I can brag that I have partied with Blackbeard on the beaches of Ocracoke Island. In fact, I attended THREE parties that Blackbeard hosted on Ocracoke. Bonfires on the beach, fresh meat roasting on the boucan, RUM!, laughter…best of all, the delicious taste of pyrate freedom! ARRR! Okay, it was a virtual experience via the…

It would be fair to say that the very popular image of a pyrate with a parrot perched on his shoulder can be accredited to Robert Louis Stevenson. Stevenson gave us the beloved pyrate anti-hero, Long John Silver, in the classic pyrate novel, Treasure Island. We pyrate brethren love our Long John Silver, but, alas,…

Ahoy, mateys! I’ve come across something that could be a great value to ye. No, not gold, silver, or jewels. No spices, frankincense, or rum in this chest o’goodies. Nope, today’s plunderin’ is all about runnin’ into a sea serpent and how to live to tell the tale. There’s a pyrate called Captain Mako who…

When I think of pyrates, I envision salty, scarred men and women who are wiry, strong, and fiercely independent. They take what they need while living their best life on the high seas. And they love rum. I don’t imagine them growing old and retiring somewhere tropical with all of their life’s pleasures close at…