Bar Harbor via Biddeford, ME

11:12 AM

The day started much better than the last one. We woke up to the shining sun. We woke up earlier than planned as an alarm in the hostel was going off. Mike was first up and around at 6 AM. He showered, then I did, then Maureen, and then Sean. We were amped to do all that was teased with yesterday. Acadia was the spot and we did what we could to get there. The first thing we did was go out to the cars and see how wet everything was. Luckily, the stuff that was wet did not seep over/soak everything else. That is still TBD once I get everything out of there.

But it was a great feeling, rolling up the sleeping bags on the dry sidewalk. There was not a cloud to be found. We were all happy at the day and no one seemed to be too tired. Smiles were given back and forth, but we were focused on getting out of there.

I don’t think I’ve talked about this, but for the last 4 months I’ve been traveling. Traveling with others has been a welcome change and a new pace setter. Alone time is great and I’ve been staying with and meeting a lot of people, but actually doing the experience with others has been tremendous. The 4 of us fighting the battles as a team really helped. I’m not sure what I would’ve done if I was sitting in my tent in the rain by myself. I am glad to have done the Maine thing with Sean, Mike, and Maureen. We made a great team.

After a hearty breakfast down the street (the hostel was on Main St.) we loaded up my car and piled into Mike’s. It was off to Acadia. Our first date was the Precipice Trail. We turned into the park and were stunned by the beauty all around us. The fog was cleared and what was left was blue water spotted with green islands and trees all around. We pulled over and took some pictures. You could see a few houses down on the water. I want one. The sky shined bright and the sun reflected off of the water to cause a glare. We were high on life. I’ve partied, played sports, and traveled all around, but the best high you can get is being outside on a beautiful day being at one with Mother Nature.

We were feeling it as we pulled into the parking lot for the trail. We looked up to see what we could not yesterday, the top. It was steep and rocky. We looked at the trail sign again. It said an hour and fifteen. It said it was not for kids. It said to be careful and use the handholds and rails. Whatever. We started up. It was close to 8:30.

The sun was shining on our side of Champlain Mountain. It was beautiful down below with a slight breeze. I had my Millerenium long sleeve T that I had been wearing off and on since the boat trip (too long) and my rain coat. It said it would be cold up top. I also strapped on my video camera pack. I’ve had my video camera with me the whole journey, but I’ve used my mind and my digital much more. I looped it over my shoulder. Mike carried a backpack with 4 bottles of water, some bananas, and a shirt.

We were off. Up the trial we went. The rock stairs helped us out and they had a blue hash mark pointing us where to go. We followed the blue. We all took turns leading and being the caboose. We all stayed together. The first time I wondered how difficult the hike would be is when we got to a rock wall that was maybe 8 feet high. There were medal, flattened u-shaped bars for you to grab and use your feet on. We all paused for a second. Maureen was in the lead at this point. I’m sure we all wondered. Up we went, helping each other and passing the bags up. We all cleared it. Then it was off to an area where you had to climb under huge boulders. The clearing was big enough, that was not the issue. The issue was crawling under tons and tons of rock. “It hasn’t moved in years, but it may fall on me.”

Up we went. Up rock made steps. Up boulder after boulder. We carried flat around the mountain for a lot of the time. And a lot of the time we stopped to stare and take pictures. Below us was the water and islands. Everything seemed so pure. The air felt clean. My smelly shirt seemed clean. We were on the right path.

We continued up. I will not continue telling you we continued up, we were climbing a mountain. There were some points that it got a little hairy. Remember all of the rain from the day before. It was sunny on our side, but some of the rocks were still damp. Runoff still came down the mountain. Mike and I had tennis shoes on. Sean and Maureen hiking shoes. There were some spots that were 2 feet across with slick rock. If you fell, you died. There were times I thought if we should go on. But peer pressure calls you, “If this trail is open and tons of people have done it, I can do it too.”

There were spots that were hundreds of feet straight down. After looking at the pictures I did not do a good job capturing how steep and far it was. I guess I was too busy being scared and focused on getting up. Anytime they have medal beams and bars while hiking, I would guess that means it’s not easy.

We stopped five or six times for breaks. We were in peace with nature, each other, and ourselves. You couldn’t help but sit back and soak it up. No one had to say anything. Although we did say, “Today was so worth yesterday.”

And guess what, we made it to the top. No one fell, no one got hurt. We made it and the feeling it gave cannot be matched. It was not easy. Yesterday, the climb, my whole journey, they weren’t easy but on top of the mountain you were on top of the world.

We stayed up top for about an hour. I called my parents. We met two locals, Allen and Paul. We talked to them for a long time. They told us where we should go down (there was no way we were going down the way we came up). We told them about us and Allen took a picture of us. People are very friendly in these settings.

We sat and soaked. The sun was bright but it was not too hot or cold up there. It was right. We walked all around the summit, checking out all sides. You could see Bar Harbor and Sand Beach. You could see it all.

Then it was time to go down. We went down Bear Rock trail and then could’ve stayed on that trail, or go to the East Face trail and make our way back down the lower 1/3 of Precipice and to where our car was. The initial walk was easy and we decided to take the way toward our car.

It was not easy. Going down flat out sucks. I was hating the fact that I brought my video camera, my shirt, and my jacket. It was hot. I had two shirts tied to me and my camera bag kept swinging all around. Hop down. Reach down and pull yourself down. Steady. Dry your shoes. Don’t fall. Don’t look too far ahead. Don’t look down.

I was sweating and swearing and walking. I was in the back. No one got hurt, but I fell once and ended up looking like I was sliding into third base (not headfirst). I was OK. I brushed off, cussed, and made my way to the group. “You OK?” Mike asked. “Fine,” I said shortly, not mad at him, just ready to get down.

At one break I had enough. I took the pack, stuffed my shirt, my camera bag, and my jacket in there and carried it from then on. Having two shirts tied around your midsection is really hot. This helped out a lot.

We climbed up and down and finally made it down. We saw suckers working their way up. We saw people taking kids. Not a chance on the full Precipice. People asked about it and we said it was beautiful but not easy. I bet the looks of us did not inspire them (See picture, you’ll know which one). But, we finally made it. We cooled off, piled in, and hit it to Sand Beach.

That was a beach I could hang on. I explained it earlier, but now you could see all of the trees and rocks that extended out. It was a stark contrast to what could be seen the previous day. Maureen and I put our feet in the water. Ouch. Numbing cold. But there were tons of people in there. I don’t know how they did it. It was refreshing though.

From there it was back to Thunder Hole. Way more vies as well. We got out on the rocks and took some good shots. We met up with Mike’s friend Matt who we were supposed to meet during the weekend. Cell service is minimal out here. Happen stance had it that as we walked down the sidewalk to the hole, we heard “Mike! Mike!” It was Matt and his group. Small park I guess.

The views of today made the whole trip up to Maine worth it. I learned I do not want to take a beach/swimming trip to Maine, but the beaches, the mountains, the trails, the rocks, and the overall vibe make it a place to come back to. All I can say is turn off the TV and head outside, it’s the best show going.

It was a bummer that we had to leave Acadia, but food called us. We went into town, found a place outside overlooking the pier, ordered some burgers, and devoured. We did a little shopping, said goodbye to the Opera House and headed out of town at about 3:30. What a weekend. What a place. What a great group of people.

I’m getting ready to see if my tent has dried out. It’s on Maureen’s back lawn. Then I’ll hit the beach for a few and head to my Aunt and Uncle’s.