Making the most of our time on Ocreacoke

Wednesday morning was nice with only light wind for once.  As Keith and I were having coffee on the back of Southern Style we noticed the small boat that ferries people from Ocracoke to Portsmouth Island over by the car ferry docks.  Keith walked over to see if they had room for two more and they did.  We quickly threw together a small beach bag and headed over to Portsmouth for a few hours.  This uninhabited island just south of Ocracoke is one of our favorite places for shelling.  With the wind and churned up surf the last several days we were hopeful to find some Scotch Bonnets and boy did we.  It was our largest booty of the elusive shells yet with 52 whole shells found.  What a great day and perfect for walking on the beach.

Portsmouth Island, no crowds here

  

This ATON (aid to navigation) did not make it through the winter storms

It was washed up on the beach

Our Scotch Bonnets (State Shell of NC)

Because the weather was so nice on Wednesday, we decided to have hamburgers and hot dogs for dinner.  The perfect ending to a beach day.

Thursday the wind had returned "AGAIN".  Much of the day was spent inside.  A take-out lunch from Edwardo's, a local Mexican food truck, is always yummy.  Best burritos bar none.

Eduardo's

  We also got 200 local oysters from a connection Russ introduced us to.  They were delivered in the afternoon and Thursday evening in the shelter of Southern Styles cockpit Keith and I had oysters on the half shell from the swim platform.  YUM.  These were literally pulled out of the water only an hour ago.

Friday was a stellar weather day (do you get the sense that the weather has been a bit up and down).  Keith and I had brunch at the Pony Island Restaurant and then walked Springer's Point and the nature trial at Hammock Point.

Pamlico Sound from the nature trail

 The afternoon was spent on the boat enjoying every drop of sun and warmth we could and then off to Russ and Michelle's for some authentic Pad Thai for dinner.  We need to return their SUV which they lent us for the week.  Pengi is sorry to have to give it back.  He got spoiled having wheels for the week.

Pengi and his wheels