Seven Bridges

There are stars
In the Southern sky
Southward as you go
There is moonlight
And moss in the trees
Down the Seven Bridges Road

The lyrics above are from the popular Eagles song, "Seven Bridges Road." It was a fun song to sing while driving down NC12 from the Pony Pen to the NPS campground. There were seven bridges over seven creeks: Try Yard Creek, Parker's Creek, Old Quawk's Creek (also known as Quoke's Point Creek), Molasses Creek, Old Hammock Creek, Shad Hole Creek, and Island Creek. 

Recently I received this email from a reader: "We've been regular visitors on OI for 30 some years and last week it struck me that there once were 7 creeks between Hatteras ferry and the federal campground. Am I looney or right? Try Yard, Parker's, Quork Point, Molasses, Old Hammock, Island and _______. If not my memory then what am I missing?"

Our reader was missing Shad Hole Creek. It took our reader a few years to notice the demise of Shad Hole Creek. What has happened to it?

When our old wooden bridges were replaced several years ago it was noted that Shad Hole Creek had pretty much dried up...and there was no longer a need for a bridge there. The bridge was replaced with a culvert. Even that is superfluous today.

We can still sing the old Eagles song as we drive that stretch of highway...and remember when it could legitimately be called the Seven Bridges Road. Maybe it was even the inspiration for the Eagles' song. Really, it could have been. At least I like to think so.

This month's Ocracoke Newsletter is a photo gallery of past July 4th parade photos. You can read it here: http://www.villagecraftsmen.com/news062113.htm.