Mackey Island, NC (USA)

We drove down to Pungo this morning - to enjoy a few hours of the annual Strawberry Festival. It was fun for the kids to see all of the livestock (cows, pigs, goats, sheep, horses, rabbits, ducks, bees) and produce. There was a carnival, live bands, a mechanical bull (named Wild Willy) and pig races. We watched a pretty funny clown and a pie eating contest. Of course, we also tried some strawberries - the shortcake was really good. Afterwards, we drove south from Pungo and visited a wildlife refuge just across the border in North Carolina. Mackey Island was really pretty - and the gravel roads were all open today for public access to the wetlands. We saw lots of snowy egrets, great blue herons, loons, turtles and red-winged blackbirds. Spent most of the sunny, pleasant afternoon on the island before driving down to the (free) ferry back to Currituck Landing. While aboard, we saw the nests of ospreys (and their chicks). I met one of the commissioners of the County and he explained how the far flung, water crossed county gets school kids to the only high school (ferry) and how he travels around to visit with his constituency. Interesting guy. Back on "mainland" side, we stopped for dinner at our favorite Sonic. Wanted to get some procucts at the Farmers' Markets - but they were already closed (1900). Drive home was easy.