To take the 10 am ferry from Cedar Island to Orcacoke Island.
It was a 2 hr. 15 minute ride. We made reservations yesterday but I guess we didn't need to. There were only 7 vehicles on the ferry.
The ever changing shoals have been made passage through this area treacherous throughout history. Since the 1700's river pilots guided boats in the area.
The nervous part I have when taking a ferry is entering and exiting. Sometimes the incline is very steep. I've heard of Instances of bottoming out. I don't want to damage anything. So far it's been ok.
First stop was at the Orcacoke Island Visitor Center staffed by the National Park Service. The Island was home to many wild horses. The horses were possibly left from explorers in the 16th or 17th century.
Horses were used by the Life Saving Service for moving rescue equipment.
In 1950 Orcacoke Island was the only mounted Boy Scout troop in the U. S.
In 1959 the "Banker" horses were corralled to protect from overgrazing and safeguard the horses from being hit by cars or trucks.
Interesting to learn U-Boats cruised off shore from 1942 to 1945. The area was called Torpedo Junction.
The U. S. borrowed 24 vessels from England to patrol the coast.
HMS Bedfordshire was sunk by the Germans in 1942. The bodies of four British sailors on board drifted ashore. They were buried at Orcacoke Cemetery.
In 1983 the above official British grave markers replaced these initial markers that were installed in 1942.
Orcacoke Island has always been a fishing community.
The fishermen worked together to keep this original fishing house working.
Knots of the trade.
Sheepshead fish.
Mullet
Flounder.
I've seen similar steps on other house....waves on the risers of the steps.
Orcacoke Island is the oldest lighthouse.
Beautiful live oak.
Twisted tree trunk.
Took the boardwalk to the Ocean.
We had the beach all to ourselves along with the wonderful sunshine.
Time to head toward the ferry to take us to Hatteras. This ferry was only 40 minutes but a much smaller ferry. There were large trucks as well as cars. We were close to the edge, pitched at a slant. A bit of a more precarious ride than the longer ferry ride this morning.
At Hatteras we had a hard time finding a place to stay. Finally the worker at the ferry port directed us to a campground he thought was open. Phil called the phone number on the office door. No, they weren't open but we could stay for the price of a tent...$31.50. The bathrooms were being remodeled so were not available, at least we have our own. The workman doing the remodeling loaned Phil his electric drill so Phil could reattach the loose mud flap. Grateful for his help. We were closer to the Ocean and could hear and feel the wind. But we slept good.
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