Journey

"It is good to have an end to journey toward; but it is the journey that matters, in the end." -Ursula K. Le Guin

The above photo was made when Jenne and I were on our Ocracoke vacation way back at the beginning of June. It’s so hard to believe that we are now in the middle of July. The view is of the tidal flat and path from the town (beyond the woods in the distance) to the beach on the deserted island of Portsmouth, NC.

Once, the island was home to the thriving port community of Portsmouth. The town was established by North Carolina's colonial assembly in 1753 and settled shortly thereafter. At its peak in 1860, the village had 505 permanent residents, of which 117 were slaves.
Over the years, residents earned a living by fishing, transferring freight, lifesaving, and scavenging goods that washed ashore from the many shipwrecks.
The last three permanent residents left the island in 1971, and it came under the protection and ownership of the National Park Service as part of the Cape Lookout National Seashore in 1976.
Today, Portsmouth Village, as it is called is on the National Register of Historic Places. It is scattered over 250 acres and contains about 20 restored and maintained structures, including the church, several homes and the post office/general store. A mile of tidal flats, which Jenne and I crossed and is sometimes underwater, separates the village from the Atlantic Ocean.

I have many more photos from our visit to this deserted island and from our vacation. Look for them soon and for a more detailed history of Portsmouth.