On the Southern Literary Trail discussion

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190...

Sorry no idea where to put this but of interest

Thanks, Jane. I've been to Okracoke Island several times, but did not realize a lot of things in this article. It's way too isolated for me, even in the summer when it's full of tourists coming over from the Outer Banks. But it is pictuesque, and I'm sure lonely in the winter time. They get some ferocious storms too.

Jane wrote: "http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20190...

Sorry no idea where to put this but of interest"

Thanks for the link, Jane. I had never heard of the island, but I am not surprised that Diane has. It certainly sounds like a fascinating place.

Diane's mention of the storms made me wonder if the island is being threatened by the rising water in the Carolina coastal areas. There was no mention of any threat in the article, but I would think there has to be some concern.

The dialects in the south are fascinating and in rural areas of Georgia I have heard many old English sayings dating back to the 18 th century and found in Shakespeare

A few decades ago I had done some research into this but then I got a life - chuckle-

I would love to visit this place.

I haven't been in several years, but just across the inlet is Portsmouth Island, maintained by the National Park Service. Is is a "ghost island" of sorts now ,as the last permanent resident left some many years ago, and only camping is permitted now. Only accessible by private boat, no ferry service. A lot of the houses still stand, and you notice immediately when you go into them that the floors are all full of holes. All houses are on short 3-4 foot pilings. The holes are so that during hurricane and nor'easter overwash, the water will drain quickly. It was such a common occurrence with no way for the islanders to get off the island that they came up with that solution. I have never been in an Okracoke residence, so don't know if they use the same idea. But I have been in a nor'easter on Okracoke, with no way out once they close the ferry. We had gotten there on our own boat, the storm blew up quickly and gale force winds kept us there. That was my last time.

When we were first married, my husband and I would go yearly to Ocracoke for 2 weeks - it was far, and beautiful, and felt worlds away. We met some fantastic characters, and even named our son after one ancient sailor we met, Owen, who had moved his house from one side of the island to the other on his back. He also carved decoys, and had an entire clipper ship tattooed on his chest. It was a magical world. That was 30 years ago... it is almost like any other place now, full of people, with lines to get anywhere, and the prices have caught up too! Returning with our toddlers after a few years absence 15 or so years ago turned us off to it.

However... in Ocracoke, the beaches are national seashore park - no buildings, fantastic dunes, and if you walk you will find yourself alone with the birds and waves! You have to drive (or bike) to the beach, so it's more of a commitment, but at least there are no monster beach houses cluttering the view. Great place to fish, swim, read, cook, starwatch, explore... if that's what you like to do. Agree that it is definitely a place to avoid during hurricane season, as is the entire "OBX" Outer Banks - it's just a thin strip of barrier islands connected by one bridge to the mainland.