Saturday, August 14, 2010

Saturday Morning

I didn't get to venture out in the boat Thursday, as I had hoped. I can't remember the reason. But I did go out this morning (just got back, in fact). David's mother and father (Pat & Steve) are visiting for a week or so, and they'd never been out in my boat. So we all slathered on our sun screen, packed water bottles and peanut butter crackers, and walked down Howard Street to the Community Store dock. In addition to Pat & Steve, Amy, Lachlan, and David came along.

We didn't do much...just motored out toward the South Point, then turned around and anchored a little way off shore. We all jumped overboard and frolicked in the Sound for over an hour. The water was warm, but refreshing; the bottom, sandy and delightful. We jumped and played, tossed a small football, laughed and swam, and floated around on a foam board. It was one of those mornings that reminds one how wonderful it is to be alive...and to live surrounded by family, friends, beauty and natural treasures.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the 1913 wreck of the 6-masted schooner, George W. Wells. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news072110.htm.

8 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:47 PM

    Philip, you did it again! You painted an envious description of just an ordinary, simple day spent on Ocracoke, which to us mainlanders, is nothing less than extraordinary.

    How wonderful you know how blessed you are! You are truly rich in the things that matter the most in life!

    I'm glad you and yours had such a fun outing!

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  2. Anonymous11:37 AM

    are you the official ocracoke tourist cheerleader ??

    our visit to ocracoke was not a dream come true, rampant mosquitos, flies, bugs of all types, more traffic than a raleigh mall, more signs (it's hard to take a picture without having a sign in the frame somewhere) and commercialism than that same said mall, over played quaintness (that disappeared long ago) and in general a wanna be tourist area. (remember myrtle beach started out with only one beach house) if you had no government protected beaches you would have nothing to offer. you can have it, give me peace and quiet which is what ocracoke might be during the winter but in the summer it's not our place to vacation. thank you.

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  3. Debbie Leonard12:53 PM

    Well, Ocracoke's not for everyone...I've been there many times; once in the winter (and it was great!); most often in the summer and some visits were definitely better than others.

    But, there are a lot of different beaches in the world (and I am thankful Ocracoke does have government protected beaches!) and everyone can find the place that suits them best!

    I enjoy reading your accounts of outings such as this. It reminds us all the importance of taking advantage of each day we have with our loved ones. We may not be physically where you are, but we can all be there emotionally.

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  4. Anonymous12:56 PM

    Wow! Sorry that you had such a bad vacation on the island. Park your car and rent a bike and the "traffic" isn't a problem. Put on some bug spray and you're good. Finally, learn how to use the crop feature on your computer and your pictures will be perfect

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  5. Anonymous3:23 PM

    No matter where you "summer" vacation you can expect all that - bugs, tourists, commercialism, traffic. We have been visiting Ocracoke Island (twice a year) for 27 years, and have hit every season. Now that we are entering our senior years Ocracoke has become our 2nd home for the reasons you obviously missed - the true quaintness of Ocracoke. The Island is a study back in time. How fortunate there are no amusement parks, no fast food drive-thru's, no high-rise condo's, no cement-sand beaches. Hopefully you will return to the Island and appreciate the journey Ocracoke has taken. I'm sorry that your holiday did not live up to your expectations.

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  6. Anonymous4:34 PM

    I love Ocracoke in the early spring and mid to late fall. That's just my favorite times when there are less visitors on the island. Of course, the weather can be "iffy" like last October when I was there and a n'easter moved through. Even so, I was in "heaven" just being on the island.

    Give Ocracoke another try perhaps at a different time of the year. It does have a charm that is unique, especially in 2010!

    And, I use bug spray even on the mainland in NC! :)

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  7. Ejayhall8:24 AM

    We will be visiting Ocracoke again in September. It will be our 5th time in three years. We live in the Chicago area and are very happy that we discovered this wonderful island. If you want to see traffic, signs and rude people, take a trip up here. We even have bugs too. Maybe you should have taken the ghost walk with Mr. Howard to better understand the history and beauty of the island.

    There is so much to do and we always explore and find something new to see or enjoy.

    Thanks for letting us visit, Ocracoke!

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  8. Anonymous4:35 PM

    CALM DOWN. YOU SOUND LIKE YOU REALLY NEED A VACATION. MAYBE THERE ARE A LOT OF BUGS AT TIMES..BUT, THE BUGS MAKE THE BIRDS HAPPY. YES, AT CERTAIN TIMES OF THE DAY AND YEAR THERE IS A LOT OF TRAFFIC. YOUR RIGHT. CHILL OUT. IF YOU DON'T LIVE ON OCRACOKE THEN YOU MUST BE VISITING. WHAT'S THE HURRY. WHERE ARE YOU GOING? IS THERE A MEETING TO GO TO? SLAP ON SOME BUG LOTION, GET YOUR CAMERA AND TAKE A WALK DOWN HOWARD ST OR JUST SIT ON THE DOCKS. ISN'T THAT ENOUGH? I HOPE YOU HAVE FUN ON YOUR NEXT VACATION OUTING AND LEARN TO RELAX. I WISH YOU HAPPINESS.

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