Lake Silver - Orcracoke Island

We timed our visit to Ocracoke Island pretty well for a change.  It was Memorial Day Weekend and we actually got there early so we had a good anchorage location and were able to watch all the comings and goings all weekend long.  A nice change of pace.  The harbor is well protected, has a good floating dinghy dock for going to shore and all provisioning requirements were present.  The price of items on the island are interesting to say the least.  We thought we were back in the Bahamas when we saw Saltines were almost $5 bucks ! ......a draft beer is $4.00!  We didn't even want to check out the price of fuel.

A North Carolina dinghy!  Notice also the sailboat...more on that soon!

There were some boats anchored in the bay that appeared to live there and another 15-20 boats came in over the course of the weekend.  There was enough room but it did start to get a little tight towards Saturday night.

Want to guess the home port???  Sackets Harbor

We had enough time to wander around the town and visit a few places.  It is definitely a place to go back to when the winds allow.  The only disappointment was not having a chance to go visit the wild ponies further north on the island.  The corral was 7 miles away and we would have had to rent a car to go there.  I think next time we'll just hitchhike.

Ocracoke Light

Silver Lake waterfront

More waterfront

The jaw bone of a Right Whale

The weather overall was great but we had one late afternoon storm blow through and it was a good one.  No rain but the wind cranked up to 30-35kts from the east and it caught many by surprise.  We were back on Nati with the engines on and about 1/3 of the boats were dragging around the harbor and the Coast Guard had a busy time.  First they had to grab the McGregor from hitting another docked boat and then they raced out of the harbor to assist their helicopter a mile from the harbor entrance.  A Newport 27 got caught with full sails up and was dragged onto the shoal and sunk.  Granted the water was only 5-6 feet deep but when we came out of the entrance on Monday she was not a pretty sight.  Sails in tatters, deck awash and bimini was torn partially off.  Everyone going out that day was saddened.  The people were taken off the vessel safely but one mile was all that separated them from safety.  No pictures to show.......not good luck we say!  ALL the boats that dragged had either  CQR  or danforth anchors that were too small!  We wanted to tell them to call Aqua Tech Marine http://www.aquatechmarineinc.com/index.htm and get a "real" hook!!

See, the McGregor made two photo shots!

Hello, sail maker....I need a repair!

T&E........note that this lighthouse is NOT the "Cat in the Hat" lighthouse!  It has only 86 steps but like we say....."safety is no accident", we could not go up.  The stairs were not even original!!  The light, though working is not original and is a steady white light that is electric.

Ocracoke Lighthouse

Looking up...

We were able to walk through a nature preserve to see some cool growth on the island.  The Maritime forest is one of the few remaining on the outer banks.  The Live Oak trees are really a sight and there are not many around.  They were heavily harvested in the old days for boat building because of the strength of the wood.

anybody home?

Live Oak tree

Maritime forest

nice carving

A very small cemetery

A hiking we will go......

"Art"

As a side note......this is all that remains of my fishing lures.  The lunkers have all the rest.  I WILL come back with more and better equipment next year.  Gadabout Dick will be a scary thing to see.......

Fishing...not catching equipment!

Black fin tuna on the barbie

On Monday we said goodbye to Orcracoke and continued out travels north.  Next stop.....Roanoke Island and a visit to Manteo Waterfront Marina.  Again, we never have been there so stand by for our update soon.

Bodie Lighthouse on the way to Manteo