been friends forever. She told me about her boyfriend who owned a large Kayak company by Broad Creek. She also asked me questions and gave me her undivided attention every time I formulated my answers. Her listening – attentive and unhurried – made me want to keep talking and take in that perfect still morning next to this polite and engaging young lady who had just become part of my Southern tour. By the end of our three-week trip in the South, (we also visited Orlando and Sevierville, Tennessee) the young lady’s wide and unaffected smile made me understand that my second running tour of Hilton Head island was an immersive journey into the Southern hospitality and way of life. My first half tour of the island was steeped in history, whereas my second half was a tour of the human nature. Running and observing. Observing and running.  Taking mental notes and even writing a poem in my head entitled:

The Southern Smile

“A greeting, warm smile

as wide and serene as the blue sky

With no shadows or fake ridges

makes the Southern smile

so beautiful and worthwhile. “

By the end of the trip, I could see that our children applied the Southern politeness and consideration and were less forgetful to say “excuse me,” “thank you,” and “please,” which was pointed out by one of the flight attendants on our way back to Sacramento.

“We love your children. They have such good manners,” she told us, as Alex and Sophia used their most polite language.

I smiled and replayed an ad in my head about Cracker Barrel restaurant that goes like this: “Cracker Barrel, a yummy Southern treat.”

I hope you enjoyed my running  tour, and wish you to create as many running tours on your trips all over the world. Also please share your short stories about your running tours here.

For more info on running and real estate, whether buying or selling, please e-mail me at carmenmicsa@yahoo.com, or call me at 916-342-2446. Running for real estate with joy!