2014-05-13 Acadia's 27-mile scenic loop

On our first full day with a road-worthy truck, we set out to explore Acadia's 27-mile scenic loop here on Mt. Desert Island. There are many trailheads along the way, scenic overlooks, and popular stops. It will take months to explore them all. One half of the drive is a one-way, 2-lane road so folks can park in the right lane to check out the sights. Just before the entrance station for the scenic loop, our first stop was the Schooner Head Overlook, with a short path around the bend and down to the shoreline to admire the rocky shore and an impressive mansion on Schooner Head.

parking for Schooner Head overlook

Schooner Head Overlook

Sand Beach is the only sandy beach on the island, surrounded by an abundance of hiking trails. all of which I hope to explore, including the Beehive climb. There is an easy foot path called the Ocean Path leading from here, past Thunder Hole and Otter Cliffs, to Otter Point. While we were at Sand Beach, the nature cruise boat came by - we would be on that boat soon! (We are very blessed to go free, on the boat and trolley tours we sell in the park!)

Lighthouse / Nature Cruise boat

Thunder Hole is one of the most visited sites in the park - where a surge of water in the right conditions creates a thunderous WHOOMPF of water and air exploding from a narrow tunnel in the rock. The tides were quiet with no big splash for our first visit, but I had a blast climbing around on the rocks. This place is better than Tom Sawyer's Island! Great place if you enjoy scrambling around on granite.

Our 1st vist to Thunder Hole

No crashing waves today

From Thunder Hole towards Otter Cliffs and Otter Point

Around the bend at Otter Point

We had some errands to run so did not spend time exploring the rest of the loop, we cruised right on by the Otter Cliffs where climbers abound, Otter Point, around the bend and through the remainder of the scenic loop, passing the historic Jordan Pond Gate House, Jordan Pond House where the popovers are a big draw, and on home.

Jordan Pond Gate House, built by John D Rockefeller,Jr. in 1931

Wanderers and Vagabonds...

The RV started as a temporary solution to afford living in Newport Beach when Mary's company relocated to Irvine, CA. We loved it so much, we decided to make a go of full-time RVing. In July 2008 we hit the road, and have been roaming ever since. We do seasonal work camping and really enjoy it. We also use camp club memberships such as Thousand Trails and Coast to Coast to save on "rent". We have found beauty everywhere we go and hope to continue exploring and enjoying this beautiful country. Here's a great quote which sums up our hope for ourselves and for anyone seeking similar adventures:

“...May your trails be crooked, winding, lonesome, dangerous, leading to the most amazing view. May your mountains rise into and above the clouds. May your rivers flow without end, meandering through pastoral valleys tinkling with bells, past temples and castles and poets towers into a dark primeval forest where tigers belch and monkeys howl, through miasmal and mysterious swamps and down into a desert of red rock, blue mesas, domes and pinnacles and grottos of endless stone, and down again into a deep vast ancient unknown chasm where bars of sunlight blaze on profiled cliffs, where deer walk across the white sand beaches, where storms come and go as lightning clangs upon the high crags, where something strange and more beautiful and more full of wonder than your deepest dreams waits for you -- beyond that next turning of the canyon walls.” - Edward Abbey

the.arys - gary and mary

2014-05-13 Acadia's 27-mile scenic loop

No comments:

Translate