• Home
  • Search Rentals Rental Policies
  • Vacation Insurance All Seasons Travel Plan All Seasons Travel Plan Description Accidental Rental Damage Insurance Accidental Rental Damage Insurance Description
  • Area Info Local Links Ferry Information
  • Guests Login
  • Owner Login
  • Sales
  • Vacations Blog
  • Contact Us Request a Brochure

Blue Heron Vacations Blog

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

post Irene

We were incredibly lucky on Ocracoke during Irene.  The tides were low when the storm was passing to our west, and we came out of the storm in much better shape than our neighbors on Hatteras Island and on the Hyde County mainland. 

Late Saturday night the winds finally stopped and the crickets and frogs started up again, so we hauled the chairs back out to the porch and sat together in the deep darkness. 

On Sunday everyone started restoring order, taking boards off windows, putting boats back in the water, clearing limbs and the trees that went down, gathering piles of shingles that broke loose.  It was hot and still.  All over the island you could hear the thrum of generators and chainsaws.  Lots of helicopters made low passes over the island to assess our situation. 

Ferries were shuttling Emergency Service workers on Sunday and Monday, and the rest of us took long walks on the beach, or gathered some friends and went out in boats to visit Portsmouth.  Our cell service was up quickly, so there were lots of conversations reassuring evacuees and others that homes and vacation houses had weathered the storm. 

It seems unlikely that we'll be ready for visitors by Labor Day weekend, but everyone is encouraged to visit later this fall, once we are restored to a power supply.  Locals will be delighted to have the business, I promise.





posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 11:47 PM 5 Comments

Friday, August 26, 2011

storm clouds

Ignore my previous post:  I'm stayin'!  Micah offered a place to park my car on his nicely elevated properly.  Thanks, Micah! 

The rain bands have started but we're secure inside this well built house.  Going to inventory the fridge and make some food that's easy to eat when the power goes out. 

posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 3:51 PM 4 Comments

Thursday, August 25, 2011

crunch time

Ok, I've decided to evacuate.  If my uninsured car floods I can't afford to replace it and vacation all winter long in the manner to which I've grown accustomed.  Spent the morning securing my propane tank and double checking the yard.  Boats are out of the water and secured in various creeks around the island. 

My lovely island home is as secure as possible; just waiting for Jason to help me board up a few windows.  Heather is staying and she'll be taking photos.  wovv.org is broadcasting on line, and people have been in the studio giving updates.  It's worth a listen. 

Ocracoke is lovely and quiet right now, but there is a sense of anxiety as everyone checks that their property is in order. 

posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 10:58 AM 2 Comments

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

preparation

The dump was a hive of activity today, as everyone has cleaned up the yard of their Ocracoke Island homes in preparation for Hurricane Irene.  It's not window boarding time yet, but I'm sure that will happen if she keeps heading our way. 

I plan to check the forecast tomorrow and possibly head inland on Thursday.  I'm also gathering board games and a list of friends who are staying, in case I decide to ride it out.  WOVV 90.l fm is broadcasting updates.  You can listen even if you're not on the island, at wovv.org. 



posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 7:56 PM 1 Comments

Thursday, August 18, 2011

the not so endless summer

It feels like summer season on Ocracoke Island is winding down.  Vacation homes are still full, and people are bobbing in the ocean, escaping the heat, but the tell tales exist.  Locals are talking about how we only have a few weeks until Labor Day.  People are making plans to get together when things are a little quieter.  College students have departed, so we're all pulling a few more doubles to make up for the reduced workforce.  Discussions about the annual fall housing shuffle have begun. 

I spent a lovely morning at the Campground beach, drifting and reading.  Get out there!  Summer doesn't last forever.

posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 10:27 PM 1 Comments

Monday, August 8, 2011

surfer boy

8 a.m. phone call, waking my friend who is blissful in her air conditioned nest:  "Dude!  The waves are sick!  You have to cover my shift." 

And she does, on incredibly short notice.  This is one of the ways locals on Ocracoke support each other during the dog days of summer. 

I'm off to see if those waves need some medicine.

posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 9:59 AM 0 Comments

Monday, August 1, 2011

sexy and single

I spent part of my day walking around the village with Susie, talking to attractive single men about fun and romantic things to do on Ocracoke Island.   Not a bad way to pass the time.   Now we have some hot dudes and cool dates lined up for the WOVV Bachelor Auction, which will be held a week from tonight on the lawn at Books to Be Red.  7 pm.  Be there.   Support Ocracoke Community Radio.  Show some love for the bachelors.  Or just come because it's a screaming good time. 

posted by Blue Heron Vacations at 8:25 PM 1 Comments

About Me

My Photo
Name: Blue Heron Vacations
Location: Ocracoke, NC, United States

I grew up on Ocracoke (Class of 1990!) and graduated from Davidson College. Jennifer, who many of you know as the owner of Blue Heron Realty, has been a great and true friend for as long as I can remember. I work as a waitress at the Cafe Atlantic, serve on the board of our community radio station (check out WOVV.org) and write an occasional column for the Island Breeze. Every time I travel I fall in love with a new place, but nothing yet trumps living near my (at times eccentric) family, swimming in the Atlantic on our world class beach, and being part of the strong, warm and inspiring community which is Ocracoke.

View my complete profile

Links

  • Google News
  • Edit-Me
  • Edit-Me

Previous Posts

  • Yo, Jennifer!   This Wendell Berry poem made me th...
  • It finally feels as if summer is kicking in.  The ...
  • Fish and Nacho Chips
  • Car Wash Disco
  • the gift of giving
  • Back to Work
  • daffodils and bright faces
  • Don't forget about me!
  • Flip Flops in February
  • Games!

Archives

  • October 2008
  • March 2010
  • April 2010
  • May 2010
  • June 2010
  • July 2010
  • August 2010
  • September 2010
  • October 2010
  • November 2010
  • December 2010
  • January 2011
  • February 2011
  • March 2011
  • April 2011
  • May 2011
  • June 2011
  • July 2011
  • August 2011
  • September 2011
  • October 2011
  • January 2012
  • February 2012
  • March 2012
  • April 2012
  • May 2012
  • September 2013

Powered by Blogger

Subscribe to
Posts [Atom]

  • Home
  • Search Vacation Rentals
  • Rental Policies
  • Vacation Insurance
  • All Seasons Travel Plan
  • Area Info
  • Local Links
  • Ferry Info
  • Guests Login
  • Owner Login
  • Sales
  • Vacation Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Request a Brochure
  • Accidental Rental Damage Insurance
  • Accidental Rental Damage Insurance Description
Blue Heron Realty
Reservations: (866) 576-7117   Local: (252) 928-7117
161 Back Road Ocracoke, NC 27960

Site by Virtual Resort Manager  Virtual Rental Manager            ©2011 - Blue Heron Vacation Rentals - All Rights Reserved   Like us on Facebook