Monday, April 8, 2013

Ocracoke Island, NC. - Rated as the #1 Beach in the US and we agree!

DSC_3438_edited-1.jpgDSC_3462_edited-1.jpgDSC_3467_edited-2.jpgDSC_3437_edited-1.jpg

Ocracoke Island is another beautiful barrier island in NC that is owned by the US National Park Service (except for the village).  We caught the ferry from the south end of Hatteras Island at 11am for a 45 minute lazy ride on the ocean.  One thing we couldn't believe is that this ferry is run by the State of NC and is FREE! That includes both ways!  We were shocked that a ferry that takes a while to make the trip and employes at least 12 employees did not charge a penny.  Shocking in this day and time but very appreciated.

Of course, the first thing we had to visit was the light house which began operating in 1823.  It is the oldest lighthouse in NC and the second oldest in the nation.  Of course we all know which is the oldest - that would be Portland Head Light in ME.

An interesting fact I wasn't aware of or may have forgotten (probably forgotten) but there were dozens of US ships sunk off the coast of the barrier islands  during WWII by the Nazi subs.  Including a 170ft British ship named the HMS Bedfordshire which was sunk on May 11, 1942 losing all 37 souls.  Four of the British sailors washed up on the island and a plot of land was donated to England to bury the dead.  A ceremony is held every year to honor these fallen sailors and the cemetery is kept by the US Coast Guard stationed on the island.

Norma  enjoyed seeing five of the Ocracoke Ponies.  It's not know exactly how they arrived but the two theories are they were victims of early Spanish ships that sunk off the coast or were brought over during the 16th century by the British.  There are now 24 of  these horses on the island and are rotated in a 180 acre pasture area.  Interestingly the Ocracoke Ponies have distinctive physical characteristics including five lumbar vertebra instead of six found in most horses, 17 ribs instead of 18 and a unique shape, posture, color, size, and weight.

The 3rd and 4th pictures are of a single  Laughing Gull followed by a group saying goodby as we headed back to the Hatteras Island.  For you west coast readers you won't see these gulls unless you had east.  They have the odd name because when they began calling they do sound like a lot people of laughing.  No, really, I wouldn't make this up.

A wonderful day and we are both tired and a little sunburnt but we had a great day and hope to return someday..

No comments: