Mike Parker: Neuse II serves up ‘Breakfast on the Boat’ on Oct. 15 to kick off busy Saturday
Saturday, October 15, is going to be a day packed with events. Last Monday, I shared information about the “Autumn’s in the Air” fall festival scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and run until 5 p.m. This event is a fundraiser for the CSS Neuse Gunboat Association.
Years ago, when Mother Earth Brewing established the Ironclad Races Half-Marathon, representatives of Mother Earth Brewing and the CSS Neuse Foundation decided to collaborate to make the day special. The Neuse Foundation would host “Breakfast on the Boat” while runners were beginning the 13.1-mile half-marathon run.
That first year was 2015, and 132 runners undertook the arduous race. The Mother Earth Half-Marathon has been called, “The most welcoming Half Marathon in Eastern North Carolina!”
In 2016, Ironclad Races added a 5K run to the event. Since that year, half-marathon runners took off at 7:30 a.m. with 5K runners beginning the 3.1-mile course at 7:45 a.m. All told since its inception, runners in these Ironclad Races have amassed 16,974.7 total miles.
USA Track and Field (NC15015BW) has certified the Half-Marathon. The course is a single loop starting outside historic Grainger Baseball Stadium, home of the Down East Wood Ducks with a cannon blast. The course will take runners on a flat, fast loop through parts of Downtown Kinston, past the CSS Neuse II, and through North Kinston. Runners finish on the first-base line inside the baseball stadium after they round home-plate.
The 5K is also a certified event. The 5K begins and finishes inside Grainger Stadium after a path that takes runners past the CSS Neuse II.
Ironclad Races Inc. is a Kinston based non-profit corporation with a mission to produce sporting events in Kinston and donate all proceeds to local non-profit organizations and charities benefiting our community.
Beneficiaries of these proceeds include the American Legion, the CSS Neuse Foundation, Common Ground of Eastern North Carolina, the Community Council for the Arts, Deep Run Volunteer Fire Department, Grainger Hill Performing Arts, The CSS Neuse Gunboat Association, HOPE Restorations, Hugo Volunteer Fire Department, Mary’s Soup Kitchen, North Lenoir Volunteer Fire Department, S.A.F.E. in Lenoir County, smART Kinston, and Andrea Thorne.
The CSS Neuse II is hosting its fall “Breakfast on the Boat” in conjunction with the races. After the races begin, spectators can meander to the CSS Neuse II for an old-fashioned country breakfast of scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, grits, biscuit, and beverage.
You may eat breakfast either on the boat or on the dock. The Neuse Foundation also provides a table and chairs on ground level for those who prefer not to stay closer to terra firma.
The Gunboat Boys will perform their lively renditions of Civil War period music, as well as popular bluegrass tunes. This musical group is composed of the Farm and Home Bluegrass Band that Jim Gaddis and Bob Gaddis put together years ago. They are kind enough to let me sit in with them to complete what we called The Gunboat Boys in tribute to the Neuse II.
Period tunes include “The Yellow Rose of Texas,” “Rose of Alabamy,” “Cindy,” “The Vacant Cahir,” “Two Little Boys,” and a host of others.
The galley crew will be showing up at dawn to begin working their magic. By 7:30 a.m. breakfast will be ready. Volunteers will continue serving breakfast until 10:30 a.m. or so.
October 15 promises to be a day filled with fun activities.
Kick your day off by joining the Neuse II galley crew and volunteers to begin with “Breakfast on the Boat.” Catch a little of the races. Then hit the “Autumn’s in the Air” fall festival at the Richard Caswell Memorial on Vernon Avenue.
Moms everywhere say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Make your mom proud this coming Saturday.
Mike Parker is a columnist for the Neuse News. You can reach him at mparker16@gmail.com.
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