It has been a while since the last blog post so I thought I would just tell you about a few things that have been going on around here.
So far it has been a mild winter for which I am grateful. Today it is sunny and around 60 degrees. Yesterday was even warmer. It is hard to believe right now that it is January.

Many of you may have already heard that the National Park Service will be requiring a permit for driving on the beach. This will go into effect beginning February 15, 2012. The NPS has published the final rule document for the management of off road vehicle use at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore in the Federal Register. You can find this rule at https://www.federalregister.gov
Basically, anyone wishing to drive a vehicle on the beach will have to purchase a yearly or weekly permit after watching a 7 minute on beach driving at one of 3 designated locations.
No costs for the permits has been announced yet.
The final rule is also available on the NPS Planning Environmental and Public Comment website at parkplanning.nps.gov/documentsList.cfm?projectID=10641
For further information you may call 252-473-2111 Ext 148

Another huge issue that has raised a lot of hackles is the increase of ferry tolls for the Swan Quarter/Ocracoke, Cedar Island/Ocracoke and Southport/Fort Fisher ferries and the implementation of tolls on the Bayview/Aurora and Cherry Branch/Minnesott Beach ferries. New tolls will go into effect no later than April 1, 2012.
Several meetings have been scheduled for discussion of this matter, one of which was recently held on Ocracoke Island. As you can imagine residents and business owners are opposed to the toll increases and do not think it is fair.
No decision has been made yet on the amount of the tolls/toll increases but we have been hearing the current tolls will at least double. (A one way trip across the Sound is currently $15 for a regular passenger car. This may soon cost $30 or more...one way).
If you would like to submit a comment or question please do so NO LATER THAN FEBRUARY 16, 2012 to the following address:

Mr. Jamille A. Robbins, Public Involvement Officer
NCDOT-Human Environment Section
1598 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, NC 27699-1598
E-mail: jarobbins@ncdot.gov

Now for some less controversial news. Ocracoke School has really been enjoying the new gym that opened just before basketball season began. The gym is awesome! It is a "real" gym like other schools have and it is wonderful to have it.
Basketball has always been the sport at Ocracoke School. It is the only sport that has been played competitively over the years until recently. There are now boys and girls middle school and high school teams and believe me...they take this game very seriously. We have some fantastic players on all of the teams. For the past few years Ocracoke School has been playing in a conference. This is a big deal for our school.
There are still a few games left to play but so far this season:
Ocracoke High School Dolphins boys and girls both beat their long time rivals team...the Hatteras Hurricanes. This was the first time this has happened...EVER! You can imagine the excitement!! The new gym was rocking that night! 
Ocracoke High School hosted a Holiday Tournament in December in the new gym with 4 teams competing over a 2 day period. The Ocracoke girls won first place and the boys won second place.
Echo Bennink, senior, was honored for reaching 1000 points in her high school career. She was also featured on a local TV news show as Player Of The Week! You can watch the video here:
http://www.witn.com/video/?topVideoCatNo=default&autoStart=true&clipId=6648255
I have been hearing rumors that Ocracoke School may soon be forming teams in other sports such as baseball. There are some really great baseball players on Ocracoke. If you saw the July 4th parade last year then you may remember the baseball team (the Raptors) that were winging candy pretty hard and fast into the crowd.
Ocracoke School also has a very good cross country team that regularly wins awards and provides participants a great way to stay in shape.

The First Annual Ocracoke 5K and Family Fun Run will be held on April 28 with proceeds benefitting island organizations The Ocracoke Booster Club (also new at Ocracoke School this year) and the Ocracoke Community Radio (WOVV). Those organizing this event are hoping to make it an annual occurrence.
The course is US ATF certified.  
For more information or to register for the Ocracoke 5K and the Family Fun Run please visit their website:
http://www.ocracokeisland5krun.org/

Listverse has named Ocracoke Island #3 on their list of top 10 beaches! On their website they noted the privacy and seclusion of our beaches and say we have "some of the most pristine sand to be found". The beaches that made their list aren't just located in the US...there are beaches in Brazil, the Greek Islands, Philippines, Mexico and the Dominican Republic. We are so proud! 
You can see the top 10 beaches chosen by Listverse at http://listverse.com/2012/01/03/top-10-best-beaches-in-the-world/#.Tw2TIUeJKEB.facebook

This is the time of year when folks on the island take a breather. People go on vacation or do projects around the house that we don't have time to do during the busier times of the year. It is very quiet here and most of the businesses are closed. Soon, however, we will start preparations for a busy season full of new and returning visitors to our little piece of paradise. Everyone will be busy opening, sprucing, stocking and getting ready for your arrival. I have to say that while I do enjoy the peace, quiet and slower pace of the winter I am looking forward to the warm sunshine. I can almost feel it. 
Fear not...before you realize it you will be packing and heading to see us with a smile on your face. Spring is just around the corner!

 

The winners of Ocracoke Island Realty's 2011 Photo Contest have been chosen and I am happy to share them with you now. This year we had categories for entries so we had a winner for each category plus a grand prize winner.

Each year we get hundreds and hundreds of great pictures sent to us and I know from experience that it is very, very hard to pick winners.

Thank you to everyone who submitted photos and congratulations to all of our winners!!

Each category winner will receive a gift certificate good for $100 toward a stay in any of Ocracoke Island Realty's vacation homes, at any time of year.
The Grand Prize winner will receive a gift certificate good for $150 toward a stay in any of Ocracoke Island Realty's vacation homes, at any time of year.

Grand Prize winner & People category winner



This Grand Prize winning photo was submitted by Rhoda Byers of Wylie, Texas. 
It captures her brother and his nieces and nephew heading to the "fishing hole". 
Rhoda and her siblings were suprised by their father with a week in an OIR vacation home for a 
summer getaway. It looks like they made the very best of it.
This photo also won the People category.
Thanks, Rhoda!

Lighthouse category winner



Submitted by Angel Randazzo of Mooresville, NC, this photo proves that Ocracoke has a variety of
wildlife. She stated that many people have pictures of the lighthouse but not many have
pictures of a rat visiting the lighthouse. I venture to say that she is correct on that one.
This is actually a nutria. Nutria are large, herbivorous, semiaquatic rodents and they appear 
around the island from time to time. 
Thank you, Angel!

Beach Scene category winner



This photo was also submitted by Angel Randazzo. 
The family was amazed that her husband found this perfect seashell
while fishing in waist deep water. It must have been one of those beautiful days
when the water was warm and clear. 
Thanks again, Angel!

Sunrise Sunset category winner



Joe Kuttenkuler of Glen Allen, PA submitted this photo of a sanddollar sunset over Pamlico Sound.
Beautiful!
Thanks, Joe!

Children category winner



Georgia Beach of Manteo, NC submitted this photo of a proud Haley. 
Haley caught 2 fish at once on her hot pink fishing rod.
Way to go!!
Thanks, Georgia!

On The Water category winner



Lori McGeehan submitted this interesting photo of a blue crab that was caught with a 
clam rake. Nice shot.
Thanks, Lori!

Pets category winner



Mary Kay Flick shared this photo of an Ocrakitty. Ocrakitties abound on the island. If you
get a chance you should give one a forever home. 
Thank you, Mary Kay!

Around The Village category winner



Deirdre McKeown of Sneads Ferry, NC was able to capture this great photo of a pelican
that flew by as she was standing on a dock on Silver Lake. 
Thank you, Deirdre!


Once again a big CONGRATULATIONS to our Grand Prize and Category winners and a big THANK YOU to all who submitted photos for this year's contest. 

We are looking forward to more great pictures in 2012!
 
 

There can be no such thing as too much beach time. I have continued to try to get to the beach every time I have a chance. The weather has been fairly cooperative even if the fish haven't. I don't think I really go out for the fishing as much as I go just to be on the beach.

This time of year it is so peaceful and beautiful on our beaches. The sunsets have been incredible and so have the skies in general. Yesterday evening the sky was absolutely gorgeous!! There were so many colors and hues and tints to see. It was mostly cloudy but that just made it more breathtaking.
The water was calm and the wind was not too strong.

After getting off work my friend and I went out to try some fishing and spend some time on the beach. After finding a spot we wanted to try we cast our lines out and just stood looking around us at the sky. It wasn't too long before the dolphins appeared right in front of us and very close to shore. They were playing and having a grand old time. They hung out nearby for quite some time while we watched them.

Even as the dolphins played practically right at our feet we were watching the ever-changing sky as the sun set and the colors moved and changed. A panoramic view of heaven!
I really appreciate this place and feel privileged to live here! Ocracoke beaches are soul-cleansing. That is how I came up with my new slogan...Ocracoke-The Place To Beach!

I did not have a camera with me but I took some pictures with my cell phone. The pictures aren't very good and they certainly do not come close to conveying the beauty of last evening's sky but I am sharing them anyway.
The best way to see the fantastic skies and sunsets of late fall and winter on Ocracoke is to come experience them for yourself. Call us and let us help you get here!

Fishing with friends at sunset.

Recently I decided to try surf fishing. I have never cared much about it but, if you recall, earlier this year I was invited to fish in the Ocracoke Invitational Surf  Fishing Tournament. I enjoyed the time spent on the beach with friends and I actually enjoyed trying to fish. Included in the prize package each of our team members won was a nice rod and reel. I was looking at them a few weeks ago and suddenly thought to myself, "I have these nice items...why not learn how to use them?"

I took the rod and reel to Tradewinds and got the equipment rigged. I got lots of good advice and some bait and was on my way. The first time I went out I didn't catch any fish but I got lots of casting practice and I did get a feel for what was happening. I could tell what was the current, what was the weight moving along the bottom and what it felt like to get a nibble. I actually enjoyed myself even though all I really did was feed bait to the crabs and minnows. As of today I have caught a total of 3 fish...all bluefish...and they were delicious.

                                                        
My first fish                                                 My second fish                                           Cyndi's first fish

My good friend and co-worker soon joined me and we have been going every chance we get. Occasionally another friend will join us who is much more experienced than we are.
It is very relaxing. We cast our lines and look up and down our beautiful beach, seldom even talking. We usually go in the late afternoon and evening so we have been thrilled to actually enjoy some breathtaking sunsets. It reminds us each time we go how lucky we are to live here. Paradise.

Sometimes, especially during the busier months, it is easy to forget where we are. Life is so hectic and when you do have a minute that you aren't working you don't feel like getting out in the crowds or the heat. I have spent more time on the beach since Hurricane Irene than I have in (probably) years...and the more time I spend out there the more I am thankful to live here in this beautiful place.

If you don't live here, don't despair! Plan a visit to Ocracoke...especially in the off seasons...and look forward to beautiful beaches, fabulous sunrises and sunsets, wonderfully fresh seafood, good vibes and good people. When you get here make haste to the shore and breathe in the salt air...close your eyes and clear your mind and enjoy the peaceful paradise that is Ocracoke Island. You will not be sorry. You will most likely return home refreshed with a smile on your face and memories to last until you can come again!

Once Hurricane Irene had passed those of us who stayed on the island were able to get out and enjoy the beaches. It seemed the beach changed daily. First lots of grass and tree debris washed up. Then we began to see parts of houses and docks. Many interesting shells and marine life were spotted. Finally the trash started showing up. Then...suddenly...it was all gone.

Throughout most of the time the water was beautiful...and warm. Everyone tried to spend as much time on the beach as possible.

The beaches are still great. They  are clean. The water is still fairly warm. Folks are catching fish. It is a great time to be here! Just be sure to make your ferry reservations to come and go. It will probably be close to mid October before northern Highway 12 is repaired enough for traffic to be allowed through.

Until you can get here please enjoy these pictures of Ocracoke's post Irene beaches.

                              Wish you were here?

You can be!! The end of summer is near and the "back to school" season is in progress. Fall is coming and it is one of my favorite times of the year! 

Now is a great time to be on Ocracoke Island. The weather is great, the crowds are thinner, everything is open and the beaches are, as always, fantastic!!

As the water begins to cool the fish begin to bite making certain areas of the beach a fisherman's paradise. Mornings and evenings are perfect for sitting on the porch or deck. Ocracoke sunrises and sunsets are unbeatable!

Summer isn't quite over but this is the time of year when the rental rates go lower. Beginning 8/20 Ocracoke Island Realty's rental rates start to drop. September 3 the rates drop even more.
Not to mention all the great specials already listed on our website.
www.ocracokeislandrealty.com

So...if you are ready for an end of summer getaway but don't want to pay summer prices...give us a call and let us help you get here!!

Ocracoke Island Realty
877-646-2822
Experience. Knowledge. Compassion.

 

Visitors to Ocracoke commonly have heard about our banker ponies.  The National Park Service tends to their needs and the horses are kept in an enclosure on the north end of the island – about seven miles outside of town.  Any further knowledge, however, generally stops there, and I personally have been asked plenty of questions about the ponies just in this summer alone. 

The best theory about the origin of these horses can be summed up in one word: shipwrecks.  Being located in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, Ocracoke has seen its fair share of shipwrecks.  It’s commonly believed that our banker ponies are descendants of those horses, possibly Spanish mustangs, that survived these disasters and were stranded on Ocracoke.

It’s interesting to note that the horses fairly quickly adapted and evolved to better survive in the island environment.  They dug for fresh water with their hooves, but the well water they found was brackish.  They ate marsh grass, which no horse in its right mind would touch.  Actually, when the Ocracoke mounted Boy Scout troop came into being and the scouts had to retain their ponies instead of letting them roam, the boys had to “teach” their horses to eat hay and oats.  The banker ponies are an extremely hardy breed.

Originally, the horses ran free on Ocracoke.  Many an older native can tell you a story about waking up in the morning to find a herd in their yard grazing.  Every July 4^th the island would hold a pony penning; the horses would be driven into town, counted and branded, and then set free once more.  While the ponies were all wild, they were still technically owned by various community members.  They were later penned while the mounted Boy Scout troop was around for the preservation and safety of the herd.

For those of you who aren’t aware of the Ocracoke mounted Boy Scouts, here’s a quick little lesson:

The Rise

The mounted boy scouts of Ocracoke were the only mounted troop in the nation.  During the mid 1950’s, Lt Colonel Marvin Howard, who formally served with the US Navy in WWI before switching over to the US Army Corps of Engineers, was the acting scoutmaster and formulated the idea to put the boys on the banker ponies.  While most of the horses had their own nominal owner, once paid for, the boys were each responsible for catching and taming their mount.  They tested various ways to break their ponies, like using a sand-filled dummy in place of a rider or leading the horses into deeper water where the weight of the boys and the tack was lessened; although the scouts did tend to ride bareback often.  “Gee” and “haw” were not familiar commands for these ponies either, as the boys instead used the nautical terms “port” and “starboard.”  The unparalleled spirit of the Ocracoke boy scouts and the novelty of their four-legged counterparts drew national recognition in the form of news media and outside photographers.  Ben Dixon MacNeill, a journalist at the time, later went on to mention these mounted scouts in his book The Hatterasman and their trips to the annual Pirates Jamboree and pony races in Hatteras.  Other published works that contain information on the Ocracoke troop include Ocracoke by Carl Goerch, Ocracoke Album by Jack Dudley, and Wild Ponies of Ocracoke by Earl W. O’Neal, Jr.

The Fall

After the Cape Hatteras National Seashore came into being in 1953, the National Park Service set restrictions in place, and banned all freely roaming livestock on Ocracoke.  This included the banker ponies, as they were all owned by various members of the community, and, therefore, were considered livestock.  Through the team efforts of Scoutmaster Marvin Howard, the scouts, the Rondthalers, Sam Jones, and various others, the National Park Service was persuaded to keep a small herd on the island.  The scouts built the fenced enclosure for the ponies and maintained it themselves for awhile.  Not long after, the Boy Scouts of America demanded the boys must carry insurance if they continued to ride in the name of scouting.  It was an unrealistic demand, as no boy of that age could afford insurance.  The BSA withdrew their support, the boys could no longer ride their horses as scouts, and the pony pasture became too expensive to maintain.  The National Park Service took control of the horses in the late 60’s and now steadily manages the herd.  The mounted scouts of Ocracoke had existed roughly ten years.

            The herd continues to prosper on Ocracoke, though it’s a small one.  In order to keep the bloodlines pure but free of inbreeding, the Park Service will bring in purebred banker ponies from other areas on the coast to use for breeding and continuing the line of Ocracoke ponies.

“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

Chrisi

Preston & Prissy...2 of our first adoptees...

Anyone who visits Ocracoke can't miss the abundant population of feral cats who reside all over the island. You see them at stores, restaurants, the post office, rental houses, motels...pretty much everywhere. We have quite a love/hate relationship with these creatures. We do not appreciate the occasionally misplaced fecal matter; nor do we like the paw prints all over our vehicles. Probably the most annoying thing of all is when they get into the trash that you have so carefully bagged and placed outside to be picked up. 

     


Most of the feral cats are fed regularly. Whether it is a caring resident who goes from place to place feeding colonies at a time or a kind visitor that feeds the cat(s) that hang out around their motel or rental home. Many people buy food for the kitties out of their own pockets but Ocracats foots the bill for most of them. Ocracats also works with vets on medical issues and spaying/neutering. Speedy procreation is the biggest problem with the feral cats. That is why the spay/neuter clinics are so important. 

  
Ocracats come in all shapes and sizes...

   
    and they are all adorable!!

Ocracats is an organization that thrives on donations and volunteers. Food, time, services and money are always needed and appreciated. Ocracoke Island Realty has worked with Ocracats in different ways. We have collected cats and kittens and taken them to the spay/neuter clinics, then cared for them while they recovered. We have kept kittens in the rental office hoping to adopt them out to good homes. To date Ocracoke Island Realty has assisted in the adoption of at least 20 kittens. Some of us have even adopted kittens ourselves. In fact, most of our staff has anywhere from a few to plenty of cats around our homes that we keep fat and happy. 


Even some of the older kitties need a chance...

       
Kiddies love kitties...                                                    Elvis & Cash on their way to their new home...

I have quite a few cats living around my house and recently I found a kitten underneath my steps that had been abandoned by its mother. What could I do? I contacted some of my Ocracat friends and rounded up a tiny bottle and some formula. Then I went to the Variety Store and got just the right box. The kitten was still there when I got home so I scooped him up, took him inside and now I have a new baby. The kitten is a male that is somewhere around a month old. He can't eat regular food or go to the bathroom on his own yet but in the past week since I have been caring for him he is getting stronger and stronger. He seems to be healthy so I am not sure why the mom wouldn't take care of him. He is a loud little fellow though...very vocal!!

        
My new baby...                                                               Now I have to name him...

If you are interested in adopting an Ocrakitten please contact our office and we can find out if there are any available and let you know how to go about giving an adorable kitten a home. Ocracats are a wonderful, loving, life long reminder of your vacation paradise.  

Fig preserves        


    My last entry was about the native flora found on Ocracoke, and, of course, I made mention of the fig tree.  Afterwards, I began to think of the various ways we put our figs to use.  Fig preserves are an immediate go-to when it comes to an abundance of the fruit, and the jam lasts for a very, very long time.  Some people like to eat them just as they are, freshly ripe.  I love to halve them, drizzle with olive oil, crumble bleu cheese on top, and bake them in the oven.  They’re excellent as hors d’oeuvres that way.  For as long as I can remember, and probably as long as most nowadays can remember, however, fig cake is the favorite way to make use of figs on Ocracoke.  In honor of that tradition, I decided to post a classic Ocracoke fig cake recipe.


Fig cake

Ocracoke Fig Cake

1 cup salad oil

1½ cups sugar

3 eggs

1 tsp. soda, dissolved in a little hot water

2 cups flour

1 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. allspice

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. salt

½ cup buttermilk

1 tsp. vanilla

1 cup preserved figs, chopped

1 cup chopped nuts

Beat the eggs; add sugar and oil.  Sift dry ingredients; add to egg mixture alternately with buttermilk.  Add vanilla and fold in figs and nuts.  Pour into greased oblong pan and bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes - 1 hour, or in a well-greased tube pan (bundt) at 350 degrees just a little longer.

            If you are unable to make fig cake yourself, there are plenty of places on Ocracoke you can try it.  Café Atlantic and The Back Porch Restaurant both serve fig cake seasonally.  Woccocon Gifts stand on Lighthouse Road has made-to-order fig cakes.  Even the Ocracoke Fish & Seafood Company sometimes sells slices of locally made fig cake.  By all means, if you get the chance to taste Ocracoke fig cake, you should!

“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

Chrisi

Confetti Lantana

For years of living and working here, every summer I’ve always had at least a handful of tourists who expressed an interest in the local plants.  It’s occurred to me that perhaps a little tutorial is probably in order.

   
Honeysuckle                                                       Oleander

There are many lantana bushes around the island, with pink and yellow blossoms.  Honeysuckle abounds here, some a white-yellow mixture and some red.  Oleander bushes, marked by their pink or white blooms and narrow leaves, can be spotted in just about every yard.  And, of course, we have an astounding array of live oaks.  A word to the wise, folks – though lantana and oleander are both very pretty, they are highly toxic to both animals and people.  If handled, it’s best to wash your hands before you eat or drink.


Live Oak at Springer's Point

One of our “celebrity” plants is the brightly colored, daisy-like red and yellow Gaillardia flower, locally known as the “Joe Bell.”  According to a popular legend, the original flower seeds were brought here by a man named Joe Bell.  He came to Ocracoke lovesick and broken-hearted because his lady love had married another; he moved here to escape his lost love.  He planted flower seeds until one day he was found lying dead in a patch of the beautiful blooms.  Local lore says that as long as Joe Bells continue to bloom on Ocracoke, so does the spirit of the man named Joe Bell.


Gaillardia (Joe Bell)

Fred Mallison, the nephew of Mr. Bell, says that while his uncle did bring Gaillardia seeds to the Outer Banks, it was not because of a broken heart.  It makes a good story, though, and, as the flowers thrive in our sandy soil and dry, hot summer sun, it’s a lovely thought that they celebrate the spirit of the man who so carefully tended them.


Yaupon

The native yaupon shrub or tree (depending on size), with its red berries, is found in great profusion over the island.  Its leaves and twigs have been dried as a tea for centuries.  Croatan Indians on Ocracoke and Hatteras Islands used the tea, called the “Black Drink”, for medicinal and ceremonial purposes, and traded it with their neighbors to the west.  Later residents enjoyed it as a replacement for Asian tea and coffee, as it is high in caffeine, especially during the Revolutionary and Civil Wars when they were difficult to obtain.  Many of Ocracoke’s old-timers remember their parents and grandparents drinking yaupon tea.  It is claimed that yaupon tea can be used as a stimulant, a tonic, an aphrodisiac, and a cure for hangovers.  Do not, however, attempt to make a tea from fresh ingredients, as the raw plant is toxic and acts as a purgative.  The leaves must be smoked or dried to cure out the toxins.  The Ocracoke Preservation Society Museum sells the dry tea, and, though I’m not certain, there may be a couple of stands on the island that do as well.


Fig tree with unripened figs

Of course, who can forget the fig trees?  Those of you who have been to the island before may or may not have noticed, but Ocracoke is full to bursting with fig trees, and many varieties, too.  There’s something about our sandy soil and hot climate that they love.  Some of the varieties are Sugar (the sweetest), Brown Turkey, Pound, Lemon and Celeste.  Most of the Ocracoke figs begin to ripen in mid-July and can continue all the way into late September.  In many restaurants you can order fig cake for dessert; I highly recommend you try Ocracoke fig cake if you haven’t yet.  Fig preserves can be purchased at the OPS Museum, the Variety Store, Woccocon Gifts on Lighthouse Road, the Community Store, and The Village Craftsmen.


Ripe figs

So there you have it – a crash course in Ocracoke flora!  I’m sure I’m forgetting some plants, but this is just a basic run-through of those you’ll most likely come in contact with.

“Until tomorrow and tomorrow and tomorrow”

Chrisi