Gnarled Trees

There are generally two primary reasons people give for choosing to call Ocracoke home -- family & community.....and natural beauty. I talk a lot about the former. The latter is almost as important, and likely more obvious to the infrequent visitor. As most of our readers know, our beach is outstanding -- 16 miles of undeveloped shoreline is almost unheard of nowadays.

Of course we have fantastic fishing (both inshore and offshore), recreational boating, sailing, & kayaking, as well as clamming, crabbing, and surfing.

We have spectacular sunsets, and inspiring sunrises. Our island is literally shaped by nature. Wind and tide are constantly recreating this unique place. As I walk out by the sound shore, or even in the village I am often struck by the sight of twisted, gnarled limbs of centuries old oaks and more recent cedars. They tell their own silent stories of years of molding by the powerful forces of nature. We are relative newcomers, visitors if you will, privileged simply to be here now to soak in the power and beauty of nature and this fragile sandbar.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter tells about island customs relating to death & dying. You can read the newsletter here.