On the Sea

We drove to Maine from Rochester, NY (as you saw previously). We left Rochester at around 8:30am and didn't get to our campsite until.... drum roll.... 3:15am. We couldn't believe it. It was quite terrible. But, the scenery on the way there (New Hampshire and Vermont and NY and Maine) was so amazing. Of course, we were on a mission driving, so I didn't really get any pictures of the way there. We set up our tent and blew up the air mattress with two led lanterns and the quietest voices we could muster, even though we were both so tired and bitchy. The campsites at Lamoine State Park were really nice. There was a firepit, which we never used, even though I thought we would. The picnic table was sturdy and perfectly sized. Even the bathrooms were nice! Individual showers (as in, each shower in a different room!) that were clean and warm. They cleaned the bathrooms twice a day! And everyone there was really nice and quiet and it was pretty much just a great camping experience. Oh, also... it's on the water!!

Barnacles!! I think these were the first wild barnacles I've seen. Unless I saw some in FL and I've forgotten... Lamoine is right on the ocean, in Frenchman's Bay. Love the name! It smelled like the sea and there are all kinds of little boats there. We walked along the rocks, but there weren't really any tide pools. All in all, if you're going camping in Maine and want to be close to Acadia and Bar Harbor, but not overcrowded, stay at Lamoine!

More ocean! I couldn't get enough of it. Oh, the rocks. This is still Lamoine.

Kayaks!! These pictures that are blurred all cool were taken while my camera was in a waterproof bag. I was worried that they would be horrible, but I really quite like them. As in I love them. These are the kayaks waiting for us at a beach in Bar Harbor.

Eric and I in our fatty life jackets looking very excited and much bigger than usual. It was pretty funny helping each other with adjusting the jackets and stuff. Especially at the part when I had to help Eric put his splash skirt on. Heehee.

Paddling out. We both had golden handles. I love that reflection! It was so cool being on the ocean, and in a kayak you're so close. The only thing that would be closer is if you would be swimming. And I wouldn't be up for it out in the bay!

We went with Acadia Sea Kayaks. We chose them because they claimed to be the most environmentally friendly tour option in the area, they only take smaller groups, and their guides are very knowledgeable about local wildlife, astronomy, history and the like. The small group was awesome. There was another kayak tour paddling out at the same time and they had somewhere around 12 people! What a pain. We only had Eric and I and then a family of four. Our guide (can't remember his name) knew the answers to all of our wildlife and other questions, but he wasn't really a conversationalist. Truth be told, he was kind of awkward. I would have liked it if the person who was touring me would have been more talkative. But, even with that, we had a really great time.

We were in tandem kayaks. Eric was in front and I was in back, steering. Before this, I had only been in my mom's kayak and another river kayak, and in those you just steer with the paddles. But sea kayaks have a rudder. It was kind of hard to get used to, but very easy once I did. We circled around two islands...

The sun was starting to go down...

We went by this cove, where the waves were washing over rocks and flowing back out and generally being very beautiful. I wanted to just stop there and be hypnotized. But, we had to keep going. I love the light coming off of the paddle in this photo. Maybe I should cover the lens with a piece of plastic more often! Oh, and also sprinkle water on it :)

Eric liked hunting for crab claws. They were kind of creepy, especially when he tried to pinch me with them! He was very proud of this beast he found.

Once we beached on the island, I could take the camera out of the bag and get some clearer photos. The sky was beautiful. Look at those clouds!

Beached kayaks. We landed on Burnt Porcupine island. All the islands around there were named porcupine, because of the tall pine trees that made them look like the backs of porcupines. There was even Sheep Porcupine Island, where they used to graze the sheep for the summer. Why? No predators!

I want to go back to Maine right now. I could not get over the ocean. I think I have to live close to the ocean some day. Probably the west coast, but I would settle for Maine if that didn't work out... Just look at the contrast between the rocks and the sky. I'm in love.

Eric spent his time on the island looking in every single tide pool. He found some cool shells and part of an urchin. I found a whole urchin! But it got squished in my pocket on the way home, so now it's only 1/3 of an urchin. Still cool.

Back in the kayaks. We paddled the other way around the island, so we could see the sunset. It was really beautiful. I found myself really really interested in the way the light played on the water and the division between water and sky. And just the water itself. The ocean is so much clearer than a lake. I'm just not used to it. And even... I don't know, there's something that is just different.

I mean, really. Just look at that. Need I say more?