Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Maine on my mind

I’ve got the coast of Maine on my mind lately and have recently booked another vacation cottage for a week this summer. It used to be the North Carolina beaches for us, but the heat and the sun bother my husband very much, so in 2007 we booked a trip to Maine to see if that would help.

And we fell in love with it.

We especially love Acadia National Park, which is on Mount Desert Island. We go early in the morning, packing lunch and drinks, and we hit the trails.

Three years ago, we were much more adventurous. I’m hoping that my husband doesn’t expect me to do any killer trails this year. In the photo above, that’s him standing in the middle of a ‘trail’ which is actually a series of rock and boulders that tumble down the mountain. You can tell where to go by following the blue markers.

This step trail is easy, and can be found at Sandy Beach.

This one, on the other hand, is not.

I don’t remember where this spot was, but I had a bad feeling about it as soon as I saw it. It seemed as though we had come to a blockage on the trail; it was nothing but boulders. But the arrows and circles show blue markers and we had to climb up the rock to stay on the trail.

Sometimes there are handy iron bars that enable you to pull yourself up.

Gulp.

But it’s all worth it when you get to the top and experience a euphoric satisfaction of having done something this worthwhile. And look at the incredible view!

These photos were taken with the little Sony Cybershot I used to have. It was my first digital camera.

Along the top, you follow the cairns, which mark the trail. I’ve circled them here to show you.

I just hope I can do it this time. I’ve been trying to build up my daily walking and am now up to twice what I was doing just a month ago.

Hiking like this is one thing that my husband and I enjoy doing together.

And I hope to be doing it with him for years to come.

Until tomorrow, my friends . . .

40 comments:

D.K. Wall said...

Maine is beautiful, but it has been too long since we have been there. Might have to plan a road trip!

We love the Carolina beaches (we tend to go to South Carolina because, believe it or not, they are closer to us even though we live in North Carolina), but we tend to go in late fall and winter. We love the cool beaches that are nearly empty!

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

We miss Maine. My first time there was last July and we fell in love with it. I am deathly scared of heights, so I never made it to the top of the trail that you describe that goes up from Sandy Beach. I literally froze and could not move.

kay in oregon said...

i will email you some pics of Monkey Face Rock ...you will have to come out here and climb that. the Maine trip is so beautiful..what a grand view.

Jen at Cabin Fever said...

I absolutely LOVE Maine. I lived for a summer in Harpswell (on Orr's Island actually) and worked at Cook's Lobster House. You must go visit Harspwell on your trip over. Its just east of Brunswick. There are tons of really really cool places all over the Islands there.

Oh, and you definitely must see Popham state park! The beaches are INCREDIBLE and there is a really old fort there you can explore. Its just southeast of Bath.

And Acadia... its awesome. Enough said.

Jen at Cabin Fever said...

Oh, I almost forgot...

Have you ever been to Freeport and the big L.L.BEAN store? If not, holy cow, that's and adventure in itself.

I could keep going about places to see, but I'll stop hogging the comments now.

A New England Life said...

Good for you Kate! I hope you and your husband have great weather again this year! Can't believe I've never been to Acadia.

Marla said...

Oh my. These pictures are amazing and make me want to go hiking so bad. I've never been to Maine but I'm going to put it on my "list of places to visit."

Marla @ www.asthefarmturns.wordpress.com

Deb said...

Beautiful photos....As a Mainer, I'm sad to say I have yet to get to Mt. Desert Island. We keep planning a trip but something always comes up.
If you get to the stables in the park, be sure to look my Dad up. He'll be very glad to meet you both!

If you have time during your trip and can take a quick detour, there's a cold tea or drink (your choice) at the farm ...would love to meet you in person :)

Donna S. said...

Are you going to the same area? I want to go up that way so bad.

Julie Harward said...

Sounds like it will be a wonderful week..a really gorgeous place for sure! A whole weeks stay in a cabin...Heaven! Come say hi :D

beth said...

i've been there....
my sister lives in stockton springs....between belfast and bangor....lucky, huh ?

From the Old InkWell said...

Oh can you steal me away in your suitcase?! Love the Maine coast! Cigar Man and I went a couple of years ago. We fell in love with Ogunquit. It means "beautiful city by the sea" and it lives up to its name!

Anonymous said...

SO easy to see why you fell in love with Maine. I want a Carolina vacation AND a few days in Maine as well. Hiking however is something my knees just won't allow me to do unfortunately. :-((

DI

myletterstoemily said...

we have vacationed many times in
maine and dearly love it!

Sweetpea said...

Oh CG, could soooo relate to this post....husbands, well, they do so have a way of encouraging us to ***hike*** in a way not quite as familiar to us, but with rewards at footpath's end we might not have known otherwise if we had not been with them.

My name is Riet said...

Maine looks like a beautiful country and that view on the top is fabulous.

Low Tide High Style said...

I would love to rent a cottage in Maine for a week, it's so beautiful there and it's been years since I've visited Maine!

I wish you many years of happy hikes together!

Kat :)

Karen thisoldhouse2.com said...

We've been talking about doing this for years, what beautiful photos, thanks for the tour and the inspiration! Where do you rent a cabin, I'de love a referral.

Rocky Mountain Yankee said...

Thanks for the pictures of my home state! I will be headed that way in July and I can't wait. Don't know if we will make it to MDI or not, it is usually so crowded in the summer time. Have a great time when you go!

Carolyn said...

The coast of Maine is beautiful!Enjoy your time there.

Carolyn

Deb said...

absolutely beautiful...can't wait to see your trip this year...

LizB said...

Beautiful - we love to visit Franconia Notch (in NH) - and last year we took our 4 & 6yo kiddos on a hike a day for 4 days - one of which around the summit of Mt. Washington - which was very much all rocks. Those cairns were impressive. My Dad is the "hiker" and should have known better, but we all made it and had a wonderful adventure with lots of beautiful views! I hope you have another wonderful visit!

Megan (Best of Fates) said...

I've never been to Maine, but it looks gorgeous! And what adventurous hiking!

altar ego said...

Lovely pictures. I LOVE Maine. When I was young my family would camp At Acadia, and we took some hikes as well. We even skinny dipped in one of those chilly ponds! We still talk about the Popovers at a restaurant near Jordan Pond, and it seems almost like yesterday, not 45 years ago! Enjoy your trip. You still have time to work up that endurance!

Brynwood Needleworks said...

Hi Kate:
Thanks for sharing such inspirational views today. Your photos show Maine for all its beauty. I've never been there, but I'm inspired now! Have a great day.
xoxo
Donna

Mental P Mama said...

I hope so, too! And I also hope there is a pit stop in Fairfield County for a lunch;)

Unknown said...

It all sounds like a lot of fun, and a beautiful place to shoot (photos).
My grandmother lived outside of Portland, and we loved visiting her in the summer......as we live a short 3 hrs from the Carolina beaches and tend to visit those in the fall and winter.
Have fun! smiles.

The JR said...

My poor hubby would be a pullin' and a pushin'!!!!

Tiffany said...

I'm from Maine, myself, and my husband and I are going back for ten days in July (I live in Arizona... for now). We'll be in Bar Harbor for a couple of days, too!

Daryl said...

When are you going? Maine is wonderful ... I havent been in many years but I remember how lovely it was

Carolynn Anctil said...

I've always wanted to explore the east coast and Maine is high on my list of places to visit. I've always pictured quaint towns and windswept beaches though. This is quite different.

Caroline said...

Wow...such a beautiful place! I have been to Maine once and hope to go back again!

Unknown said...

Oh! I can't wait to go for our honeymoon in July! I wish we were going to have more time. A few days isn't long enough.

Anonymous said...

Your pictures bring back some nice memories! I lived in Connecticut for 37 years and took a few trips to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. It definitely is a gorgeous place! What I remember most of the beautiful vistas and ALL the wild blueberries!

Hilary said...

I fell in love with Acadia National Park when I was there about 6 years ago. The trails are impressive but sometimes overwhelming. I really wanted to, but just couldn't do Precipice Trail. Its scared me just looking at it!

deborah said...

Lovely pictures! The hike was worth the effort for such views:) Maine is my hubby's dream vacation...hopefully someday. Enjoy your time away with your loved one!!

Window On The Prairie said...

I was there about 20 years ago, and have wanted to go back ever since. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane.
Suzanne

Window On The Prairie said...

I was there about 20 years ago, and have wanted to go back ever since. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane.
Suzanne

potatoepete said...

I was born and raised on Mount Dessert Island. Great place to grow up. I now live in Brunswick, Maine and work in Harpswell. Jen is right, Harpswell is awesome. I manage Cook's Lobster House. Would love to have you stop by. Potatoepete will give you a tour.

Country Girl said...

Potatopete, that's a mighty nice offer. I will see what my husband wants to do.

Thanks everyone, for all your thoughts and comments on Maine. Loved reading everyone's!

~ C.G.