Not long ago I received in the mail "101 Things I Think I Learned While Sailing With Marlene on Different Drummer." It was written by a sailor whom I met last summer. He and his wife were cruising aboard their 39' catamaran, and they spent several days at Ocracoke. One afternoon they joined Al and me clamming in the sound. Here is his lesson #8:
"The Pamlico sound is thirty-five miles wide and seventy miles long. There is a place in the middle of it where, with no land in sight, you can run your boat aground, even if you only draw three-and-a-half feet of water. We found that place. It's called Brandt's Shoal."
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Sunday, February 05, 2012
Saturday, February 04, 2012
Winter Days
Summer visitors to Ocracoke often imagine that Ocracoke in the winter is dead, deserted, and dismal. Shops and restaurants are mostly closed, there are no performances at Deepwater Theater, Park Service interpretive programs are suspended, and the ocean is too cold for swimming.
All of that is true, but there is plenty to do for those of us who live here. It is a time for pot luck dinners and other get-togethers for family and friends. I still play poker every Friday night. School basketball games draw large crowds. The churches and other non-profit organizations offer spaghetti suppers, bake sales, and movie nights. Gaffer's pub hosts periodic Trivia Nights and a Thursday night local Jazz Ensemble.
We walk on the beach, visit neighbors, and join friends for parties and other social events. Some of us play bridge, make quilts, draw, read, learn a new language, or build boats.
Of course, many of us work all winter: school teachers, hunting guides, grocery store clerks, carpenters, plumbers, preachers, and others. About 150 children attend school. Shop owners may take time off for trips and other off-island adventures but there is always planning and other winter responsibilities (cleaning windows & shelves; repairing and maintaining buildings; ordering new merchandise; e.g.). Officers and members of island organizations still hold regular meetings, plan events, raise funds, and contribute to the well-being of the community.
Life on the island, even in the dead of winter, is full and rewarding. It is anything but dull.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
All of that is true, but there is plenty to do for those of us who live here. It is a time for pot luck dinners and other get-togethers for family and friends. I still play poker every Friday night. School basketball games draw large crowds. The churches and other non-profit organizations offer spaghetti suppers, bake sales, and movie nights. Gaffer's pub hosts periodic Trivia Nights and a Thursday night local Jazz Ensemble.
We walk on the beach, visit neighbors, and join friends for parties and other social events. Some of us play bridge, make quilts, draw, read, learn a new language, or build boats.
Of course, many of us work all winter: school teachers, hunting guides, grocery store clerks, carpenters, plumbers, preachers, and others. About 150 children attend school. Shop owners may take time off for trips and other off-island adventures but there is always planning and other winter responsibilities (cleaning windows & shelves; repairing and maintaining buildings; ordering new merchandise; e.g.). Officers and members of island organizations still hold regular meetings, plan events, raise funds, and contribute to the well-being of the community.
Life on the island, even in the dead of winter, is full and rewarding. It is anything but dull.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Friday, February 03, 2012
Quiz
A couple of days ago I was wandering around Ocracoke and remembered having seen a piece of island history lying in an out-of-the-way corner of land. I walked down a path to the secluded spot and snapped this photo:
I am wondering how many of our readers can identify this scrap of rusted metal. If you think you know what it is, please post your comment (even if someone else has already figured it out). You might even want to share any stories of your encounters with these objects many years ago. I will add my comments sometime next week.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
I am wondering how many of our readers can identify this scrap of rusted metal. If you think you know what it is, please post your comment (even if someone else has already figured it out). You might even want to share any stories of your encounters with these objects many years ago. I will add my comments sometime next week.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Thursday, February 02, 2012
Sailing in January
Last week Lou Ann and I had the good fortune of spending a relaxing afternoon in Pamlico Sound on board the Schooner Windfall II. Captain Rob and his son Emmet were going out just to enjoy a beautiful January day, and they invited us to join them. They even brought out their brass cannon and saluted the day for us! Below are a few photos:
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm , our latest Ocracoke Newsletter.
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| Philip & Lou Ann |
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| Capt. Rob Blowing His Conch Horn |
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| Emmet Hoisting the Fisherman Sail |
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| Lou Ann Happy to be on the Water |
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| Lou Ann at the Helm |
http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm , our latest Ocracoke Newsletter.
Wednesday, February 01, 2012
Shells on the Pavement, Continued
Yesterday's post was timely, and a tad ironic.
Just a few hours after posting "Shells on the Pavement" I had an opportunity to join friends for a walk on the beach. Fran & Phil are from Memphis, and they mentioned that they needed to take their rental car to Jimmy's Garage to get a flat tire fixed.
You guessed it -- they had run over a broken clam shell on Highway 12, and it was embedded between the treads, causing a not-so-slow leak. Here is a photo:
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Just a few hours after posting "Shells on the Pavement" I had an opportunity to join friends for a walk on the beach. Fran & Phil are from Memphis, and they mentioned that they needed to take their rental car to Jimmy's Garage to get a flat tire fixed.
You guessed it -- they had run over a broken clam shell on Highway 12, and it was embedded between the treads, causing a not-so-slow leak. Here is a photo:
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Shells on the Pavement
I don't travel off the island often, but on Sunday I carried Lou Ann to Newport News, VA to catch the train to Indiana. On the way to the Hatteras ferry (and, of course, on the way back) I was reminded of the cleverness of our seagulls.
Highway 12, in places, is littered with broken shells, mostly clam shells and a few scallop shells. The sections of road most littered are close to the sound. The gulls pluck the tasty bivalves from the shallow soundside waters, carry them high above the road, and drop them. They break easily.
The gulls then fly down to the highway and enjoy their meals. Traffic is light in the winter, so this strategy works well.
Before the highway was built, the gulls dropped their clams and scallops on the hard-packed ocean beach, but they soon learned to use the road. Be wary! If you are driving NC 12 and see broken shells, avoid them if you can. Many a local tire has been cut that way.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Highway 12, in places, is littered with broken shells, mostly clam shells and a few scallop shells. The sections of road most littered are close to the sound. The gulls pluck the tasty bivalves from the shallow soundside waters, carry them high above the road, and drop them. They break easily.
The gulls then fly down to the highway and enjoy their meals. Traffic is light in the winter, so this strategy works well.
Before the highway was built, the gulls dropped their clams and scallops on the hard-packed ocean beach, but they soon learned to use the road. Be wary! If you are driving NC 12 and see broken shells, avoid them if you can. Many a local tire has been cut that way.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
Monday, January 30, 2012
Shadows on the Beach
I carried Lou Ann to the train yesterday. We have had such a wonderful time this winter. We spent holidays together, traveled some, visited family & friends, and spent a relaxing month on the island. We had friends over, cooked together, read books in front of the fire, gazed at the stars, sailed in Pamlico Sound, and walked miles on the beach.
The good news is that Lou Ann will be back.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
The good news is that Lou Ann will be back.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the "Joe Bell" flower. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news012112.htm.
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