Wind

Weather is a constant part of life when you live on an island more than 20 miles from the mainland. The last two days have been windy, with gusts up to 30 mph. Sometimes it's difficult to guage wind speed from the protection of Howard Street, but on a dock in Silver Lake there is little doubt how windy it is. I took some friends clamming early Friday afternoon and, even at slow speed, spray over the bow got everyone at least a little wet. Coming back, my flat bottom skiff with so little dead rise, surfed the waves and shunted us from side to side several times.

Few people stayed for long on the beach these last few days. Blowing sand bit into bare legs and swirled around beach chairs & towels. The water was warm, but it stayed churned up by the wind.

I stayed in port yesterday (it was even windier than Friday), and only walked a mile or so on the beach, but I think the wind may lay down a bit today. Weather is part of our daily life...and part of the charm of living on Ocracoke.

Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is a tribute to independent spirit and island character Don Wood. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news062110.htm.