Ocracoke Island Vacation Journal: Part 1

One of the joys of being on Ocracoke is getting away from it all.

That used to include the internet, cable television and, occasionally, electricity.

Things have changed a lot over the last 14 years that we’ve been making this trip.

As you can see, I can now even post on my blog from Ocracoke.

But that is still a challenge.  The internet at our house is only available by using my phone as a hotspot, so my access is still somewhat limited.

Ocracoke still has the ability to take you away.  Being on an Island off the North Carolina coast that is only accessible by ferry can’t help but change your perspective.  With only about 800 year round residents, Ocracoke is a very special place.  Fresh seafood for our meals- either bought from local fisherman at the community seafood market, or cooked from one of the local restaurants.  There are no chain restaurants or stores on Ocracoke.

Yes, local food and local restaurants.  If they can do this on an island why can’t we do this at home?  It’s really quite wonderful.

Normally, the best way to get around on Ocracoke is to walk or ride a bicycle.  I’m sure I must have ridden a bike as a child- I dimly remember it- but only until I discovered the cross town bus.  It has been a challenge trying to get back in the bike mode.  They say riding a bike comes back to you.  It does.  But stopping does not.

When I last tried riding a bike on Ocracoke a couple of years ago, I ended up in a muddy ditch half full of water.  This time, I’ve already run into a fence and possibly sprained my hand.  Much to the amusement of the folks getting drunk at McNally’s Saturday afternoon.  Something about bike riding immediately seems to turn me into Eddy from an “Absolutely Fabulous” episode from the 1990’s….

Golf carts are becoming increasingly popular on the island.  Maybe I should take the hint….

What else do we do?

Enjoy the beach and nature.  Well, not too much…I still can’t spend much time in the sun due to my previous history with Melanoma, but it’s nice to spend short periods of time at a beach that is all protected natural seashore.  No houses or condo’s blocking it.  Just natural, as it’s been for thousands of years…

Read.  Books and magazines mainly as the internet is a challenge.

I’ve already read one wonderful book on my Kindle.  The Cranberry Hush by Ben Monopoli was just wonderful.  He really captures what it was/is like the first couple of years out of college when one is still finding out who one is and what the world is about.  It really took me back to how it was for me almost 30 years ago.  It’s nice to know it hasn’t changed all that much.  The characters where memorable and still with me a couple of days after I finished the book.  I wish it were available in print format so I could more easily share it.

Now I’m on to The Paris Wife, a novel by Paula McLain about Earnest Hemingway’s first wife, Hadley, and their years in Paris in the 1920’s.  I’ve always been enthralled by that era- and by Paris- so I’m enthralled by the book.  At least so far…

Watch Movies on DVD:  We’ve also been watching some pre-code movies from the 1930’s.  They really make me aware of how the movie production code manipulated public opinion  and hid harsh reality from the American people.  It explains a lot about the older folks who went to these movies and formed their life view based on these depictions.  I’ve always said MGM screwed up generations of Americans….

More to come….