High of 74℉. Hiked in shorts
Thursday, October 20, 2016
After doing some laundry, we decided to explore the southern side of the Quietside of Acadia National Park. We walked the “Wonderland Trail”, a short hike to the coast. The tide was out, which was best for this hike. Park signs told us to explore the pools around the rocks to find Periwinkle (snails) of two varieties, sea urchins and seaweeds. As we walked around the rocks, Periwinkles were everywhere. It would be easy to gather a meal here. Seaweed with little pods on them were just like the ones we saw at Hopewell Rocks where the tour guide told us it could be used as a facial conditioner. I popped a little pod open and applied the clear cream under my eyes and on my forehead. Now I look 30 years younger!
It was a very short drive to the second hike, “Ship’s Harbor Nature Trail”. It’s so crazy that two hikes very close together could be so different. The forest was different, more boreal with mosses and mushrooms. We saw a beautiful pumpkin-colored bird we have never seen before. Then you come out to a beautiful cove, which at high tide would surely hide a small ship, maybe a smuggler. The tide was coming in strong, looking like a river rushing downhill. Several ducks rested in the protected area.
Coming back out, we wanted what might be the last lobster roll, so we went to Charlotte’s Lobster Pound for lunch. With picnic tables all around and a busy parking lot, we placed our order, sharing a lobster roll, two ears of corn on the cob boiled in the lobster pot and a piece of blueberry pie with ice cream. This is a happening place with a goat to pet while you watch the cook working outdoors.
After lunch we walked through a park campground to get to a short carriage trail. Only two miles one way, we decided to walk it. It isn’t as pretty as yesterday’s trail, but still a lovely, quiet walk in the woods where we didn’t see a soul. Somewhere along the walk, Martha said she didn’t know why she thought she might be able to walk that famous trail in Spain.
Stopping at the grocery store, we stocked up on a few things. We have had incredible weather in this great park. Still after a week we have left many things undone. Every time we explored one thing, we discovered two more. So many little side roads to drive, hikes to take and wonderful seafood to eat. I think I have had enough lobster for a while, but I love the fish sandwiches, fish and chips, and I never did get a crab roll which Andrea said was great. We’ll just have to come back after winning the lottery and buy a Hinkley Picnic boat.