Maine Snapshots
We recently masked up and flew to Maine to meet with old friends and spend time hiking and eating in Portland, Baxter State Park / Millinocket, and Acadia National Park / Bar Harbor. There were gutting, exceptional views and great companionship.
One of the most memorable experiences of the trip was summiting Mt. Katahdin, the tallest peak in Maine and the end of the Appalachian trail. Our round trip took 9 hours along the Hunt Trail, although my companions could likely have shaved off an hour or two had it not been for my newly discovered fear of heights that surfaced as we began our scramble over massive boulders - for two long hours going up and for two long hours coming down, most of which I felt was precariously close to the edge of one of Katahdin’s ridges (although certainly nothing in comparison with the mountain’s notorious Knife Edge Trail). Many curse words were exclaimed (by me), and our party and the others we encountered on the trail were incredibly kind to entertain listening to my inner monologue, one of the few things that kept me ok on that part of the ascent and descent. It was a beautiful hike, and is certainly my most physically and mentally challenging to date.
There were also lovely moments of peace, lots of driving, great conversations, and many delicious meals - scallop ceviche with garlic and citrus, crispy artichokes, fluke crudo with grapefruit at Little Giant, sampling a dozen donuts at Holy Donut, driving an hour out of the way for perfect lobster rolls with a very fresh catch pulled right out of the sea, meals atop mountains, southern-style barbecue (a very large and tremendous surprise while traveling in Maine - the restaurant adjoined a brewery that we visited), perfectly briney oysters on a half shell and clam chowder along the bay, and an achingly good poutine topped with duck confit at Duckfat (fries fried in duck fat, of course).
iPhone photos are below. While packing I looked at my cameras, looked at my bags, and did not think twice about leaving them at home. I also did not take any panoramas (perhaps one?) nor VR photos, which is quite uncharacteristic! I guess I will have to return, revisit, and perhaps re-hike. Certainly to continue eating.
