Gorham Mtn. and a Spectacular Sunset

Thursday, September 21

We got up around 8:15, were out of the cottage by 10:45.  We parked along the road near the Gorham Mtn. parking area because it was super busy and we expected the parking lot to be full.

We left the trailhead at 11:33 and reached the summit at 12:30 via the Cadillac Cliffs section of the trail.  This plaque along the trail has been polished by volunteers.

It was 68* and mostly sunny but windy when we started but turned into a spectacular day...finally!  We sat among the rocks near the summit, enjoying the heavy surf at high tide thanks to Hurricane Jose.  

Panorama photo

Looking toward Sand Beach

Thankfully Bill brought along a little pick-me-up ;o)

The summit is quite unspectacular, since you don't get the ocean views.

A nice couple from New Jersey took our picture.

We proceeded to The Bowl, where we ate lunch and drank in the sunshine.

Panorama photo...great place for lunch!

We're pretty sure Dan would love to take a swim here...next year!

We returned to the car back over Gorham Mtn, reaching it at 3:28.  We drove into town, got coffees and walked to the park overlooking the harbor, where we sat, drank our coffees and ate oatmeal raisin cookies that we brought with us from Keeping it Local.

Morgan texted to tell us the TV wasn't working, bummer.

We did a little shopping on the way back to the car, stopped by the cottage to grab a beverage and our iPads, then headed to Hadley Point to watch the sunset.  

It was one of the most spectacular sunsets I think I have ever seen!  Unfortunately, my pictures don't do it justice.  It was much more red orange than yellow.

6:30 PM

6:40 PM

6:44 PM

Panorama 6:46 PM

6:47 PM

Panorama 6:48 PM

6:49 PM

6:53 PM

Home tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

Ocean Path and Witch Hole Pond

Wednesday, September 20

Wendy and Dan treated us to breakfast this morning, crepes!  They provided crepes, strawberries, whipped cream, bacon and coffee for me, Bill made his tea in our cottage, we provided...nothing ;o(  I think I was supposed to bring pears, but I didn't...duh  

After breakfast, we headed our separate ways looking for good surf, thanks to Hurricane Jose.  They ended up at Thunder Hole but it was super busy and they were disappointed in the surf. The signs were good tho.

photo by Wendy

As for us, we parked at Sand Beach and walked along the Ocean Path, toward Thunder Hole.  We stopped a couple of times along the rocks, looking for the perfect spot.  The view was pretty spectacular.

Looking toward Otter Cliffs

Looking toward Sand Beach

Happy little ferns tucked in the rocks.

We stayed for 15-20 minutes watching the waves.  Thunder Hole was a lot further than I thought and it was already 1:00, so we turned around and headed back to the car.  We drove to the Fabri picnic area and ate our lunch at one of the picnic tables...much better than sitting in the car like yesterday.  

Wendy and Dan hiked Gorham Mtn, then set up their hammocks at Otter Point.

photo by Wendy

We drove to the Visitor's Center, used the bathroom and bought a Christmas gift.  Parked there and took a bike ride around Witch Hole Pond loop.  Thankfully, the sky cleared a little and the sun started peaking through the clouds.  

Witch Hole Pond

I love this pond, it reminds us of sunken ship's masts.

The Rangers said the beavers had built a huge dam at one end of this pond and apparently the trees had drowned.

Reflections

We came across the Duck Brook Bridge, stopping long enough to take some photos.

overlooking Duck Brook

Frenchman Bay in the background

Looking toward Frenchman Bay and Bar Harbor

These pictures are proof that the weather was clearing.  WooHoo!!!

Instead of taking a left, Bill took a right and we went up and over Paradise Hill.  UGH  He says he had no idea he went the wrong direction...I believe he knew exactly what he was doing.  His nickname while teaching spinning classes was "Hill Bill".  

We are addicted to the popovers at the Asticou Inn so we headed back there for our daily fix.  It was a lovely afternoon!

Northeast Harbor

We returned to the cottage and sat on the deck to read.  Bill grilled hamburgers on a grill borrowed from Dan.  We enjoyed a lovely sunset.

Sunset from Edgewater No. 6

Panorama sunset

I really wish we lived where we could watch the sunset every night.

Wendy and Dan stopped over for a quick visit when they returned from town.

Thanks for stopping by...

;o)

Eagle Lake, Shore Path and Bar Island

Tuesday, September 19

Wendy and Dan headed out for a bike to hike to hammock adventure.  They rode their bikes from the Jordan Pond House, to Deer Brook Trail, hiked up the trail to Sargent Mtn. Pond, set up their hammocks near the pond and spent some quiet time together.  Looks like fun!

photo by Wendy

We drove to Eagle Lake and rode our bikes around the loop.  Not the nicest day...

A picture's worth a thousand words

We stopped a couple of times to takes pictures but it took maybe an hour and that included me walking part of the way up a looooooong hill because my knees and thighs were killing me!

It's usually really pretty but not so much today, unless you're a fan of fog, which some people are...

I thought these super tiny pinecones were cute and the spider web was pretty awesome, which admittedly I would not have seen and enjoyed if not for the fog/mist/rain.

These yellow flowers were everywhere, so we asked one of the rangers what they were and the answer...ragweed!  Apparently there are several varieties...who knew?

And these lovelies are New England asters.

We watched these three ducks forage along the edge of the lake for quite awhile.  I thought they might be loons, which they weren't and it was pretty hard to tell what they looked like because of the low light, so they remain unidentified floating objects.

Three UFO's

We drove to the Jordan Pond House gift shop where Bill bought a nice, lightweight, hooded t-shirt and I bought a postcard for Lori.  We ate our lunch in the car in the parking lot...boring ;o(  

From there into town, where we parked near the road to Bar Island because it was super busy.  We walked along the Shore Path and discovered a new park area, called Grant Park.  On a nicer day, we would sit and enjoy a cup of coffee; maybe next year.

You can't tell but there is a very large cruise ship out there! 

Walking back to the car, we took the short "hike" over the Bar Island since it was low tide and you can only get there 1 1/2 hours either side of low tide.  You can learn a little more about Bar Island here, including which town has jurisdiction over the island, which might surprise you.

We came home and read for awhile (well, I might have taken a nap) and after dinner we went next door to play dominoes with Wendy and Dan...Wendy was the big winner!

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)