As I write, Hurricane Earl is beginning its brush with fame or obscurity; I hope the latter, especially so after a recent trip to Ocracoke and Portsmouth islands. That recent morning the family boarded a small skiff for the 20-minute trip from Ocracoke’s Silver Lake Harbor with Capt. Donald Austin. He had grown up in and around these islands and had been a long-time ferry captain for the North Carolina Department of Transportation.

For the complete article, please pick up a copy of The Daily Reflector or purchase today’s electronic edition at http://www.reflector.com/circ-store. Current home delivery and electronic edition subscribers may log in to access this article at no charge. To become a subscriber, please click here or contact Customer Service at (252) 329-9505.