I didn’t drink or stay up too late on NYE so I woke up on January 1st well rested and ready for some fun. Unfortunately the other people in the house, aka the party animals, were not up at the butt crack of dawn with me. When Matt woke up around 8:30am he said he needed to go watch Ted. Not what I was expecting to hear first thing in the morning.
Sometime after I went to bed and before dawn, Ted was ordered on Demand for everyone’s viewing pleasure… but they all fell asleep mid movie. So I made toast with a Laughing Cow wedge, apple, peanut butter and milk and joined Matt on the couch for the earliest movie matinee ever. Let’s hope this movie was not a sign of things to come in the new year because it was awful. But I should have known better because it is a movie about a dirty talking stuffed bear.
Our houseguest finally came to life around 10:30a and we decided to go on a hike at Torreya State Park. Last year Matt and I went hiking and camping at Torreya on New Year’s and I have to say I like the idea of making this a tradition.
This picture is from last year’s overnight trip. It was about 40 degrees colder last year!
There are a few loops of about 7 miles, and some smaller paths, as well as a challenge path that we have yet to try out. Torreya is about a 45 minute drive from Tallahassee so by the time we got out of the house and grabbed some lunch, we did not get there until around 1:30p. We decided to stick with one of the 7 mile loops to guarantee we are done by dark.
Only in Florida can you still find orange and yellow leaves on January 1st…
Torreya is one of the rare places in Florida where you can find some serious incline. It is one of the highest points in Florida, which is not saying much, but we will take what we can get!
It is located along the ApalachicolaRiver which marks the divide between Eastern and Central time. This confuses the hell out of electronics and it’s almost impossible to ever know what time it really is.
The weather was perfect for a hike, too. It was 60 and partly sunny.
There are tons of native animals to Torreya but the most exciting wildlife we saw was an osprey swoop down, grab a snake, and then fly away. From then on I was not only concerned with stepping on a snake, but with a snake falling on my head. Luckily, the other birds we saw were sans snakes.
The Gregory House was used during the Civil War to house Confederate soldiers. Throughout the trail there are markers showing were troops set up cannons and look out spots.
If we had more time, I think we would have hiked all day. Matt and I are already planning our next visit to conquer the challenge trail.
Like Matt’s crafted jean capri pants? Apparently he was a little warm…
We finished the 7.2 mile loop in about two hours. This morning my glutes were burning. I think I will make hiking a weekend tradition, loved every minute of our 2013 hike 
What did you do to ring in 2013?
Any New Year’s traditions?
We eat black eyed peas every New Year’s Day for good luck. Last year I even carried a can with me on our hike and heated them up on the fire.
Jade
/ January 2, 2013You and Matt look super cute in the camping picture! I also just live camping so I’m sure that adds to it…hiking/camping sounds like a great tradition!
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 3, 2013Thanks! He was a trooper for putting up with me whining about the possibility of a coyote attack over night lol
melissaontherun
/ January 3, 2013Such a cute post! *I NEED a new years tradition*
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 3, 2013Hiking is a great one! Perfect for sweating out the champagne from the night before
TorontoRunner
/ January 3, 2013LOL did he really watch Ted at 8:30am??? haha not exactly the kind of movie to watch that early. (I gotta say, Mark Walhberg is kinda cute so I enjoyed it..)
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 3, 2013Yea I might have liked it after 8pm….and a few cocktails
pickyrunner
/ January 3, 2013I think hiking is SUCH a great tradition! I went for the first time on Thanksgiving and I’m determined to make it a new tradition in my house too! It’s so fun… I never thought I’d say that
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 3, 2013I never thought I’d like it either but it’s a great way to workout without feeling like you’re doing it!
Chelsea @ LittleOneRuns
/ January 3, 2013i actually don’t have any traditions, but me and the bf got to spend our new year’s eve together for the first time, we just watched once upon a time
hiking is a great idea!! seems like a lot of fun, love his hand-crafted capris lol
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 3, 2013Matt has a lot of great qualities…fashion is not one of them haha
Whine Less
/ January 3, 2013Sounds like a great tradition! Hiking is always a win.
Totally digging the hand-crafted, jean capris!
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 4, 2013He’s such a fashionista! Haha
Natalie @ Free Range Human
/ January 3, 2013I love the New Year’s hike! John and I thought about going, but we couldn’t make ourselves get in the car to drive ANYWHERE!
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 4, 2013I am so glad we did it! It made the lounging around watching football later much more enjoyable too.
Fitcupcaker
/ January 3, 2013Ted was sooo funny! We loved that movie. We didn’t do anything crazy, I was actually pretty lazy on the first day of the new year!
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 4, 2013Some times a little relaxation is the perfect way to start the new year!
Meghan@CleanEatsFastFeets
/ January 3, 2013I’m so envious of the sun and warmth in our pictures. It’s cold here in Cleveland. Your hike sounds like a great time. What a fabulous way to start the new year.
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 4, 2013I whine about Florida a lot but I’m always thankful this time of year. Summers are another thing entirely though….
Lauren @ Powered by Oatmeal
/ January 4, 2013I always wonder whether anyone outside of Massachusetts finds Ted at all funny. 100% of that movie is an inside joke with everyone who has ever lived in/around Boston, and even then it’s suuuper crass and tough to enjoy unless you’re in the right mood
Runner Girl Eats
/ January 4, 2013I thought I would like it a little more since I am a fan of Family Guy but don’t think I was in the mood for a dirty bear movie at 8am lol