MDI

Well - my goal was to make it to Mount Desert Island in Maine.  AND I DID!

First we must address the  correct pronunciation.  You would think it is pronounced like the Sahara Desert...  But it is not.  All the locals corrected my pronunciation - it is pronounced Mt. Desert (desert - like blueberry pie)...  Don't know why - that's just the way it is.  And you don't contradict a Maine-iac...  that's what the locals are called - by those who are not local...

Why was this my goal you might ask???  Well - Mt. Desert is part of Acadia National Park (which just celebrated it's 100th anniversary since named as a national park)  and was alleged to be one of the most scenic and beautiful places....  I spoke to many cruisers and local people and they said - "you can't come all this way and not get up to Mt. Desert"...

And - now that I've been there I can tell you that this is true.  I mentioned the rocky coast of Maine in a previous post and that's what really sets this place apart.  While it's rocky - at the same time there are dense forests of evergreen trees and other colorful plant life of all kinds.  And - I mentioned wildlife before but on land the variety of birds that I see is really cool.  When I'm done sailing - I may take up birding...  seriously...

The scenery is just amazing.  On the island there are hundreds of trails ranging from short and easy to long, steep and difficult.  Some of the trails have ladders, hand-rungs and foot pegs to help do the rock climbing needed to make your way up and down.  I didn't get that hard core.  But I did hike to the top of Cadillac Mountain which is 1550 feet high and boasts the claim as the highest mountain peak on the eastern sea-coast.  The views on the way up and from the summit were breath-taking - or was it the strenuous nature of the hike that took my breath? - BOTH...  In addition to climbing Cadillac Mountain I found numerous other trails that offered amazing scenery and views - including a little known trail where I explored a cave nestled among a bunch of huge boulders where native Americans sheltered themselves and hunted for their survival...

I made a conscious choice early on in my planning for this trip.  I chose to spend less time in each of the places along the way so that I could see more places.  I'm glad I made that choice 'cause I've seen tons of great places and I would not have made it this far north.  I've traveled more than 1,700 miles.

But - alas - it is time to turn around.  I've been told by many to turn around by mid-September.  Which it is now.  And guess what???  Fall comes quickly here.  I was swimming not that long ago and the last two nights the temperature dropped to the low 40's!!! with highs of only 60.  And out on the water it feels even cooler than that.  So - it is with mixed emotions that I turn and point the bow of Green Ayes back to the South...  I look forward to seeing some new places on the way south and maybe returning to some of the favorites I visited on the way up...  I hope to be on the Chesapeake in early or mid-October.  I plan to hang out there for a while then begin the trek southward to Florida on the Intra-Coastal Waterway...

Here's some photos from MDI...

Hot soup to 'warm me shivering timbers'

One of the quaint little sea-side towns along the passageway to Mt Desert.  This town (Stonington), like many, is a lobster town, but is also a rock quarry where the quartz and granite rock is mined and used in a wide array of applications.  Interestingly, the stone used to build the Brooklyn Bridge was mined in Stonington...

Here is another one of the picturesque anchorages where I swam and spent the night and rode the dinghy around to explore the island...

This anchorage was so still and quiet that as the evening approached a mist rose up off the water (look closely).  The mist rose up and gently swirled across the water.  It was so cool - as if the earth was breathing - wish you could have seen it...

Then this was the sunset that followed...  Never take sunset for granted.

Some of the views on Mt Desert...

Some of the scenery from my hiking at the park...

Yes - that's a cruise ship on the bay in the distance.  Cruise ships come to/from Canada...

Here's a pic of the cave I mentioned.  I was the only one on this trail early in the morning.  It was so quiet and serene.  I had an eerie sense of the spirit of the natives who lived here long before this place became a treasured national park...

Hope you enjoyed this post!!!

P.S.  I also want to mention that prior to my push on to Mount Desert, Janet came for a visit and we had a great time exploring some of the towns in southern Maine.  We spent time in and around the Portland area.  We anchored out one night and enjoyed a bon-fire on the beach with fellow cruisers...  We stayed off the boat a couple nights at a quaint old family resort marina.  We stayed in their lighthouse suite and had a great time.  We ate lots of lobster, enjoyed a late night set of local music (we were tipped off to the local music when we met a girl who was a runner up on American Idol!),  and played a round of golf at a scenic waterside golf course.  I went home with Janet after her visit for a couple days and we had a big barbecue and pool party at our place.  It was good to be home for a few days.

Penny helped  her 'pop-pop' shop for the barbecue!!!  She was so good when we were shopping as long as I kept giving her handsful of blueberries...