July 18 - Acadia National Park in the Rain
One of the things I love about my summer adventures is that they are not predictable – unexpected or untimely events invariably occur, giving me an opportunity to change my expectations or practice having an attitude of gratitude. Today was the only day I had available to visit Acadia National Park and it was raining hard all day – so hard I had to wring the water out of my gloves multiple times. Every time I leaned down to plug in my electric gear, water cascaded off my body onto my already soaking boots. Needless to say, I didn’t have the same visit I would have had if it were sunny out, but I was able to enjoy it anyway.
The weather forecast for today was pretty dire all along – essentially 100% chance of rain with rain expected all day. So, although I rarely wear my rain gear, I left my Bunk a Biker house this morning with my rain pants on and within 10 minutes decided to pull over and put the rain jacket on as well. I decided that I would rather be riding than sitting indoors and that today would be a great opportunity to practice having a positive attitude.
After leaving Saint Albans this morning I took highway 1A then highway 3 into Acadia. I had purchased a vehicle pass to ride up Cadillac Mountain and decided to do so despite the poor visibility. Cadillac Mountain is the highest point in the North Atlantic Seaboard and the first place to see the sun rise in the United States. As I drove up the twisty road to the top of the Mountain I focused on the fact the road was in great condition and that I was enjoying the curves. At the top, I was grateful that I was able to see some of the rocky outcroppings and the Atlantic Ocean off in the distance.
After descending the mountain, I proceeded along the Park Loop Road to Thunder Hole. Thunder Hole is a small inlet where the water has carved out a tunnel-like shape in the rocks. When the waves come in, they hit a cave at the end of the tunnel and the water is forced up, creating a big splash and a thundering sound. Although apparently the water would have been much more dramatic at high tide later in the day, I did get to see the effect of the water rushing in and rocketing up.
One of the things I was truly able to appreciate today was the beautiful foliage covering the Park Loop Road. The vegetation is so lush and dense and in many places the trees form a canopy over the road. My favorite shot of the day is when a tiny glimmer of sun shone down through the tops of the trees right when I pulled over to get a picture of the canopy. As I left the park, I got a great view of Somes Sound during a rare break in the rain.
I am extremely grateful to have such kind Bunk A Biker hosts in Maine. When I came home looking like a drowned rat, they helped me hang up my wet gear near a fan and also did a load of laundry for me. After that they treated me to a delicious homemade steak meal and strawberry shortcake dessert. What a perfect end to an adventurous day.
