I recently had an appointment for my annual eye examination at 2:45 pm in Elizabeth City. High tide at Hatteras Inlet was in the middle of the day. In order to ensure that I would be on time for my exam I decided to leave on the 7am Swan Quarter ferry. That put me in Elizabeth City just before noon.
I wasn't able to catch the 4 pm Swan Quarter ferry back home, but I did make the 10 pm ferry. The state recently added this departure so islanders in my position wouldn't have to spend the night for a routine doctor's visit. As it was, I didn't get home until almost 1 am, an 18 hour trip for a one hour doctor's visit!
But I am not complaining. Island living has so many benefits that I count this only as a minor inconvenience.
Our latest Ocracoke Newsletter is the story of the day Charles Lindbergh landed on Ocracoke. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news112112.htm.
-------------------------------------------------
I also recently published (retroactively) a 27 item photo gallery of
pictures from our recent trip to the Czech Republic, Hungary, &
England. You can see them here: http://villagecraftsmen.blogspot.com/2013/01/photo-gallery.html
wouldn't it be easier to go to morehead city, greenville etc via the cedar is ferry for the exam??
ReplyDeletewashington nc is just a hop skip and jump form swanquarter....i just checked the yellow pages. there are all kinds of eye care centers and specialists there. not much effort to go there.
ReplyDeleteTaking the ferry to Cedar Island is NOT a realistic way to get to Elizabeth City (where my eye doctor is, who has all of my records and images).
ReplyDeleteNormally, the trip to Elizabeth City is not such an ordeal -- just a 40 minute trip across Hatteras Inlet and a couple of hours driving. However, because of recent shoaling at Hatteras Inlet the ferries have only been able to run at high tide.
If a run at high tide doesn't allow time to get to an appointment on time, then the Swan Quarter ferry (2 1/2 hours each way) is the only choice...and if there is not time to make the 4 pm departure from SQ to get back home, the next boat is at 10 pm. Sometimes the next boat is the next day if there is heavy fog or high winds.
Believe me, I only take such a long detour if I can't travel by way of Hatteras.
I understand...I am here right now and left my Sudafed, which can only be purchased at a pharmacy, behind. And now there is no Hatteras ferry. But I'll survive...maybe the salt air will open up my sinuses or I might try some hot peppers!
ReplyDelete