Acadia: No Reservations

A week-long conference, even with awesome weather, great friends, and ocean views, is inspiration for a bit of quiet.  BIOGEOMON was over and Scotty and I took off for parts unknown.  Our destination:  Acadia National Park; we were flying by the seat of our pants going No-Reservation-style and looking forward to every minute.

Driving north and east, Rte. 1 took us through countless isolated  towns nestled upon the coastal igneous and metamorphic bedrock:  we breakfasted at Belfast.  Grabbed some firewood at a local Shaw’s and hoped for the best.  Stopping at the Thompson Island Welcome Center  we booked a walk-in on the south side of the park:  Seawall Campsite, Here We Come!  We had a site.  We were in.

We pitched the tent in the mossy wood, dropped our goods, made a couple of PB&J’s and high-tailed it to Mount Acadia via the long road ‘round the west edge of the island catching Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse not 2 miles from our home-base.  We were ready to stretch the legs.

Considered ‘Strenuous’, we were not daunted by Acadia Mountain… it just seemed like the right mountain to tackle on the first afternoon.  It was short, for goodness sakes… how hard can a couple of kms be?  And really, the east-west mountain ridge, rising to the 681 ft. summit, was steep and rugged, but it was not too bad.  I admit, though, we both did breathe comments like “glad we aren’t doing this in the rain” and “ooh that pass would be rough slick” (see post on Owls’ Head in ADKs).   

It was clear sunny warm weather and we were nearly alone on the mountain.  A false peak teased us with views of Echo Lake through the stunted Scrub Oaks and low-bush blueberry bushes.  A few more cairns and boulders opened up to a wildly rewarding rocky crag overlooking the south and west and a bit to the east.  Rounded monoliths everywhere are covered with lichens of greens and orange.  Four people were at the summit upon our arrival, but within minutes we had the glorious view to ourselves.  Blessed quiet and peaceful solitude.  Views of Somes Sound, the only fjord in eastern U.S.,  and Southwest Harbor, had us captivated.  We could see for miles over the green and rock and into blue open ocean.  Squinting, we could pretend to see our campsite.  A peregrine falcon welcomed us to her roost, yelling her hovering hello somewhere over her nest.  All was well in our world, and we tried to leave twice before we could actually get the gumption to do so.  It was coming on dinner time.  That helped… and we had local organic mouth-watering pork chops to cook over open flame.

It was time for fire and stars.

Day two:  To Be Continued…..