Backstory

Two days of driving from Sunny Florida to get to our vacation destination on Ocracoke Island , North Carolina.

The last step is a ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke (the island is only accessible by ferryboat).

The day was cloudy. A “substantial” cool breeze greeted us when we arrived at Cedar Island at 3:30 pm. We expected a 4:30 departure.

The ferry was already docked, having recently come from Ocracoke. Unloading was underway.

The almost crisis

… remember that the only access to the island is via ferry…

…including delivery trucks. Vehicles going to the island can’t board until all vehicles from the island disembark.

Thus the problem:

a big semi was stopped at the exit from the ferry. It was stuck, unable to move forward.

What to do?

A committee was convened.

Discussions took place. Several options were tried, none successful. Watchers, hoping to drive on board as well as those still waiting to disembark, became increasingly nervous.

FINALLY, one member of the committee took over, first strategizing with the driver. Then, using hand signals, directing the truck ahead, literally a foot or less at a time.

FINALLY, after a tense 15 minutes or so, success!!! A collective sigh of relief from all. Happiness abounded.

The driver high-fived the Director and moved on.

Crisis averted

Follow-up

Boarding was successful and we left Cedar Island on time, arriving at Ocracoke Island two hours and fifteen minutes later.

Whew.

---

View all my Outer Banks posts through the years, 1983-2025!

Thanks for visiting.

April 9, 2025