Sun Aug 30 & 31: Oriental Marina to Ocracoke Island, NC Outer Banks anchorage

 In which we, with the help of Dramamine, brave the Pamlico Soung...

This was the day Rick has long been planning for, and worrying over.  We wanted to get out to the Outer Banks, but the Pamlico Sound is huge, with a long fetch (distance over which the wind can gather strength and create waves).  Rick is very sensitive to my motion-sickness handicap, and he wanted to be sure that we would both be comfortable and not tossed about too much.  This seemed to be a day where the waves might be on the small-ish side.  

It was a long 6 hours, and very bouncy in the middle when we were most exposed - at one point I had to lie down so as not to get too queasy, but we made it!  We have learned to have much more faith in the boat  - she may bounce a lot, but she's steady and reliable.  Coming into the small harbor we ran right into the ferry but were able to pass comfortably in the entrance channel. 

Many 'Loopers' talk about how this is a 'must see' little island, so we were excited as we pulled into the little sheltered harbor that we will share with a marina, a big car-ferry dock and many private docks.  There were only two other boats in the anchorage, so we had lots of space to maneuver - only to find that the windlass (motor for the anchor) wasn't working.  This is actually to be expected.  Many parts on a boat get rusty if they are not used, and we hadn't used the windlass in three months.  But the time to find this out was not, ideally, when we were putting down the anchor.  Sigh...    Rick wiggled things around and we were able to anchor and go in to walk around a bit.

Everyone is chill on Ocracoke!

 

 

 

The NC Outer Banks - we are at the bottom

It was super hot in town, but toward sunset (yes, AGAIN ridiculously beautiful) the wind came up a bit and we were able to turn off the AC, open the hatches and remember what is was like to be rocked comfortably to sleep.

It's amazing how much you can get done in a day when you get up at what Rick calls 'A Reasonable Hour'.  We were up with the sun, and I got in some work before we went to check out the 'town'.  I bet it will be hopping come Labor Day, but it was reasonably quiet.  We rented a golf cart to check out the various sights.  We had great seafood sandwiches at Jason's Deli and I did NOT have a soft swirl ice cream because they were out of chocolate (seriously???). We didn't make it to see the wild ponies, but that's OK because I have my heart set on seeing them on Chincoteague, since I read about them there as a little girl.

We admired another MainShip, and then headed back to the boat for naps, reading, work and the blog.  It was charming, but honestly we didn't love it as much as New Smyrna Beach, Jax Beach and some other places we have been. 

We rented a golf cart!!!

P

Pre-quarentine we used to use RedBox to get movies.  I have never seen one with a restroom.

This is one of Rick's ever-so-hilarious Dad Jokes.  He thinks it's 'mean to talk about the slow kids that way'....

This raising-up was going on all over the island - this is by far the tallest we have seen the stilts.  I feel like if you know you need to spend this kind of money to raise your house up because trouble she is a'coming, shouldn't you just MOVE TO A SAFER PLACE???

The weather was changing with an increase in heat and humidity.  While we were in Ocracoke - one of the furthest east locations on the east coast - a tropical storm spun up right next to us.  Fortunately Omar stayed off the coast and headed out to sea.  Our second night we had to leave the windows closed and air conditioning on as it was so sticky and hot.    We bought a pound of local shrimp and had a wonderful dinner!