Ten days in the Outer Banks’ village of Ocracoke. On the 27th we drive to the Hatteras ferry and drive up the island chain.
So here are a few pictures of Ocracoke.
I’m going to be happy to be on the road and in the meantime the house is comfortable and heated and we have nowhere else to be.
I feel bad for these few hundred people hanging on in their isolated Village but they seem to like it!
Once upon a time the ponies wandered loose on the entire island.
The reason given for fencing them in is that the paved road increased speeds and put them at risk. They seem pretty happy in their large share of the island away from the village.
Plenty of beach and no one there. We bought a kite in the village and want to fly it in the breeze here.
Fourteen miles of mostly straight perfectly paved highway is all the driving you get between ferries. It’s about twenty minutes along the beach at the 55 mile per hour speed limit. We’ve been walking around the village with GANNET2 taking a break.
Our first day while waiting for the rental house we drove up to visit the ponies.
There is a short wooded stretch on the highway. A small wood.
Entering the village from the north on Highway 12, the Irvin Garrish Highway:
Howard’s Pub is closed. The craft brewery is open.
The seafood place is closed and opens Boxing Day (December 26th).
Night photography in Ocracoke is a real challenge. Rusty likes to wake me early, between four and five in the morning. He comes alongside my bed as he used to when we lived on Cudjoe. Then he yawns. Loudly. Until I get up and get dressed…
The trouble is that the village is pitch dark. There aren’t many street lights and I stumble around under the trees with a flashlight. We both like night walks but Ocracoke is not great for night photography. Unless you photograph the stars because the night sky is obviously astonishing.
I gave it a try! A few pretty porches…
Layne wanted to buy fresh fish but they were closed.
Bummer.
Imagine all these bikes rented in summer. This place must be crazed.
Ocracoke is focused on summer tourism. Lots of lodging choices then.
Unlike Key West there really were pirates here. Blackbeard was hunted down and killed in the bay behind Ocracoke.
The kite store:
The Anchorage Inn and marina is for sale. 37 rooms, 36 boat slips, a swimming pool and a bait shop for seven million bucks. Go for it.
Ten years ago when we were looking for a room they didn’t take pets. They’ve got smart since then.
The pond that creates downtown waterfront used to be known as Cockle Creek. Silver Lake sounds more appealing to tourists.
It appealed to us. I love being a touron. Here today, gone tomorrow!
I recall Dajio as a good place to have a romantic dinner. We were looking forward to going back, however of course it’s closed. It changed hands last year for one point five million. All change on Ocracoke and though not as ghastly as Key West, real estate prices here are high and highly paid work is scarce.
“All” should read “any” to be more accurate. But the point remains.
Golf cart rental anyone? Again imagine all these carts on the streets? They aren’t allowed up the highway outside the village fortunately for all.
Ten years ago Eduardo's was a food truck in front of the grocery. Now that’s become a sandwich truck (closed in winter) operated by someone else and Eduardo’s is a restaurant and souvenir store complex nearby (closed in winter). Great tacos as I recall.
Locals pretty much ignore the limit in winter. Keep your eyes open as idiot tourists walking are fair game apparently. Like we say in Key West, this ain’t Disneyland.
We’re cleaning and sorting GANNET2 as always. I kind of miss driving. Am I weird?
It’s cold here, below 40 before dawn each morning when Rusty drags me out so it’s good to have a warm place to live. And he likes it too.
