Saturday, August 15, 2009

Hiking in Acadia National Park

Hello, all!

I’ve finally returned from my vacation and am just now getting caught up with the all the commotion that my previous posts had generated. I had no idea that Maine, and my travels in general, would generate such interest.

As most of you know, I’ve been unable to post all week due to the lack of internet service at the cottage we rented while vacationing in Stonington, Maine last week.

We stayed at [this place], located on a peninsula directly between Burnt Cove and Crockett Cove, on the west (Sunset) side of Deer Isle. It’s a great place, but was billed as ‘secluded’ and it was not. But no complaints. It was well-apportioned and the nearby hiking was wonderful. MDI (Mt. Desert Island) is about an hour and 45 minutes away and is where Acadia National Park is located. This park is a must-see and is a gem in the nation’s list of national parks. We visited there twice while staying on Deer Isle last week.

I’d like to address a couple of the comments I’ve read since getting the internet going again. I’ve only been able to read through about half of them but one or two things keep coming to surface, so I’d like to address them, if you’ll be so kind.

YES, when you throw a live lobster into a pot, there is sort of a slight commotion (very slight) and a sound like your tea kettle has come to a boil. And then it ends as quickly as it happens. I’m not sorry that I love lobster and how it tastes with butter and lemon. I worked hard to eat lobster for three of the meals I had while in Maine. Hiking some of the trails at Acadia National Park are just a little bit more than I’m used to and there’s nothing better than tucking into a good lobstah meal!

And yes, you need to visit Maine in the summertime. I can’t recommend it in the winter, but only because I’ve never visited at that time of year. I would think that if you liked snow and cold that it would be awesome. I like snow and cold, in moderation.

 

AND NOW, here is the post I attempted to do on Friday, when I arrived at the local community store and found a parking lot full of some sort of fair, which I later saw was a big farmer’s market.

Twice this week, we headed to Mount Desert Island to hike a couple of trails in the park there. If you haven’t been to Acadia National Park, I suggest you go. It’s one of the most beautiful parks in the country.

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On Tuesday, we hiked the Great Head Trail which is listed as a moderate hike that leads you to beautiful vistas of the water as well as an excellent view of Sand Beach. If you look closely at the photo above, you’ll see George and my husband, just around the middle. My husband wants me to hike the Beehive, which is in the photo below.

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The Beehive is on the right and we can’t take George on the trail (yay!) so we won’t be hiking that one (secret *Yay* here) . It’s a “ladder” trail, which means that in several spots, you’ll either climb a ladder or hold onto one as you ascend the hill. An even more strenuous hike is The Precipice. I’m not even going to discuss that one. I will say, though, that in my youth I would have been all over it.

Oh, and notice that there’s not many people in the water on the beach above. It’s because it’s fricken freezin', that’s why! But it’s beautiful from here. And it’s getting hot hiking . . .

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Thursday morning brought us back to MDI, driving up the Cadillac Mountain Drive for a view of Bar Harbor and the Porcupine Islands in the fog.

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Somebody’s watching me taking photos from the roadside on Cadillac Mountain.

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We followed the Park Loop Road to the parking lot at Jordan Pond. We’ve never been able to park here before, due to the throngs that visit this spot. But if you get to Jordan Pond before 9 am, the parking lot is quite empty. Just as we begin our hike around this beautiful lake, we see a carriage tour going past. The park is filled with wonderful carriage trails where you can either walk, bike or take a ride like this. No cars permitted.

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View of Jordan Pond with The Bubbles (the two hills) in the background.

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For about a mile around the lake, the trail is on planks like this, sometimes as high as 4-feet off the ground. George did quite well, in case you’re wondering~

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We got nothing but compliments on him and he’s doing much better around lots of people. He’s still a little funny around small children, though. They sort of freak him out a bit.

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After our hike, we left the Park Loop Road and took the road into Northwest Harbor which is way too swanky for my tastes. Beautiful, yes. We stopped at The Colonel’s to get a lunch to go, which was served in little cardboard boxes. I had a lobster roll and my husband had fish & chips. And let me tell you, it was the best lobster roll I’ve ever had and it even came with seasoned fries.

I promise to go on a diet really soon.

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We drove along with the scent of our boxed lunches filling the car and making our mouths water. We were looking for Sergeant Drive which runs along the Somes Sound and has many little pullover areas. This is where we finally stopped to eat our lunch. Sorry I didn’t get a photo of the little box but it’s up there on the right. I was too hungry.

I don’t mean to sound like a hog, but we’d hiked all morning and I’d only had a power bar and that smell was driving me . . . crazy . . . who cares about taking pictures for the blog . . .

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Home again. This is the scene we see as we look to the left (the south) every time we pull into the road that leads to our cottage in the woods.

I haven’t even been able to read any of my mail this week so am not able to respond to any comments. I’ll try to get up to the Community Center here on the island this morning to post this. Today is our last day here and it looks like another beautiful one. We were thinking of taking the Mail Boat to Isle Au Haut this morning but we’ll see how it goes. I don’t want to leave this place. It’s just too beautiful!

Until next time, my friends . . .

PS ~ Thanks to all, regular readers and all the new faces, for your comments and visits. Glad to have you along!

31 comments:

Sue said...

wonderful pictures....so glad you are having such a wonderful time and that the boys are too!! I was surprised though to read George gets freaked out by children...I would think with his love of his fribee that playing with kids would be right up his alley....My granddaughter who's 2 was just at the house and Boo the Pyrennes who has never been around kids gladly gave her "pony rides" all around the house....have a safe trip home...

Ellen said...

Welcome home. Glad your trip was so nice and your travels safe.

Anonymous said...

amazing photos - lovely scenery! good to have you back.

The Weaver of Grass said...

Your post today Kate is a travel brochure in itself - for people and for dogs. George is really smiling in his picture and saying - come along all you dogs there are wonderful smells around here. Please stop writing about lobster fresh from the sea - it is making my mouth water and filling my brain so that I can't think what to have for lunch today (too far from the sea for lobster). Thanks for a few lovely posts with wonderful pictures. I thoroughly enjoyed every single one.

Barb T. said...

I am so happy you had such a wonderful time, Kate. The thing that I really appreciate about Acadia is how it is made accessible to all people. If you hike and like challenges, head for the Precipice or the Ladder Tr. up Dorr Mt. (about 5 billion steps); if you want enjoyable for the not so experienced, try a carriage trail. Everything has a beautiful view!!! My boyfriend tried to get me to do the Beehive, too. Believe it or not, I am an intrepid hiker and love challenges, but I also am afraid of heights. The Beehive was more height unfriendly than virtually all of my White Mountains experiences. I don't like skinny little narrow ledges with an expansive view.
On the 'lobstah' issue; call me mean, but big deal! I will continue to eat 'lobstah' whenever I can (and I have cooked it fresh, too!!)
Glad to have you back; I have missed my daily visits to your blog.

Anonymous said...

Jaw dropping gorgeous area that I one day hope to visit.

I love lobster too... let 'em hiss in the pot all they want. As Bruce in 'Finding Nemo' would say, "Fish Are Food:... or was that "Fish Are Friends"? Hee hee

Di
Snappy

Joei said...

your photos are beautiful, all the places you've been through are lovely...

Hope you have a great time.
have a nice day

-joei-alvond

Jo Whitehurst said...

Thanks for taking us along for the ride, the hikes, and the scenery that fills us with such wonder and peace! Welcome home!

Mary said...

Wow, that looks so beautiful! I really enjoyed seeing Maine through your eyes -- I'd love to go there one day, definitely in the summer! lol

Hilary said...

I lived in Maine back in 1979-1980, and not far from Acadia Park......I haven't been to Cadillac Mt since then.......that was back when I could twist into a pretzel shape doing yoga.....ah, those were the days.
You look like you had a great time, and you have made me long for Maine.

susie said...

I love the pictures. I've only been to Maine on a day drive up from Boston when I was visiting there and have always wanted to go back. It's so different from out here in the west, and the colors in the fall are gorgeous. Glad you had a good time.

Audrey at Barking Mad! said...

So so glad you had a wonderful visit in our beautiful state. The entire area around Acadia National Park is a treasure and I'm so glad you were able to visit it under much fairer skies than we've been having most of the summer.

Winter here is...well, depending on where you are from originally -if you are indeed "from away", can be brutal or it can be a welcome change of season. It's really all about perspective. I happen to enjoy the first deep snowfall, and everything after that is annoying.

Chesapeake Bay Woman said...

Gorgeous!

My favorite national park is Grand Teton, but this one looks beautiful too.

Your cabin looks/sounds wonderful. What a great vacation.

Donalyn said...

Looks like you guys enjoyed an incredibly lovely time up there. Having lived in Maine for part of a winter, I can attest to the fierceness thereof. And hey - you won the July Comment Love contest on my blog! I have your address already, so I was just waiting for you to get home - it will be on the way soon. :)

abb said...

Sounds like a dream vacation!

Sarah said...

Thanks for sharing all the photos! It was a virtual vacation for me. ;)

Jo said...

Omigosh, you mean the lobster screams? Oh, dear, and I love lobster -- eating it, that is...

Gorgeous, gorgeous photographs. I felt as if I visited there with you.

Give George a little scritch behind the ear for me. He's a great dawg.

Anonymous said...

Just out of curiousity, are you having any success with selling your photography on etsy?

Swetha said...

You had nice trip!!! the pictures are lovely!

maillady said...
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maillady said...
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maillady said...

Just Beautiful Kate.Thanks for such nice pictures and stories to go along. You should write for some sort of travel magazine.Have a safe trip home and enjoy the rest of your summer before school starts.

Char said...

so gorgeous!! I'm so happy you're having a good time.

cottage farm villa said...

Love love love the photo of the planks on the hiking trail!!!!

and of course the one of George looking a little bit out of breath! :)

Reddirt Woman said...

I knew George would be okay with a little socializing, at least around adults. Doesn't surprise me about the kids. If pups aren't exposed to children when they are little it seems they can't quite figure out what they are supposed to do with or about those too quick moving little bitty short humans. I think their confusion makes them nervous aboutbeing around them.

I'm so glad you had such a great trip.

Helen

Cindy said...

Fantastic photos. Sounds like you all had a wonderful time. Welcome back.

Another Sister said...

Great photos and accounts. Glad you're back.

Sweetpea said...

CG, I've never been to Maine, but my husband has (he grew up back east. Me...I'm a western girl) and we've often spoken of visiting Acadia together as I seem to be smitten with the landscape there and he certainly is! Thank you so much for sharing some of your time there, including George's. His reactions speak volumes. I would love to share such an adventure with me own dawg :>}} George is a lucky one - pleeze give him a pet from me and tell him I said so!!!!

Noe Noe Girl...A Queen of all Trades. said...

What a vacation Kate! I really want to go there. I have it on my wish list now! Love your pictures as always! So glad George went! Welcome home!

A New England Life said...

Everything is so postcard perfect! I had so hoped we would get up to Acadia, or close to it, this summer but it hasn't happened. Your photos make me long for a short vacation ... without the kids! So glad you were able to bring George along though. I'm sure he loved every moment!

Sharon

Hilary said...

You've given me some fine memories here. I spent some time at MDI about 6 years ago and loved every minute of it. I did a lot of the same hikes and dreaded the Precipice. Lobster.. sigh! I'm glad you had a great trip. :)