Perfect Day on the Great Loop

Ocacroke Island, NC
Cape Hatteras

This island is way out on the Outer Banks tof he Pamlico Sound. You get here by ferry or boat. It's got a lot of ambiance, nautical heritage and pirate stories.

Ocacroke Lighthouse - still operating. Oldest in NC. The walls at the bottom are 5 feet thick..Durng hurricanes the people used to hide out in here.

We were just told we couldn't miss this place as it was the "jewel of the east" and the closest thing they have to the Bahamas. So..... this morning we changed our plans and instead of going north up the ICW we went 45 miles east to the NC Outer Banks to see it. This was a big deal as Bill had already done the navigation for going north and the good weather window is small.

All the beaches have wooden boardwalks over the dunes to the sand

Ocacrokes Wild Horses - descendants of fifteen century horses that were left by Spanish conquistadors. Up until 15 years ago they used to roam free over the entire island and beaches, but they had problems roaming onto roads and private yards so now they're fenced in their own area. The horses are fed them, but they have never been ridden or had horse shoes.

conch shells

lots of houses on stilts (for the storms)

15 mile long deserted beach.

Ocracoke is beautiful, very laid back, casual. simple, a good escape from the mainland. We didn't see it like the Bahamas though - the water is not warm and clear , the air is different, too many tourists and commercialism. The Bahamas are just a different animal.

We had a great time here. Spent 2 nights here riding bikes, exploring , hanging out at the local bars.

There are lots of golf carts, bikes here, not as many people using cars. There is a ferry that brings people and cars from the mainland