Ocracoke Beach Day

Sunday was the first sunny day in nearly a week, and residents and visitors made sure to enjoy it. 

As Ocracoke and America begin week three of a government shutdown, the Cape Hatteras National Seashore is still officially closed to all. That hasn't stopped freedom-loving citizens from enjoying their public lands – they just have to walk a little farther to get there. 

The ORV ramps are all barricaded, as is the parking lot at the lifeguard beach. 

In the first week of the shutdown, NPS rangers issued just two citations (to one visitor) for driving around the barrier and over vegetation at the Ocracoke lifeguard beach parking lot. In the second week of the shutdown, the rangers issued two more tickets for the same two violations in the same location. Observant beachgoers might have noticed that there are other places to park, and better ways to get to the sand and surf. 

Yesterday, Ocracoke rangers issued another citation to a park visitor who attempted to drive over the dunes at the north end (always a ticket-worthy maneuver, even without a shutdown) and proceeded to get stuck. Bad luck or instant karma? 

In other areas of the Seashore, problems have been similar, but few. 

"We don't have the staff to go after the pedestrians on the beach," said chief ranger Paul Stevens. "The tickets we've issued on Hatteras and at Bodie Island are also to visitors trying to drive around the barricades." 

Last week, someone vandalized Seashore signage on Ocracoke. Two signs at the entrance to ramp 72 (Southpoint Road) were spray-painted with obscenities, with the message aimed at the Park Service.

"Those are very expensive signs, and the paint can't be removed," Stevens said. "It's just an added expense and really doesn't help anyone. We'll spend taxpayer money to re-install them."

With the vandalism as a notable exception, Stevens said most of the Seashore's visitors have been understanding about the situation. 

"99% of the people we're dealing with know it's not NPS that shut down the parks," he said. "These policies are coming down to us from D.C." 

Like most Americans, Stevens is ready for the shutdown to be over. 

"We're hoping our elected folks will pass a budget so we can take down this mess, open the parks, and get people back to work," he said.