Last Man Standing Virtual Cache
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Experience colonial Portsmouth Village
Portsmouth Island is a 19 mile long deserted barrier island off the North Carolina coast. Located below its better-known neighbors, Hatteras and Ocracoke Islands, it is part of Cape Lookout National Seashore. Portsmouth Village lies on the north end of the island and is maintained in its early 20th century condition by the National Park Service.
While the terrain of the island is easy, getting there is not. You can get to the island for ‘free’ using your own boat. The Park Service allows boats to tie up at its dock on the island for a few hours. The coordinates of the dock are N35º 04.421 W76º 03.916. If you do decide to come by boat, be wary of the shoal-like conditions that exist around the barrier islands.
The Portsmouth Island Ferry is the only way to the island without your own boat, and is not free. The ferry departs from the north side of Silver Lake, the harbor in Ocracoke. It is about a quarter mile down the road from the state-run ferries servicing Hatteras, Cedar Island and Swan Quarter. Information regarding the state-run ferries to Ocracoke can be found at www.outerbanks.com/ferry-system.html. The cost of the Portsmouth Ferry is $20 per person. Contact the operator of the ferry at 252-928-4361 or 252-928-5431.
Be prepared to do some light hiking and, if you take the ferry, to spend 3-4 hours with nothing but what you carry. Water for the hike and sturdy long sleeves and pants, work or light gloves (even in the summer), a bug net over a wide-brimmed hat, and DEET bug spray are recommended as the island is well known for it's biting flying insects. In addition to logging this as a find, you will be rewarded with a glimpse into the way the Outer Banks were in the days of the Wright Brothers.
To receive credit you now have a choice. This cache is 20 years old. When it was created digital cameras were rare and cell phones didn't exist. Answering questions was the required means of logging. So you can email me with the answers to the following questions or attach a selfie at GZ with the building in the background to your log. I'd prefer the selfie so I can take a vicarious trip back.
1. What is the name of the structure in front of you?
2. What is significant about the owner of this structure?
3. The transfer of cargo from ocean-going ships to smaller, shallow-bottom boats for transport of goods across the sound to the mainland has a unique name. What is it?
In February,2011 a support organization, Friends of Portsmouth Island, received approval from the NPS to do a major refurbishment of this structure. This project is long completed and for a few years the house was beautiful. This is the outer banks and mother nature is relentless. As of 2023 it looks good but not so nice as it was when just finished.
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Purpx cnzcuyrgf be gnyx be gur sreel pncgnva vs lbh arrq uryc jvgu gur dhrfgvbaf
Treasures
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