May 9 – Walking Ocracoke

Another slightly cloudy and just a bit cool day. We went into the village to walk around some of the back streets, check out the lighthouse and walk out to a small nature area called Springer’s Point.

There is only one public parking area in town, which is right near the ferry dock. Anywhere else is dedicated to a particular business.

The map I had didn’t say where Springer’s Point was so I tried to guess from seeing it on our boat ride yesterday. I thought it was right across the harbour entrance. Nope. We just ended up walking a little farther than I planned.

After walking the main street we diverted off to the back streets.

Some pigs that can fly.

This guys was ready for some serious off roading.

One place recorded the flood levels for each of the hurricanes.

A lot of people used the less than perfect shells as garden decorations.

Always need a few flower pictures.

It looked like this guy was trying to prepare for the next hurricane.

But I am really not sure if those straps wold actually hold the trailer down with the wind load on that long side.

Most of the places on the far side of the bay were rental units. Still a very nice place to walk.

Everyone wants a water view. If you are not on the water you just build up until you get one.

There was a nice hammock on this high deck.

All of the newer buildings are up on stilts. I guess these neighbours had different ideas as to how high the water could get.

I assume that the trees, behind the guy on the rights raised deck, do not grow very fast because he could barley see over them.

The older homes had much more character though.

The captain on the boat ride yesterday said that the older homes are built to not be damaged very badly when they flood. No drywall, carpets or insulation with tongue and groove hardwood floors with a trap door to let the water easily drain out.

There is not much to do at the lighthouse other than take a picture. It is the second oldest operating lighthouse in the country. As the land around here is so flat it doesn’t have to be very tall at only 77 feet.

 

I did another photosphere for that “You are there” feeling.

We finally found the very unobtrusive entrance to the trail to Springer’s Point.

Somebody carved this stump into a racoon.

A sign said that English Ivy is an invasive species here and they are trying to get rid of it. It sure has taken over this small graveyard.

Out on to a small beach.

We had a snack, as by now it was well past lunch time.

There were a few nice shells here but each time we picked one up there would be a tiny crab hiding as far up in the coils as possible so back down they went.

We eventually made it back to the car via the forest and the streets.

I had been craving pizza for a while so lunch was at a place called Jason’s