Signs of Fall

Here we are nearly at the end of the first week of October (already)!   It has remained unseasonably warm here, and I’m still hiking in shorts and t-shirts!!   It’s a little chilly when I first start, but before long I’m grateful for the cool air on my skin.

October is cruise ship season here, and on some days there are three or even four shipped anchored offshore, ferrying their passengers to and from the town dock.

All about town, the vendors are incorporating pumpkins and mums into their displays and the hydrangea are turning from white to dark pink.

And out on the trail, while the leaves are just beginning their transition, other shrubs and plants are letting us know that the summer has ended.

 

 

 

 

Beech Mountain Hike

Persistent internet problems have reduced my ability to respond to comments, likes, and shares of my posts as quickly as I would like, so I will take this opportunity to say “thanks for your patience” as I work through those issues.    Your support of my blog is greatly appreciated!!

While showing a visitor around the island and the park for the first time last week, I had the occasion to take a new (to me) hike – Beech Mountain.

We started out the day with this short and relatively easy hike located on “the quiet side” of the island.    It was a beautiful late September day, pleasantly cool; perfect for hiking uphill!   Here and there, the leaves were beginning to change their colors, as you can see from the picture below.

 

 

Beech mountain is one of the smaller peaks on this side of the island, but from the back side, it offers the best views of Long Pond and Mansell Mountain, as you make your ascension.

 

 

 

 

I don’t travel to this side of the island very often, and have been itching to try some of the hikes (of which there are many); so I was glad to get this opportunity.    At the top of Beech Mountain is a unique feature, a fire tower.   No longer used by the National Park Service, it still stands as a testament that forest fires can occur here with devastating results (see my  post on the “Great Fire of 1947).  The rock below and iron construction of this tower begged me to shoot it in black and white.

 

 

In addition to the fire tower, great views of the Atlantic, Cranberry Islands, and the Western Mountains abound.

 

 

There are numerous trails that intersect at the top of the mountain, and one could easily spend most of the day hiking them, but my guest and I had numerous destinations planned for the day; so off we went.   But this short 1.5 mile round trip hike was the perfect way to start our day.

 

 

 

A Unique Opportunity

Being able to live in Bar Harbor and on Mount Desert Island these last 10 months has been a wonderful opportunity.  I’ve seen and experienced many things – a deer right outside my bedroom window, Acadia surf during a ‘noreaster storm, great food and fine drinks with new friends and old.  Last evening I drove past a guy in full Scottish uniform playing the bagpipes in the fog next to the bay.   I learned from my dinner companions that apparently he does this routinely during tourist season.   How he isn’t causing accidents, I don’t know!

One of the most wonderful things I’ve discovered here is the True Zen Nature Center (see link).   Over the week-end members of our group hosted a young Korean monk who is biking his way across the Americas.  The first leg of his trip, crossing Canada, has been completed, and he is now starting his crossing of the US (which is why he was in Maine).  The final leg of his journey will be through South America.

 

ABOVE PHOTO:   Sunim at Jordan Pond (photo by Michael Rosenstein)

 

I had the pleasure of meeting Sunim at the dinner hosted by my friends and learned a little bit more about  why he is undertaking this journey.   I think it is summed up beautifully in a quote from his blog (translated from the original korean):

“”Water doesn’t stagnate when it flows. In the same way, humans should move so they will find their relationships with others. If you take a test you’ll know how well you’ve studied. If you overcome a limitation you will know your heart; tears are opening my heart. My pilgrimage is not only my path, but also a journey to connect with the lives of others.”
– Daeung Sunim
Sunim started this journey completely alone and it was by sheer coincidence (unless of course you believe that there are no coincidences), he met David who started a Facebook page which has evolved into a networking page to find people and businesses to Sunim along his path.

I for one, am certainly grateful that Sunim’s path, and paths of the people at the True Nature Zen Center have crossed mine, because my heart has become a little larger, and my life  enriched by knowing them.

Take a look at the links listed below where you can access a map of Sunim’s route.  If Sunim’s path runs close to where yours, don’t hesitate to take the unique opportunity to meet and help this remarkable man.    You can follow him on Facebook at:   Journey of the Spirit, A Buddhist monk bikes the Americas, or on the blog at:  http://journeyofspirit108.blogspot.com
Below:  Getting some much-needed bicycle maintenance (by generous donation) at the Bar Harbor Bicycle shop (that’s the one on Cottage Street – so if you come here and rent a bike, rent from them!)  Photo by:  Michael Rosenstein

 

Portrait of a Tree – Right Outside my Door

I live in town.   Nothing close to a city to be certain, but for a small town we have fairly “high density housing”.    The age of the town also means that there are numerous old trees that provide welcome shade and character to our streets.

I was pleasantly surprised to find just such a tree right outside my front door.  Over the seasons it has provided a varied and interesting canopy (and view) to an otherwise crowded house and yard landscape.

Now it is beginning to slowly shed its leaves in anticipation of the next season.   Below, are a series of photos I’ve taken over the months since I arrived.    This tree (by now), feels like an old friend.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Week-end Wanderer

Crowds, work,  and warm temperatures have kept me from long hikes these last couple of weeks.  But on the week-ends, I do try to get out early in the day to exercise my body and calm my mind.

One of favorite  “from my house”  walks, takes me up over a small hill, to the edge of town where this cemetery boarders National Park property.   The cemetery boasts a beautiful view of Cadillac and Dorr mountains, but on this morning the mountain tops and gorge between them were obscured by fog; giving a nice atmosphere to the topic.

 

I actually really like cemeteries.   They are peaceful, quiet places and it is interesting to see the choices people and/or their families have made for their internment.   For example; this “guy” (photo below) had to have his very own “house”.  I hope this isn’t considered “identity theft”!

 

 

 

 

And perhaps nowhere else (in the United States) would you find lobster buoys graveside.

 

 

Here in Maine whenever any type of outdoor chemical is applied to grass or weeds, signs need to be put up indicating the danger and the date of the application.   However, I found the sign pictured below rather ironic.   But then signs are for the living I guess, and not for the dead!

 

Return to Secret Beach

Sounds like the title of a Romance novel doesn’t it?    Trust me, it’s not!   (Not into romance novels).

No,  “Secret Beach” known by its proper name “Hunter’s Beach”, is one of those little known tucked away in a corner places that is off the beaten path, but still part of Acadia National Park.

Bordered by private lands, this beach requires a little effort to get to; hiking about 1/4 of mile through the woods; over rocks and tree roots.   But once there, you are rewarded with a view of beautiful little cove, and few people.

 

On this perfect Maine summer day; sunny, (75 degrees (f)/25(c)), with a light breeze I carted my beach chair, camera, water and snacks to a large, flat rock, where with just a few steps I could bathe my feet in the cool, refreshing surf.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Ever Changing Sky

One of the things I enjoy most about living on Mount Desert Island (and being surrounded by water), is that the skies are always changing.   There have been days when I have seen the skies go from completely clear and blue to totally overcast and back again 3 times within 12 hours.

This “ever-changing sky” makes for interesting pictures.   The scene you shot just a few hours ago will look completely different when you come back to it a short time later.

ABOVE:  Clouds roll out and away over Sand Beach  and the Atlantic Ocean

As weather systems from the south collide with weather systems from the north, the struggle between clear skies and cloudy ones, dry air and humid air create a spectacular cloud show.    And there is no better vantage point for this show than from the top of Cadillac Mountain.

  BELOW:  The last remnants of a fog bank linger in Frenchman’s Bay

BELOW:  Just 10 minutes later, the fog finally leaves, except for one of the Porcupine Islands.

On this day within a few hours there was not a cloud in the sky.   Another hour later, the clouds had returned!    This “Ever Changing Sky” is teaching me to live in the moment!

Signs of Spring – III

The wildflowers are blooming in Acadia, the flowering shrubs are blooming in the town, and ships of all shapes and sizes are “blooming” in the harbor.   I am not a botanist, so unfortunately, I cannot identify most of these flowers, but they certainly are pretty!  🙂

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Sometimes it’s better………

Sometimes its better to see how far you have come, then to look at how far you have yet to go.

 

 

I hit several big milestones this week:

1.  This is  my 100th blog post!!

2.  I passed  400 miles (643.73 km) walked!!

3.  I am six months (1/2 way) into my original one year commitment of living on Mount Dessert Island!!

 

Today I decided to hike up Dorr mountain, which is the third highest peak on the island.    I didn’t get as early a start as I wanted to, and it was forecast to be a warm day (for Maine in May), and I wasn’t 100% certain I wanted to hike up Dorr today, but I tackled it anyway.    The hiking guide refers to Dorr as Cadillac’s “little brother”.   Well, Cadillac’s little brother kicked my butt today.   I don’t do well when I get hot, and I was hot (which always makes me grumpy).   But I was determined to get up that mountain, since the last time I tried ( a different trail up) I was defeated by the dreaded steel ladders.

So as I’m slogging my way up the mountain, the saying “Sometimes it is better to look at how far you have come then to think about how far you have yet to go”, came to mind.   I don’t know if someone important or famous said that, or if I just came up with a variation on a theme, but the quote below (that I DID find) seemed to compliment my thinking nicely.

When the road ahead seems too long, look back to see how far you’ve come. For, even if the hill before you is steep, the view gives you hope to finish the journey.   Kessler, Daniella

 

I would not say that after six months here, I am a “new woman”, but I am a woman more at peace with the hand life has dealt her, and that (for me) is a huge step (or however many steps are in 400 miles) in the right direction.

So today, I am looking at how far I’ve come, not at how far I have yet to go!   And on that note, a few more notables.

*Numbers are approximate*

• 2000 images shot with my Canon and iPhone
• 38 (of 45) miles of carriage roads hiked (several, numerous times) and ALL of the bridges found and photographed
• 8 summits attained, in no particular order:  (Kebo, Day Mountain, Great Head, Pemetic, Dorr, Champlain, Gorham, the Triad)
• No injuries, of consequence (in other words I didn’t need to be carried off any mountains)
• 125 volunteer hours (Friends of Acadia and Jessup Library)
• 50 books read

I’m sure there are others, but these are the accomplishments that spring t mind as I think about my time here.   Thank you for joining me on this journey.  We forge ahead and look to the horizon.

 

 

 

 

May showers bring May flowers (in Maine)

As spring takes a little longer to materialize this far north, I thought the traditional “April showers bring May flowers” needed to be adapted to fit my current climate.   That, and the month of April was relatively dry compared to (so far) this May.

The pleasant surprise of today was that the skies actually brightened this afternoon (proving yet again that weather forecasts for these parts really are useless).   The sunshine was MOST welcome, and I took a quick walk up and down the block to capture these spring flowers enjoying the sun.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are even “indoor” flowers blooming, as my landlord installed two panels of stained glass on either side of the french doors that serve as an entryway to our carriage house apartments.    Thank you Richard and Karin!