One of the best lessons I’ve learned in the last 3.5 years, since Covid, of the numerous lessons I have learned, is that multiple things can exist at the same time. I can’t tell you enough how helpful this lesson has been for me. I think of the life I used to live in the binary and I feel like I don’t even know who that person is anymore. How freeing my life has become without trying to put everything into one of two boxes. And, decolonizing your brain is a VERY difficult task. Unlearning takes time. For me it is often a minute by minute challenge. I am also trying to remind myself that change doesn’t happen overnight and to give myself grace even when I stumble. As long as the general direction is forward amiright?
I’ve been missing my people a lot lately. I haven’t been in the presence of any friends or family, except for Dave, since September 3rd. And, another lesson I learned, in cultivating my circle, my people will be my people no matter where I am in the world. My dad was in Boston for work this week and there was a tiny long shot that he was going to be able to drive up and visit us for 24hrs. I was trying to not get my hopes up and when it didn’t work out I was pretty bummed. This is where perspective comes in. I can miss my people and be grateful for this experience. The situation can always be worse. I can be disappointed and happy that we are both safe, alive and well. Many things can exist at the same time. I can’t waste any time complaining about any of it!
I reserved a spot to visit Cadillac Mountain yesterday in the event that my dad would come. I was excited to go too because we hadn’t been up there yet. I am so glad that I decided to go on my own. I’m getting really good at solo exploring and had a wonderful day. I also loved being able to go in the morning on a weekday because it was A LOT less crowded than it is on the weekends, which makes sense. Let’s just say I understand now why it is one of the top destinations in Acadia. There is a gorgeous, almost 360 degree view, from up there. I feel like I repeat myself a lot, which I am sure you are getting used to at this point, and Acadia is a truly spectacular place!
After spending about an hour exploring the summit I made my way back down and decided to visit Southwest Harbor as a recommendation from a friend. It is a cute little town. Not too much to report on that. I think if I was planning on taking the ferry to one of the islands in the area that is where I would do that. I also had been wanting to explore the Bar Harbor Shore Path more because I loved it so much the first time we went but ran out of time to walk the whole thing. So I drove to Bar Harbor next.
I have to say that even driving around the park and not stopping anywhere is glorious and it is hard to not stop at every vista because of the beauty! Bar Harbor is nuts even on a weekday. We found a parking lot on the edge of town last time we were there that is only $2/ hour instead of $4 and has a bathroom by it so I consider it a little hidden gem. And it is on the side of the town where the shore path starts so win win. The shore path goes all the way to the harbor and offers incredible views of the Porcupine Islands and hotels, cruise ships and fishing boats, sea gulls and lobster traps.
I was able to get a table at Jeannie’s Great Maine Breakfast after my walk, which was incredibly packed when we tried to go before whale watching, and it was pretty good. I wish that Dave had the opportunity to go to Acadia and Bar Harbor not on a weekend because it is a lot less nutters.
We went to dinner at the Lucerne Inn on Tuesday night just to mix it up a little bit and it offers a great view of Bald Mountain and Phillips Lake. The server said Bald Mountain wasn’t too challenging of a hike, and it had stopped raining as I was leaving Bar Harbor, so I decided to check it out. The reviews I read said that the path can be difficult to find, which was true, and Google surprisingly led me right there. When I arrived at the spot it directed me to, I just didn’t think that the rock face I saw was the parking lot. So I decided to take a gravel path that looked like other people seemed to have driven on, let’s just say those people for sure had Jeeps! I was very nervous about getting stuck or having a large rock give my little Honda Civic a flat in the middle of nowhere, and I had to keep going forward. Terrifying! By the grace of God I got out of there without a flat and drove down the initial rock cliff, that for sure wasn’t the parking lot right, and headed home.
This weekend we hope to visit some of the other cities/ towns nearby. We’re thinking Camden, Belfast, and Rockport. Dave hasn’t had a full weekend without work since he started working 5 weeks ago so I’m excited to truly do whatever we want to do this weekend. We have reservations at the restaurant on Jordan Pond on Sunday so I’m excited for Dave to see it and do the hike around the pond together. I hope everyone is doing well where you are. You are missed and loved.
