A boggy weekend
So I’ve been busy – walking. Or should I say hiking. I never really understood what makes the distinction, but hiking sounds more robust, doesn’t it.
On Friday, walked around here in the rain. I didn’t think it would rain as much as it did. We were soaked when we got back and it became clear that my winter walking shoes have holes somewhere in the toe area and let in water. Time for some new shoes.
On Saturday, the weather was much nicer. In sunshine and chilly winds, we walked the Schoodic Bog Loop again. This time I took a picture of the trailhead map. The photo came in handy when we met others coming along who were not aware this was a loop. I showed them the map and explained the entrance to the right leg is hard to spot, but it’s at the end of the bog. The forest is reflected in the photo below because the map is under an acrylic sheet to keep it dry.
Next time, I want to take the route that goes up off the upper edge of the map. It’s an alternate route up the mountain.
Sunday we hiked in a group of six up Schoodic again. I really enjoyed it. Even though I started out wearing an even older pair of hiking boots – maybe I bought them in 1978? Could that be possible? The soles disintegrated right before my eyes. I had to borrow another pair of boots from Jeff that were slightly big on me, but worked out okay. Yes, definitely time for some new boots.
I know I’ve viewed the bog from up here before, but it was especially fascinating because we’d just walked there on Saturday. I tried to visualize where we walked through the forest. We were on that rail trail in the lower right area of the photo that cuts across the top (bottom?) of the bog. I find this bog phenomenally interesting and want to learn much more about it. I’m not at all sure what plants grow in there, but they are not blueberries. Some types of grasses.
The sky on Sunday was both dramatic and peaceful. I associate these daytime sky colors of yellow, pink and apricot with winter skies. I have never observed them in the summer during the day, maybe I’ve just missed them. It seems like the sky is anticipating sunset early. This photo was taken around noon, way too early for sunset.
The photo below shows Flanders Pond. What’s interesting about this photo is also very hard to see. I had to expand the size and it was still hard to see because of the inadequate resolution. There are stationary ripples just above and to the right of the tiny island. Amazing to look at them because the mind is saying “this is moving water” and yet there is no motion. And there are subtle filmy white bands as well as more blocky formations of white in the upper part of the lake. The Beginnings of Ice.
More sunset-colored sky and bands of cloud. Acadia’s mountains (Mount Desert Island) to the west. So beautiful.
Today, Jude’s post spoke of imagination. Last night I dreamed of entirely imaginary people and things. I wonder if it has something to do with being up high because mostly my dreams are about every day things and people.
In my dream, it was my birthday and I was given gifts by people I don’t know. Imaginary people. Three (imaginary) plants and a plant stand made of a craggy piece of rock. I could nestle the plants into niches in the rock. I loved it so much. Then one of the people said I needed a candle. We went over to something that looked like a chicken’s nesting box & put some money in it (a candle vending machine?). Cranked a handle a few times and a palm-size masklike silicone shape came out with a design like a gorilla’s face. I doubted it had anything to do with candles, but turned it over and there was a circular opening to hold a candle. So there you go.