Mt Desert Island Part I

What a fantastic weekend! This was definitely the first trip Callum actually "got," and he had a fabulous time; usually, since he is so young, he is just kind of "along for the ride," but this time he was fully engaged in all that we did. He is still walking around asking to go see the ocean, the beach, the kids on the beach, ducks, and the woods. He LOVED walking on the trails, climbing the rocks, and running around chasing ducks. We can't wait to bring him back--we have a feeling this summer (especially with Amanda working part time) will bring us up Downeast a bunch!

Below, the Goldsmiths arrive at The Collier House--the bed and breakfast in Bar Harbor (Town Hill village) we have been going to for the past 3 years. We always go the first weekend of my April vacation. The building in back is the main house, where there are some guest rooms, and where George serves up his fantastic gourmet breakfast. There are, however, several outbuildings; we always stay in the carriage house overlooking the little duck pond.

One of the first walks we took was on the carriage roads that go throughout the park. We embarked on the Witch's Hole loop--Witch's hole is a pretty neat Beaver pond in the middle of the woods. Evidence of Beaver activity was everywhere, as shown in small part by this picture Amanda took.....
Here's Witch's Hole. Pretty secluded, and very beautiful. You can see a big beaver lodge at the bottom of the photo--but there were DOZENS more dams and lodges (arent they the same thing?) scattered all over the place. We met a black lab named Bella, and her owners were letting her swim in the pond--it must have been freezing though! It is always pretty windy up on the island....
That afternoon we decided to drive up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Last year we did the same thing, and Callum hated it (it was very windy, and he was NOT impressed). This year, being a bit older, Callum enjoyed walking around, looking at the ocean. Although we really cannot wait to hike up the mountain with the little guy, driving up will do for now. And, in my dream of dreams, I have the goal of riding my bike up the 3.3 mile auto road this summer. We'll see if it happens. Going up is the tough part....but riding down scares the crap out of me.....
Amanda and Callum. For those of you interested in Acadia National Park and the Gulf of Maine islands, the big island in the top center of the photo is Great Cranberry Island. Our friends Randy and Craig used to paddle their kayaks out there quite often. If you were to go a bit to the right, you are now entering "Blue hill bay," and you would start seeing Swan's Island, Bartlett Island, etc. I had an adventure on Swan's Island once. Maybe I will recount it sometime...
Stay tuned for part 2...