Our time here is a treasure. The fresh air is intoxicating. It is not often you get 24/7 truly fresh air, sprinkled with balsam fir and the scent of the ocean. We have open windows in the cabin, with no a/c needed and also no need for heat. It certainly makes for great sleeping weather and incredibly good rest. We have needed it after a few intense days of hiking!!
As we have said, we live by the tides here. High tide moves about 45 min later per day so it allows for plenty of variety on an extended trip like this. These days the tide is in the perfect time of the day for us to be active in the morning and still kayak when we get back. So, that was our day!
We ventured over to the “busy” part of the park early this morning for a new hike that we have been intending to do. We have recovered enough from the past few days for simple, but not crazy, hiking. Schooner and great head trail was just perfect. It is highly recommended for anyone who comes this way since it had some incredible views, with just enough climbing in a non-challenging way. We absolutely loved it! It also gave us an opportunity to enjoy the famous park loop road where all of the major Acadia attractions sit. Rick has countless stories, including his kids climbing down rocks into caves and many great places that they explored together. I love to hear them.
We came back in time to fully enjoy an incredible kayaking experience today. The seas were much calmer, we had quite a few sightings from a couple of seals close by, and we took in every spot that we could in the cove, including some rarely visited spots
We had time then to clean up and visit our favorite lobster place for lunch. Again, Thurston’s remains in high regard.
Lastly, I have to share some of my thoughts from that crazy, insane hike called Beehive. I loved what Rick said and he was so kind, but let us be honest here:
- Yes, I had done it before and I remembered a little bit of it, but I clearly blocked most of it out. How did I even get through this in 2021? I must have had peer pressure (crowds) plus adrenaline back then. Why the heck did I do this again? Totally my decision.
- I cried. Multiple times on the way up. Rick was so kind and knew not to acknowledge my tears, even though it was clear I was overwhelmed with the challenge. He did exactly all of the right things, at every moment, and I am very grateful for that. Had he spoken about it, I really would have lost it. Glad that he knows me so well.
- I felt like more of a wimp since he has taken his kids on this so many times, and they rave about it. When we first went, he told me how “of course it is safe since he took his kids on it to hike it since they were young, and he would never put them in harms way”. So that is a big thing for me to think about. Although kids are fearless, and I am in my mid-50’s. Even though it was heartfelt, I am never listening to that one again.
- I am so grateful that we went late in the day, late in the season so that there weren’t many people. But of course this family hiked right on past us in one of my worst moments, and I think that two of them were older than me. We saw them at the top, acting like it was nothing. Whatever.
- I really did text his mom, and post on Facebook, at the top because I was glad to be alive and so very proud that I had done that. 5G came in handy since we don’t have it often on the island.
- I had every excuse in the book, including
- my legs are too short
- this hike is made for righties (I am a leftie)
- I … just… cant… do… it….
- Literally, at one point I put my head down on a step/rock that was as tall as me and said that I couldn’t. Rick kindly asked if I wanted to go back down, which is a fate worse than death… he knew the answer was no, but he didn’t know what else to say. He followed it with “well you have to do it”, and “how can I help you”. Yet another reason why I love him.
- Followed by
- I WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN
- So there you have it. I was a huge wimp most of the way. I have the most patient and kind husband
If I am ever coming back to Acadia, and I hope that I am, you all have permission to remind me to never hike Beehive again.
Two more days to go, this time goes much too quickly…
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