Old Salt

Today (Sunday), Gina and I took the hour and a half drive to Hammocks Beach State Park, near Swansboro, North Carolina.  From there, we hopped on the boat to Bear Island.  The park runs a boat that takes this 15 minute ride every hour, and this was the last day of the season for ride to the barrier island.  It is, without a doubt one of the most beautiful and almost untouched island on the NC coast - just beach and dunes, a few natural campsites.  

The boat captain, Skip, has been working on or around the sea for a lifetime.  For the winter he will be teaching some nautical courses locally.  He loves his job and takes it very seriously.  While not on the boat proper, he chain smokes.