Eyrene & Rob's Adventures: Maine!

The night of October 16th found us arriving at our friend Tom's mom's house in Maine. We spent several days there, enjoying the local color, etc.

Thursday the 17th:

I went for a walk in the morning with Tom's mom, Jean, and got to gawk at the pretty rocks in the neighborhood, like this great metamorphosed outcrop in her neighbors field.

Gneissic banding.

I can see why Tom's family like their neck of the woods. They've got some great views...

Landscape view from the road.

That afternoon, we went to Birch Point Beach State Park. I loved this little piece of rock...

Inclusions in granite.

Pretty sand beneath the water at the beach.

After Birch Point Beach State Park, we headed in to Rockland to wander the main street and then head to Archie's for dinner, out by the water. We had a great view along our way and over dinner...

Boats in Rockland Harbor.

Sailboats in Rockland Harbor with the full moon rising over the Atlantic.

The moon setting a gorgeous scene during our dinner.

We wrapped up the day by going back to the house and having some lovely homemade apple crisp and good conversation.

On Friday October 18th, we got to chip in while Jean and some nurse friends loaded up wood for another friend of theirs, Maggie. The wood was well aged and some of it needed splitting to fit where Maggie planned to use it. Rob assumed the role of log splitter and was a vital piece of the event since the wood was too hard for most anyone else to be able to split. We helped load two truckloads of wood, then headed to Maggie's house, helped a little with the remaining organizing of the wood, then got to sit down with everyone over some lovely food and conversation. The full moon rose while we were at Maggie's, and Rob got a fantastic shot of her great old house and the moonlit clouds.

Jean's friend Maggie's house at night.

I woke up early on Saturday the 19th and wandered around, admiring Jean's property.

A foggy morning at the house.

Sunrise sneaking through the cloud cover.

The full moon hiding behind the early morning cloud cover.

We had delicious German food at a local small restaurant for lunch, then got a Maine treat of a homemade lobster dinner.

On Sunday the 20th, we took a ferry from Rockland to Vinalhaven Island. We hoped to take our bicycles, but opted to leave them with the motorhome when we found out they cost as much as ourselves to go on the ferry. We'd rather save that $35.

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse in the morning on our way to Vinalhaven Island.

Owls Head Lighthouse, from the ferry.

Looking back at Rockland Harbor.

Rob watching the view ahead of us.

Pretty (and dangerous?) rock islands and masses of evergreens.

A neat island house and landscape.

Fascinating rocks in front of an island house.

Holy crap are there a lot of wild roses in Maine. LOTS. And they're sharp too!

Lichen on the shore.

More lichen, and some sparkly micas in metamorphic rocks.

Rob on the rocks on the shore at Lane's Island Preserve.

We think these are olivine crystals on granite. Pretty and green, whatever they may be.

If you are a geology geek (read us), Maine has absolutely amazing rocks.

A gniess big bolder.

GNIESS!

Mini arch. Tiny. Maybe an inch high. So cute!

The shoreline of Lane's Island Preserve.

Fascinating rock!

Rob getting his geek on.

MOAR fascinating rocks. I think the black needle-like minerals here are hornblende.

Vinalhaven and Carver's Harbor.

Pretty old houses on Vinalhaven Island.

A tanker off in the distance as we rode the ferry back to Rockland Harbor.

Rockland Breakwater Lighthouse at sunset.

A close-up of the lighthouse at sunset.

Rockland Harbor at sunset.

More sunset loveliness in Rockland Harbor.

On Monday the 21st, we headed off towards Acadia National Park. We stopped along the way at the Penobscot Narrows Observatory & Fort Knox in Prospect, Maine (not THE Fort Knox, but still very interesting!)

Interesting metamorphic rocks by Fort Knox & Penobscot Narrows Observatory

View from the Penobscot Narrows Observatory, towards Bucksport.

The shadow of the observatory we were looking out from.

View of the fall foliage and the Penobscot River, from the observatory.

Big ass cannon at Fort Knox.

Rob looking at the flowstone that everyday water created out of the mortar between the stones.

We got to Acadia National Park that evening, got a little bike ride in from our campsite to the coast, and soaked in the view from the coastline before heading back in for the evening.

Tuesday the 22nd, we explored Acadia National Park...

Pretty leaves along the scenic loop.

I just liked the way the trees stood, and their colors.

Looking out from the scenic overlook, just north of Egg Rock Lighthouse. Notice the cool house in the trees too.

Egg Rock Lighthouse.

Gorgeous leaf colors and nicely contrasting naked trees next to it.

Rob, checking out the waves and views near Thunder Hole.

Down the coastline, near Thunder Hole.

It made Rob laugh.

Otter Cove in Acadia National Park.

Driving down the scenic loop, with colors flashing by.

Looking down over Bah-habah, Maine (Bar Harbor to us non-New Englanders), near the top of Cadillac Mountain.

Reenie on the carriage roads! The carriage roads are a whole system of, uh, carriage roads, built by really rich people in the 1800's. They are exquisitely well crafted, and the park still maintains them. They are a great place to go on a bike ride. Thank you Rockefellers, et al.