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)

Wendy and Dan and Marie Selby

Sunday, March 26...

We left early this morning (okay...early for us) around 10:15.  Wendy and Dan drove us to visit the Marie Selby Botanical Gardens in Sarasota.  We made good time even though we stopped at Dunkin' Donuts for beverages and the bathroom, arriving at the gardens around 11:30.  

Fountains at the entrance

First up...the Tropical Conservancy!

Volcano Queen

This one hangs upside down!

My favorite photo of the day!

This red and white one had a great fragrance.

Nice little photo area near the exit.

This is just outside the Conservancy.

Photo by Wendy

This field of salvia is new since last year and it overlooks Sarasota Bay and the Ringling Bridge.

Love this tree...

When you gotta go ;o)

Next up was the butterfly garden and the chrysalis enclosure where there were a number of caterpillars eating and waiting to become butterflies.

Guess butterflies like these plants since they were planted in the butterfly garden.

Shrimp Plant

Dutchman's Pipe

There were a couple of plein air artists at work across this tidal lagoon

and Dan was kind enough to strike a pose

what a dork

Captured this fisherman in the bay.

Wendy was brave enough to try the yarn swing.

From here we walked back along the way we came until we reached the Selby House Cafe where we bought lunch and ate it outside.

We left there and headed toward the Koi Pond, passing a number of different bamboo trees.

Then the pond, always a very restful place.

Photo by Wendy

Photo by Wendy

We decided to pass visiting the Children's Rainforest Garden but couldn't pass a photo op at the base of the huge banyan tree.

We have been to the gardens several times but never noticed this tree in blossom before.  It's  a Shaving Brush Tree.

I don't think I would want to clean up after it tho!

From the Mangrove Walkway we saw a sailboat that was stuck in the sand and listing badly. We also saw this Best Party Boat Ever!

  We stopped in Venice to get gelato, then headed home.

When we buy one more large gelato, we get one free!  Woohoo...the ultimate discount.

At home, Bill sat in the shade on the front porch enjoying a cigar while the three of us huddled in the shade under the umbrella on the deck and drank homemade strawberry daiquiris.  Wendy and Dan also enjoyed a rum and Coke.

We had really good filets for dinner then took Titan for a walk along Rt. 41.  We watched a show on HGTV about people looking for a vacation home on an island I have never heard of - Nevis.  Learn something every day, or so they say.

Monday, March 27...

The four of us walked Titan along the Linear Pathway to the parking garage.  They were willing to watch him while Bill and I used the bathroom, which is the main reason we walk to the garage ;o)

We ate lunch at home, then they went to Hurricane Charley's to have adult beverages and "borrow" the pool, we went to Publix to buy cake for Wendy's birthday celebration later.  We sat in the shade on the deck until they came home but we all ended up inside reading because it was so hot on the deck.  

Bill fixed an early dinner of pasta carbonara, which we ate early so we could walk over the bridge.  We left the house about 6:30, parked at Hurricane Charley's, used the bathroom and headed over the bridge.  Every three minutes we did 12 walking lunges.  When we reached the other side, we did 30 seconds of squats before heading back and we added 12 incline presses every three minutes to the lunges.  We stopped just past the center of the bridge to watch the sunset and do another 30 seconds of squats.

I really like this one!

Always gotta take a selfie...

Twas a bit breezy.

We saw several large fish and 2 sting rays on our walk.

We stopped at the Tiki Bar for drinks because it's one of our traditions.

Photo by Wendy

Photo by Wendy

From there we headed home to have cake and wish Wendy a Happy Birthday, since we won't be in Maine to celebrate on her special day.

She's so cute!!!

Thanks for stopping by...
;o)