Nov. 28, 2008 – Acadia NP, ME.
.Black Friday in Acadia National Park
I slept for approximately three hours this morning. I didn’t want to sleep too long because I have a lot of ground to cover in a short amount of time since money has quickly become an issue.
As I made my way over to Acadia National Park, I listened to the news on the radio. It never fails, the Black Friday Mayhem gets worse and worse every year.
seaside town
I’m not sure what it is about having 8 items on sale in a store the size of a stadium parking lot that makes people stand in line at 4am, but they do it every year. Do me a favor, if you arrive at the store and there is a line 500 people deep, don’t bother adding yourself to the end in hopes of getting the couple items on sale. Go back later in the day and pay an extra 20%. Is it really worth $30 to stand outside for hours in the cold? For that matter, is it worth $30 to stand in line with the possibility of getting in an argument, a fight, or worse yet, trampled to death?
Yes, trampled to death!!! I heard today that an employee at Wal-Mart was trampled to death by the “Morning Marauders” Is this what civilization come to? Trampling people to death in hopes of getting a Tickle Me Elmo? If this is civilized behavior, then give me a deserted island.
Acadia National Park was beautiful, but lacked the prize that I had hoped for: seals. In a lot of pictures of the park, there are these lovable animals basking in the sunlight while stretched out on the rocky shoreline of Maine’s coastal islands. I’m sure it has a lot to do with the time of year, but I still wanted to see seals!
Maybe the next time I visit Maine, I will pick a more appropriate time of year. Until then, I will have to search for a lighthouse to satisfy my desires to see something new.
I found the only the lighthouse located on Mt. Desert Island -which houses Acadia National Park & Bar Harbor-.
Maine lighthouse
The lighthouse wasn’t exactly what I had envisioned. I had always pictured all lighthouses to be tall, but it was rather short. It turns out there are different types of lighthouses. The tall ones are for deep-sea vessels and the shorter ones -like this one in Maine- are harbor lights. I had no idea.
I tried to get a good picture of the Bass Harbor lighthouse, but its location on a rocky cliff made it difficult. The trail leading down to the front wasn’t even near a satisfying view for me. I would have liked to have a boat to get offshore, but this wasn’t going to be happening. Instead, I took a hiking trail through some woods that led to the steps, which took me down to the rocks on the backside of the lighthouse. I still didn’t have the view I wanted! I decided to climb down the rocks. I debated on whether or not I should be doing this because the rocks were slippery from spray that the waves smashing against the rocks below created. I also realized that if I slipped while jumping from one rock to the next, I’d probably hurt myself pretty badly while tumbling down to the rocks below and there wasn’t anybody near here this time of year. Nevertheless, I went for it. I ended up getting a better view of the lighthouse, but really needed to be offshore to get the view I was wanted.
Another thing Maine is for is its lobster. I hear about it all the time and I can see by the number of lobster crates being loaded onto trailers, this is serious business. The inlets and harbors were littered with small, unattended boats anchored and waiting with traps
There were small towns on the island that housed Acadia N.P., and the towns resembled every seaside town that we’ve seen in the movies. It’s funny how I’ve seen the movies & T.V come to life on this trip. Before this trip, I had started to believe that many things weren’t really as they were depicted in films, but rather as the public wanted them to be. I had believed these type of places ( like the seaside towns in Maine) no longer existed, but they still lived in Hollywood because it makes for a more cinematic scene. Truth is, these places still exist, just like Hollywood portrays them.
Lobster crates were plentiful
There were small towns on the island that housed Acadia N.P., and the towns resembled every seaside town from movies. It’s funny how I’ve seen the movies & T.V come to life on this trip. Before this trip, I had started to believe that things weren’t really as they were depicted in films, but rather as the public wanted them to be. I had believed these type of places ( like the seaside towns in Maine) no longer existed, but they still lived in Hollywood because it makes for a more cinematic scene. Truth is, these places still exist, just like Hollywood portrays them.
From the old seaport architecture to the bearded men in flannels loading up lobster crates onto the boats, Maine is exactly what I had believed it would be. It had islands filled with evergreens and rocky shorelines. The old bridges test time as they close the gap between separated lands and the sounds of boats trolling the water fill the air as the small coastal communities appear to be straight out of a Hollywood movie.
I didn’t do anything spectacular (or too out of the ordinary) in this state, other than spend Thanksgiving alone. Much like many things on this trip, Thanksgiving alone was a first for me.
All in all…. I felt so relaxed in the tranquility of the cool sea-air and the sounds of the waves. I felt as if I could sit on the rocks and stare off into the sea for hours, if not days. There is a lot to be said for the power of the sea over us. Whether on water or sitting on the shore, the ocean really does have an overwhelming persuasion over our emotions. It just goes to show how intertwined we are with the forces of nature.
While contemplating where I would rather live (city or country) I find myself torn in my desires.. do I really prefer the convenience and liveliness of a city-center or the inspirational views and serenity of nature.
The real answer to that is as simple as the question. All things in moderation. A little of everything and not too much of anything.
