This post seems hard to write because it’s been a year now since we bought 10 Cuttin Sage and I’m feeling the need to do some type of grand finale. I’m wondering if I should end it here since this would be a good place to do that. I’ve gotten a little addicted to writing it; and I would hate to disappoint my 2 followers (Mom included. Thanks, Mom for supporting me!)
We took a trip there just a few weeks ago in October with my husband’s parents so that they could see the house. My mother was supposed to go but she decided to wait until next year to see it. We arrived on the anniversary date of the day that we closed one year ago and two days before the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. (There is no feeling like the one you get when you close on a beach house and then have to evacuate the next day due to a hurricane!). We were very blessed that no damage occurred to Ocracoke Island except for a little water here and there!
So on October 25th we celebrated the first anniversary of being rental cottage owners. It also just so happened to be the First Annual Pirate Jamboree on Ocracoke! (Actually it was the Third First Annual Pirate Jamboree because the two previous years were cancelled due to hurricanes). Did you know that, just as there are Civil and Revolutionary War reenactments, there are pirate battle reenactments? AND the people involved are quite serious about it. That weekend the island was full of pirates and wenches from all over! Fittingly, most of them stayed at Blackbeard’s Lodge. The battle took place Saturday afternoon in the harbor with a riveting fight between 2 ships with the finale being the beheading of Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard). The next day, a memorial service was performed at Springer’s Point complete with a pirate parade, bagpipes, dirge singing and real tears! The best part was that after the ceremony, a wench hitched a ride with us due to some difficulty walking long distances. She just happened to be lead songwriter and dirge-singer for the group. It was a day to remember!
We enjoyed some wonderful meals out at Howard’s Pub, Dajio, and Back Porch Restaurants, especially knowing that all will be closing in a few weeks until next year when a new season of tourism begins. Such a bittersweet ending to a fun and eventful year.
The entrance to the pirate encampment across from SmacNally’s on the harbor. There is a skeleton on the left side of the photo but it’s a little hard to see it.
Blackbeard’s ship anchored out in the harbor awaiting the big battle!
The owner of this vehicle seems a bit schizophrenic to me, not that I’m criticizing! You never know what you’re going to see on this island!
The last day, we decided to take the Swan Quarter Ferry home. It’s the southern route; a two and a half hour ferry ride, as opposed to the forty minute Hatteras Ferry north. It’s about the same amount of time home; just a longer ferry ride and shorter car ride. We caught the 7 am ferry that morning and caught some sights we weren’t expecting.
On the right side of the photo you can barely see the lighthouse with its tiny glowing lamplight.
Dolphins escorted us most of the way to the mainland.
Is it a desert? The Arctic? No, it’s the Pamlico Sound at sunrise looking away from the sun on the other side of the ferry.
There are no words to describe the spectacular show that God put on for us that morning. My husband must have taken hundreds of photos. These are just a few. No special camera or lenses or filters were used. This is simply nature expressing itself.
I’ve been to Ocracoke a total of eight times this past year. I’ve spent roughly 160 hours in the car coming and going (with kids, without kids, with dog, without dog.) I was so afraid I would get tired from all that traveling. I haven’t calculated the hours spent planning, shopping, decorating, comparing rental rates, studying the market, etc. It has been a gift, a joy, a blessing for us and for many others in the future as we share it with friends and family. I would do it over again in a heartbeat……and I can’t wait until I get to return to 10 Cuttin Sage next year.
Maybe I will keep this blog going…….After all, I still haven’t written about Fish Camp, Becky the cat, artists, Watermen, sand dollars, boutiques, Eduardo’s, wild horses, new island friends…………….
We took a trip there just a few weeks ago in October with my husband’s parents so that they could see the house. My mother was supposed to go but she decided to wait until next year to see it. We arrived on the anniversary date of the day that we closed one year ago and two days before the anniversary of Hurricane Sandy. (There is no feeling like the one you get when you close on a beach house and then have to evacuate the next day due to a hurricane!). We were very blessed that no damage occurred to Ocracoke Island except for a little water here and there!
So on October 25th we celebrated the first anniversary of being rental cottage owners. It also just so happened to be the First Annual Pirate Jamboree on Ocracoke! (Actually it was the Third First Annual Pirate Jamboree because the two previous years were cancelled due to hurricanes). Did you know that, just as there are Civil and Revolutionary War reenactments, there are pirate battle reenactments? AND the people involved are quite serious about it. That weekend the island was full of pirates and wenches from all over! Fittingly, most of them stayed at Blackbeard’s Lodge. The battle took place Saturday afternoon in the harbor with a riveting fight between 2 ships with the finale being the beheading of Edward Teach (aka Blackbeard). The next day, a memorial service was performed at Springer’s Point complete with a pirate parade, bagpipes, dirge singing and real tears! The best part was that after the ceremony, a wench hitched a ride with us due to some difficulty walking long distances. She just happened to be lead songwriter and dirge-singer for the group. It was a day to remember!
We enjoyed some wonderful meals out at Howard’s Pub, Dajio, and Back Porch Restaurants, especially knowing that all will be closing in a few weeks until next year when a new season of tourism begins. Such a bittersweet ending to a fun and eventful year.
Blackbeard’s ship anchored out in the harbor awaiting the big battle!
The owner of this vehicle seems a bit schizophrenic to me, not that I’m criticizing! You never know what you’re going to see on this island!
The last day, we decided to take the Swan Quarter Ferry home. It’s the southern route; a two and a half hour ferry ride, as opposed to the forty minute Hatteras Ferry north. It’s about the same amount of time home; just a longer ferry ride and shorter car ride. We caught the 7 am ferry that morning and caught some sights we weren’t expecting.
On the right side of the photo you can barely see the lighthouse with its tiny glowing lamplight.
Dolphins escorted us most of the way to the mainland.
Is it a desert? The Arctic? No, it’s the Pamlico Sound at sunrise looking away from the sun on the other side of the ferry.
There are no words to describe the spectacular show that God put on for us that morning. My husband must have taken hundreds of photos. These are just a few. No special camera or lenses or filters were used. This is simply nature expressing itself.
I’ve been to Ocracoke a total of eight times this past year. I’ve spent roughly 160 hours in the car coming and going (with kids, without kids, with dog, without dog.) I was so afraid I would get tired from all that traveling. I haven’t calculated the hours spent planning, shopping, decorating, comparing rental rates, studying the market, etc. It has been a gift, a joy, a blessing for us and for many others in the future as we share it with friends and family. I would do it over again in a heartbeat……and I can’t wait until I get to return to 10 Cuttin Sage next year.
Maybe I will keep this blog going…….After all, I still haven’t written about Fish Camp, Becky the cat, artists, Watermen, sand dollars, boutiques, Eduardo’s, wild horses, new island friends…………….
The photos of your ferry ride are spectacular!!! I have enjoyed reading about your cottage and hope that someday, I can rent it for a week! :)
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