Hiking and Biking in Acadia National Park

 

The Northeaster Dory JR built at the WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, Maine is holding up securely on top of the Jeep. It has been christened with rain, fog, and bird droppings so far to date. Acadia is the only national park in the Northeast and quite different from other national parks we’ve visited. Set on Mount Desert Island the rhythms of the ocean waves are its heartbeat, granite rocks the irresistible and immovable skeleton, and lighthouse fog horns are its indomitable voice.

 

Acadia NP was established by Woodrow Wilson in 1916 with 6,000 acres. Today it covers more than 49,000 acres of donated land thanks to the remarkable dedication and philanthropy of wealthy private citizens such as Charles W. Eliot, the president of Harvard University, George B. Dorr the tireless conservationist and founding father of the park, and John D. Rockefeller, Jr. There is lots to experience in Acadia. Early risers can drive, bike or hike up Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the east Coast, to watch the sunrise.

Foggy on Cadillac Mt. on Day 1

Day 2 Cadillac Mt gave us some grand views

Motorists who drive the one-way Park Loop Road enjoy a 27 mile ride along oceanside cliffs and through mountain forests, stopping at scenic turnouts and notable attractions along the way, like the mighty Thunder Hole and Sand Beach. There are 130 miles of interlaced hiking trails and 56 miles of carriage roads for biking and horse drawn carriages to enjoy off the beaten path away from motorized vehicles. 

 Rain and thunder showers dampened our chances to get outdoors during the first few days while camping in Acadia. Making the most of it we spent time by having Metal Magic in Trenton cut a custom piece to extend a bar off the back of the Jeep in order to be able to mount our bike rack, purchased mountain bike tires for Christa’s new bike, visited the Hull’s Cove Visitor Center for Acadia, tracked down a UPS Store to ship a few items home, did the tourist scenario in Bar Harbor popping in and out of various shops and galleries while strolling the sidewalks, enjoyed art and photography displays at the Legacy of the Arts Festival on the Village Green,and savored a delicious lobster roll and cup of clam chowder at the Thirsty Whale for lunch. In camp JR replaced new tires on Christa’s bike so she could ride the gravel carriage roads safely in the park. Browsing through Acadia NP brochures, working on our laptops, reading and relaxing in the Chateau filled the time while we waited it out for the weather to improve. The cold dampness was starting to get to us. As soon as the weather cleared we were able to get out to hike a few trails and bike some of the carriage roads. 

Jordan Pond gave a good hike along narrow boardwalks and some rock scrambling boulders

"Okay Christa, no whining over this part of the trail ahead," said JR.

There were lots of candid photo opts during our hiking and biking ventures.

 We rewarded ourselves after a 3.2 mile hike around Jordan Pond by having yummy freshly baked, warm popovers and ice tea at the Pond Tea House. 

Jordan Pond House popovers, iced tea and strawberry lemonade hit the spot after hiking.

The following day it was foggy at Jordan Pond when we stopped by to see a birch bark canoe built.

 Being in the great outdoors is the primary reason two million people visit this wonderful national park every year. Fortunately we arrived early enough in the season to beat the hordes of summer rusticators.

In Maine you just have to go with the flow of weather changing day by day. 

Building a Boat at the WoodenBoat School in Brooklin, Maine

A field of wild daisies and lupines

Wild irises at Stonington Harbor

Traveling this little planet of ours, one would be hard pressed to find an area as marvelous as the Coast of Maine. A coast with tides taller than two men, water colder than scotch on the rocks, and scenery that painters will be trying to capture for generations to come. There is a wonder like no other as the coast is full of many surprises held tight.

Here with a week to spend, JR surprised us by enrolling himself in a workshop called Building Your Own Northeaster Dory at the renowned WoodenBoat School. Making a wooden boat has been on his bucket list for years. And what a more perfect opportunity and place for such a wonderful learning experience.

 Yummy hors d’oeuvres, delicious fish chowder, the camaraderie of the instructors joisting with one another, acquaintance with new folks from around the country, and a welcome orientation by the director Rich Hilsinger kicked the program off with a fine start. After class each day participants were even welcome at the Waterfront Boat House to check out any one of numerous wooden small boats. The two of us had a lovely evening rowing in a dory called Wild Rose photographing classic wooden boats in the harbor,

I like this a lot as JR did all the dory rowing

Yeah I like this when the load lightened so I could break loose out on my own too.

Sunset at the end of an evening row in Eggemoggin Reach was awesome

Friday evening everyone feasted on a fabulous Lobster Bake dinner hosted by the WoodenBoat School.

Steaming lobsters in a wash tub over a wood fired barrel for twelve minutes

just add corn on the cob, cold slaw, and carrot cake along with these goodies 

Mighty messy, but very delicious

Our landlubber and sailing friends alike would indeed be amazed at seeing the various small wooden boat projects under construction. It is quiet an art of craftsmanship and a place of newfound relevance. A relevance for the participants that strengthens their spirit and won place in their own mind as doers and achievers.

Sanding hull planks

Stitching the hull panel before gluing 

Fiberglassing and epoxying applications

Trimming the hull

What a wonderful experience being here has turned out to be. We had a place for our RV, the instructor John Harris owner of Chesapeake Light Craft (The Best Wooden Boats You Can Build) was great, Christa found numerous ways to entertain herself and occasionally lend JR a helping hand, the weather changed daily, and best of all JR mastered assembling all the parts, sanding, stitching, and epoxying his very own boat.

Class celebration time 5.5 days late

He learned and accomplished a lot building this beautiful little wooden dory. Look what we will be hauling it around with us the next six months.

Wasn't in our original travel plans, but at least there is one less item off his "bucket list".
Life is always full of surprises and you've got to flow with the moment.

Celebrating Margaretta Day in Machias, Maine

Heading down the coast of Maine we attended a festival celebrating the town's heritage as the site of the first naval engagement of the Revolutionary War, in which Machias patriots captured the Margaretta,in Machias Bay on June 12, 1775.

 
As history goes the previous winter came to be known as “The Winter of The Clams”. The colonists were starving to death and had nothing to eat but clams dug from the river’s edge. While awaiting the arrival of the Margaretta and her life-saving supplies, the colonists heard of the Battle of Lexington and, legend tells, erected a Liberty Pole in support of their fellow countrymen.


When the captain of the Margaretta arrived, he was incensed at the sight of the pole and threatened to fire upon the town, refusing to deliver the supplies until the pole was cut down. The people of Machias chose patriotism over hunger and attacked first. They captured two companion British ships, the Unity and the Polly, and then jumped aboard the fleeing Margaretta, armed with nothing but pitchforks and other farming tools. They captured the ship and brought its fatally injured captain to the Burnham Tavern, now a local museum.

A mile hike to the heart of town to see the parade gave us some exercise in spite of its small entries. The weather was clear for the festival held up the hill on the UMM campus green. Tents and craft booths were set up with re-enactors dressed in colonial period costumes.

The highlights were watching several carpenters using hand tools for post and beam construction chiseling out mortems, tenets and wooden nails, a bow and arrow maker carve his craft on an oh sage orange branch, salmon cook over an open fire grate, baby goats frolic, and families with young children enjoy the festivities.

 
Christa purchased a beautiful handmade pine needle basket done by an elderly Indian woman named Morning Star Wolf. It was by far a low key hometown community event, but fun for all who were out enjoying the sunshine on the green. Later in the evening there was a great sunset seen from the campground.