This past June marked my 11th year in North Carolina. And in that time I've not really ventured all that far outside Pitt County. Certainly I've visited neighboring counties, such as Beaufort, Lenoir and Martin counties, but I've not really gone too far beyond that with the exception of a trip to the mountains a year ago.

Some of my girlfriends take annual beach trips to Emerald Isle, Morehead City and Ocracoke. I've been to the Atlantic coast beaches that can be reached by car and enjoyed my time at the surf.

Ocracoke, however, had remained elusive until recently.

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