Rain

Finally, we got a bit of rain this afternoon. Not really enough to make much of a dent in the dry season we've been having, but welcome nonetheless. The sand gets so powdery when we have gone without precipitation for so long. Years ago, when all of the roads were sandy lanes, it really was difficult to keep cars from getting stuck. Today even Howard Street is negotiable because of the oyster shells.

The greatest worry back then, of course, revolved around drinking water. When all potable water was collected in wooden cisterns from runoff from the roof dry spells were a constant concern. I remember carefully rationing water as the level in the cistern continued to fall, with no rain in sight. Even our Saturday night baths (in an old round galvanized tub) were canceled.

Nowadays the "hardship" from dry weather is mostly just more of a struggle to negotiate the last hundred yards walking from the lifeguard stand to the walkover ramp.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the brave and courageous members of the US Life Saving Service. You can read it here.