Monday morning (8/5) we waited for the bridge restriction (6:30-8:30 am) to lift, requested an opening, and departed New Bern Grand Marina and Yacht Club at about 8:45. We had decided to set out and explore the “Outer Banks” area. Rather than travel one reeeaaallly long day we decided to break it up into two shorter days which meant following our tracks back to Oriental, NC.

We remembered there were a couple of “free” docks just a few hundred feet from where we docked at the Oriental Marina & Inn for $76 a night. Who says there’s no free lunch? Same location, same view, hey why not? After a nice easy journey of a little over three hours we arrived in Oriental in the rain. There was a small boat already in the free slip, but we could see there was room for us to fit behind them, so, in the rain, we shimmied in. I had a bit of a limited view with my hooded duck-yellow slicker flapping in the breeze, as I prepared the fenders, lines and prepared to hop onto the dock. Just as I was ready to hop – a man came running from the “The Bean” coffee shop across the street – with no rain gear on– and grabbed our lines. We kept telling him we were ok to go back inside and stay dry, but he insisted and stayed until we were completely secure then, dripping wet, he headed back to his coffee. Wow, what a nice guy. We had a comfortable night at our free dock and took off the next morning for Ocracoke Island on the Outer Banks.

The trip to Ocracoke took about five hours and was a bit lumpy as we crossed the Pamlico Sound which is a large open and shallow body of water. It was supposed to be a no-rain, no-wind day so we decided to go for it and the weather person was exactly right. We just missed the last part of the weather report regarding a “bit of lumpiness”.

Arriving in Ocracoke, we had to make a button hook turn for an extremely narrow harbor entrance. It’s not wide enough for two ferries to pass and there’s lots of ferry traffic coming and going. It was suggested that us “pleasure craft” try to follow a ferry in – but we didn’t – and we survived. The channel opened to a beautiful small, well protected, horse-shoe shaped cove where we decided to anchor. Yey, another free night! The only other occupants anchored were a 40-foot sailboat and an abandoned sailboat – Nice! Our anchoring spot had a bird’s eye view of the ferry traffic, but we were far enough away that we weren’t affected their movement.

We dropped the hook and it took hold right away – easy-peasy! We lowered Scout-About and went in for a quick walk-about. The island seemed really busy for a Tuesday afternoon with lots of folks milling around and enjoying the day. There is no bridge to the island, so the only access is by boat or aircraft. Motorists must take a ferry from Swan Quarter, Cedar Island or Hatteras Island. We experienced the main road that circles the island which is said to have been dirt until being paved in 1957. This road accommodates big trucks, little trucks, cars, motorcycles, golf carts, bicycles, and pedestrians (both two legged and four legged) which made for a pretty exciting walk for the four of us.

Thinking we’ll stay a little longer…..will keep you posted.