Ocracoke Island

Stopping here has long been on my wish list.  The stars were aligned this past week and we headed across Pamlico Sound from Oriental. It was a 37 mile 5 1/2 hour trip!  That's life at seven miles per hour!

Pamlico Sound was named after the Pamlico Indians and is separated from the Atlantic Ocean by the chain of outer banks.It is the largest Sound (Salt Water Lagoon) on the East Coast. And as an Estuary second only to the Chesapeake Bay.  It is shallow and can get nasty pretty fast.  We timed it right and crossed on a good day!  The four days we were on Ocracoke Island were outstanding weather wise. In the 70's with a light warm breeze, lots of sun and nights in the 60's.t

The island is small, 9.6 square miles and is part of the National Seashore. It has 16 miles of undeveloped beaches and the National Park Service plays an important role on the island.  We stayed at the Park Service Recreational boat docks which were right next to the Park Service Ferry Docks but rather than bothering us we found them quite interesting.  There were 3 ferry's coming from different ports on the mainland several times a day. Bringing vacationers galore even in late September. The last trip at night was around 7 when 2 empty ferries would come in to be ready for the first trip off the island at 7 am.  

Tie A Knot closest to the Red Roofed Building

A group of classic cars on their 2014 Tour coming off the ferry yesterday.

The village of Ocracoke is still much as it was years ago, with only a few new hotels here and there to accommodate the ever increasing influx of people. A lot of the locals have golf carts and that seems to be the preferred mode of "rental" transportation. as well.  The cars going through town were mostly coming off of or going to the ferries as far as I could tell. We had our bikes so those were our wheels.  

The "locals" as I had read in a review somewhere were not all happy to have us there.  There were no friendly waves and hellos and quite a few ignoring looks, although the locals working in the many small shops and restaurants.were all friendly and welcoming.  I guess they know where dinner is coming from....not always the sea! 

BUT in defense of the "islanders" attitudes, they don't want their island to change and become Hatteras and Kitty Hawk. The population of just under a thousand people live in a special place accessible only by Ferry, private boat or very small (judging from the field that was the airport) private planes.  I wouldn't want it spoiled by the masses either. There is one grocery store, one gas station, and two churches on the island.  Most of the shops were higher end art from the many artists that live in North Carolina and they were in older houses with a few "tourist traps" thrown in for good measure.  

                                                                           The main street along Silver Lake

It took us 15 minutes to ride from the Loop at the top which is the boat docks on Silver Lake to the bottom straight line where the beach is on the Atlantic.

                                   The Ocracoke Light built in 1823 is the second oldest
                                               operating lighthouse in the United States.

During WWII the British Royal Navy sent 24 of their ships in 1942 as anti submarine ships to patrol the East Coast of the United States.  One of the ships was the HMS Bedforshire. While patrolling the Outer Banks the Bedforshire was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine on May 12, 1942.All of the 34 crew members were lost. In the following days four bodies washed ashore on Ocracoke  and they were buried by the Islanders next to the existing cemetery. They remain there today in an agreement between Britain and the U.S. The original cross headstones were replaced by Great Britain with their military headstones and they are now maintained and cared for by the U.S. Coast Guard.

One of the two crew members who were identified had the last name of Cunningham which is my mother's maiden name.

 Ocracoke also has an impressive Pirate History.  This is where the famous pirate Blackbeard was finally "taken out of the business"  as in beheaded in a battle off the southern shore of Ocracoke on November 22, 1718.

 This is a view of "Teaches Hole" from Springer Preserve.  We walked through the preserve not knowing until after that Blackbeard had partied on the land we were walking on.  The hole is the water on which he met his end.  Oracoke pass at the south end of the island.

This is an interesting write up of Blackbeard and Ocracoke for anyone who is interested........  http://www.nps.gov/caha/historyculture/blackbeard.htm


Lets see what's left????


This looks pretty ordinary right?  Not so much.  It was a gourmet snack/libations shop that sold domestic and craft beer and wine by the bottle and glass.  You walk in, pick something out pay for it and walk out to the porch grab a table and enjoy.  Very unique from anywhere we've seen.  Great ambiance and a place where the locals relax after work. It was on a back street so it was on a "got good info" basis. Very  nice "porchtails"

Had some great food.....fresh Red Drum sauteed kale and sweet potatoes at the 'Flying Melon'

Fresh fish taco's...(tried to hide it but as you can see from above and below, I have a problem...."bite before photo"  kind of like "foot in mouth"

From EDUARDO'S.....a FABULOUS Mexican food bus that is a favorite of the locals.

And of course went to the beach which was a National Seashore Beach should be BEAUTIFUL

 

Our wild life for the day were........

A Horseshoe Crab burying itself



And my can anyone tell me what this crab is???  His little eyes were looking at me....freaky!! 

The sunset on Pamlico Sound was outstanding

The Ocracoke Lighthouse keeping Mariners safe for the night

I hope all of you who haven't been to Ocracoke may experience it someday.  It is a special place.