Trip to our Blog's namesake: Okracoke

So another ill-fated beach day. Cloudy stormy weather prevents me from working on my tan today. Boo hoo. But, that opened up the opportunity to partake in other island activities. Today, we decided it was time to take our pilgrimage to Ockracoke Island. It's about an hour and a half drive south of where we are staying in Southern shores. You drive to Hatteras Island and then take a 40 minute car ferry ride over. On the drive down, we encountered rainstorms from Hell, but we managed to make it anyway thanks to my expert driving and positive attitude:



My pics of the ferry ride didn't all turn out due to a smudge on my lens. annoying. any way, here are a few other highlights:

Cap'n Clam's Boat -


All along these islands, German submarines and ships prowled during WWII. In Ockracoke, there is a cemetery that has the bodies of 4 British Sailors who washed ashore after their ship was attacked by Germans. I was hoping our ferry would not be attacked by Germans or Blackbeard the Pirate, who met his fate on this island as well. Here's a ferry like ours:



We survived sans pirate or Nazi attacks.

One of the highlights had to be our wonderful lunch at the Creekside Cafe. Who knew former Pittsburghers from the North Hills would be living down here and running a restaurant:





And they were serving ice-cold Yuengling beer on what tuned out to be a mostly sunny island visit - nectar of the Gods, and Kathleen approved:



And the food was amazing. Fish called Drum was freshly caught and served with a homeade tartar sauce, fries, and cole slaw. Something about this kind of food and hot weather just kinda go together. The fish was mild, meaty and TASTY. Pictures don't do it justice, but judge for yourself:


Didn't know Ockracoke's beaches were rated #1 - sorry California. But they were really beautiful.






The drive back was relatively uneventful, except for the skies opening up again. awesome. But a few final highlights. An old timey gas pump - read, not digitial, but dials. back when men were men, and gas pumps were gas pumps.


And what trip to the Outerbanks would be complete without a stop at a brew-thu. Thanks to Jesse Helms and co., you buy your beer in a drive through type building. Weird state laws. And you have to buy your hard liquor at a state ABC store. Awesome:





Judy's Peach Cobbler tonight. Notice a food and booze theme? Libras are known for their love of all things delish - unfortunately usually to excess. Get in me belly!!

Steelers pre-season game against Carolina Panthers tonight, for what it's worth. Obama at the DNC - hooray.