Category Archives: Hiking

Farewell 2017

Posted on December 25, 2017 | Leave a comment

I’m sure most of my readers will actually be reading this on Tuesday instead of Monday this week as Monday is Christmas day, but that’s ok!  Better late than never!

 

To that end, Merry Christmas everyone!  And Happy Holidays to those of you who don’t celebrate Christmas!

 

Here’s a shot I took earlier in the year (when we actually had snow) to get everyone in the winter mood.  Funny thing about this shot, the sky was only overcast when I set out on the hike but on the way back it was almost a blizzard.  I couldn’t see more than ten feet in front of me at times.  That’s Maine for you.  Our saying about the weather is so true:  “If you don’t like the weather in Maine…Wait five minutes.”

 

 

 

Well, this marks my last post of 2017.  I hope everyone enjoyed my random musings and photos this year.  I’ll be back with a new post next Monday where it’s January 1st, then I’ll continue with my “every-other-week” posting schedule.

 

I hope everyone has a happy and safe New Year (and if you plan to ring in the new year at a party with alcohol, please drink responsibly and designate a driver)!

 

Take care, folks!

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

~A.M.

Advertisement

Leave a comment

Posted in Hiking, Miscellaneous, Nature, Photography

Tagged , , ,

Finding A New Local Trail

Posted on October 2, 2017 | Leave a comment

It’s always awesome when I stumble upon a new trail.  Especially when it’s local.

Recently, I found that the trail system in Machias had been expanded.  I’m not sure when this happened.  For all I know, these trails could have existed all along and I just never realized it.

Anyway, I decided to check out the new portion of trail.  Along the route, I came across an old car (I think it was a station wagon), rotting into the ground.  Every time I come across a crumbling vehicle in my hiking adventures, I always wonder about them.  Who did they belong to?  Why were they left?  And how did they get here?

As I was circling the car, taking a few pictures, I noticed something both odd and funny…

 

This little dude was just hanging out and again, I got to wondering what the deal was with him. Who made him? Who put him here? Why?

 

The things you find when hiking.

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

Leave a comment

Posted in Hiking, Photography, Strangities

Tagged , ,

Roque Bluffs Wildlife Sighting

Posted on September 18, 2017 | Leave a comment

 

 

 

Typically, when I go for a hike, my wildlife sightings tend to be limited to birds, squirrels, chipmunks, snakes, and seal (when I‘m hiking a coastal trail that is). It’s quite rare that I see anything else. I still treasure the time I spotted a wild bunny on Campobello (I spotted two more on a bike ride a while ago so that was cool).

 

Well, on a recent hike at Roque Bluffs State Park, I spotted something I hardly ever seen on the trail.

 

I was moving right along, my mind in my own little world, and I came around a bend through some trees and saw this gal…

 

 

 

She was just standing there. I expected her to bolt when she saw me. Nope. I told myself “She’ll take off the minute you go for your camera.” But, again, nope. She stayed right there, staring at me, and let me get a few pictures.

 

I love wildlife sightings.

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

Leave a comment

Posted in Animals, Hiking, Photography, Wildlife

Tagged , ,

Western Head Preserve

Posted on August 21, 2017 | Leave a comment

 

 

 

On my trip to Campobello that I mentioned earlier this month, I stopped by one of the visitor centers and picked up a few maps of trails I hadn’t heard of here in Maine.

 

Let’s stop and reflect on that for a second… I had to go to CANADA, to find trails in my own state of Maine. That’s just wrong. Step it up, Maine!

 

Anyway, I learned of a place close by a few of the other trails I frequent in the village of Cutler. In fact, I’ve driven by the road this new trail is on too many times to count and always wondered while passing it, “what’s down there?”

 

Well, I finally found out… Western Head Preserve…

 

But let me take a step back for a moment and tell you about the drive there. On the way to Cutler, I have to pass through a small town called Whiting and at a point where the road curves (there are lots of curves in this road so just take my word here), there’s a telephone pole with a huge Osprey nest built on top. I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned this in past posts or not…

 

Anyway, the Osprey were in full view from the road. One was in the nest, the other in the trees not far away. I took a few pictures of both and it was only upon reviewing the images at home that I noticed something…

 

 

It looks to me like this Osprey only has one foot. I can’t tell if the foot is just tucked, like a flamingo, or if the leg is missing altogether. Hopefully it’s just tucked.

 

 

Moving on to Western Head Preserve. After parking I had to walk down a dirt road a little way to reach the trailhead which brought me down to a small stone beach then into the woods, to another stone beach, back into the woods, to a third stone beach, and back into the woods once more. This trail’s shape is called a “lollipop.” It’s a length of trail that leads to a loop, then back out along the same trail.

 

The vistas on the far, seaward side of the loop were amazing. I took a few panoramas to share with you folks.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

Leave a comment

Posted in Animals, Hiking, Nature, Photography, Wildlife

Tagged , , ,

Ladyslipper

Posted on July 24, 2017 | Leave a comment

 

 

 

On a hike I took a while ago, I stumbled upon a lone Ladyslipper. And when I say “stumbled upon” I’m talking almost literally. The little flower was inches from the edge of the trail and if I hadn’t been paying attention, I would have walked right past it, or worse, stepped on it.

 

Now, I mentioned Ladyslippers in a previous post. I still haven’t done the research as to whether or not they’re still endangered, but judging by the infrequency in which I spot them (I’ve only seen two that I know of in my lifetime), I’m guessing they’re probably still on the list. And if they’re not, they probably should be.

 

I know they’re supposed to grow in small clusters but the two I’ve seen have been solitary which is another thing that makes me think they’re probably still on the endangered species list.

 

 

 

 

So if you see one of these in your travels, leave it be. Take nothing but pictures! And parents, teach your children not to pick them. Even if they’re not endangered anymore (which I’m betting they still are), they should be left for others to view and enjoy.

 

 

 

Until next time…

 

[^_^]

 

~A.M.

Leave a comment

Posted in Hiking, Nature, Photography

Tagged , ,