Beautiful to some, certainly dangerous and generally misunderstood, waterspouts are fairly common on the Outer Banks. We love this great piece by journalist D. Creeksong for the Ocracoke Observer, that shares one visitor’s encounter with some wiley waterspouts. It’s full of great info and reminds us just how little is known about these open water phenomenon. “Visiting photographer Summer Brown… Continue reading waterspouts 101
Tag: Ocracoke Observer
ocracoke ferry to remain toll free!
A hard-fought battle to keep the Hatteras/Ocracoke Ferry free appears to have been won as the North Carolina budget comes to a final vote. According to some excellent reporting from Connie Leinbach in the Ocracoke Observer, local representative Paul Tine was key to keeping the ferry, the only way on and off Ocracoke, free. “With the N.C.… Continue reading ocracoke ferry to remain toll free!
homecoming brings life to portsmouth island
Deserted for 45 years, Portsmouth Island just south of Ocracoke is remembered by the families of the last residents. Decedents gather twice a year to recall life in the village in the beautifully preserved building the National Park Service maintains, and if you’ve never been to Portsmouth, it’s an ideal time to go. Homecoming will… Continue reading homecoming brings life to portsmouth island
ocracoke lights up the holidays
What a treat for the holidays! Ocracoke is lighting up the winter sky during their annual Island Celebration. Great pics by Connie Leinbach of the Ocracoke Observer and give us a sampling of Ocracoke’s holiday spirit for this competition. “Holiday lights on island homes and business’s will be in competition tonight (Dec. 16) for the Ocracoke Civic… Continue reading ocracoke lights up the holidays
a good year for ocracoke sea turtles
It may be part of the life cycle of the species or various other reasons, but it’s been a great year for sea turtles on the OBX, with more active sea turtle nests on Ocracoke this year than there has been in quite some time. This article from Ruth Fordon writing for the Ocracoke Observer has some great information about… Continue reading a good year for ocracoke sea turtles
rip currents vs sharks: which is scarier?
Shark attacks have been all the buzz around the OBX lately, and some folks are even staying out of the water for fear of becoming shark-bait themselves. Rip currents aren’t nearly as sexy as shark week, but the reality is that you are far more likely to find yourself a victim of a rip current than a shark… Continue reading rip currents vs sharks: which is scarier?
plastic + sea life = :(
Pollution of our Mother Ocean is sadly nothing new. Thankfully, awareness of the man-made mess and the damage it causes to ocean life is on the rise. Pat Garber, in this great piece for the Ocracoke Observer, sheds some light on the challenges we face with plastic debris in particular. “Paddling along the shoreline of… Continue reading plastic + sea life = 🙁
meet the newest ocracoke pony!
The Ocracoke ponies have a long and colorful history on the island, documented since the 1730’s. The ponies worked with the islanders, pulling carts and making beach patrols. They played too, roaming free when they weren’t running races or toting Boy Scouts around: in the 50’s the Ocracoke Scouts were the only mounted troop in the nation!… Continue reading meet the newest ocracoke pony!
bodie island burn coming up soon
If you’ve been on the OBX in the early spring, you’ve probably seen or smelled the smoke and wondered what was heck burning down south. Occasionally the National Park Service burns sections of Bodie Island as part of their fire management program. The Ocracoke Observer shared this NPS news release from January 27, 2015, that gives us… Continue reading bodie island burn coming up soon
ocracoke passenger ferry ok’d for spring test
In response to long lines and wait times at the ferry docks in the summer, the ferry division is going ahead with plans to test a passenger-only ferry run across Hatteras Inlet to Ocracoke. This great article by Peter Vankevich writing for the Ocracoke Observer, shares the details of the plan. “As part of the feasibility study to… Continue reading ocracoke passenger ferry ok’d for spring test