I went to Acadia, this Sunday, for a quick 2-day jaunt, in the main to see this shipwreck. I knew that the second storm we had broke up the remains further, BUT due to other commitments I could not get there prior to the Sunday. I wasn’t sure whether there would be anything visible. There was.
It was now badly broken up — in TWO separate sections — on either side of the famous, concrete steps leading down to ‘Sand Beach‘. One set is very close to the right hand side (as you come down).
Unless you knew about the wreck you could easily just think that it was random driftwood washed up. Yes, you can see the BIG, TALL nails but they are so rusted that they don’t look like nails. There are also some neatly drilled holes. You can see them in two of the pictures.
Well, I am glad to see what I saw. Not sure how long the timbers will stay there. Definitely a safety hazard for kids. So, most likely, the Park will remove the remains before the Summer.
Click to ENLARGE. Empty ‘Ocean Path’ — & it is beautiful.
Click to ENLARGE. Map showing ‘Winter Access’.
The oft heard lament that ‘Acadia‘ is getting increasingly crowded really needs to be qualified. Acadia, as yet, is only crowded during the warm months & there is no question that during the height of Summer the Park is packed.
Last year, on a whim, I went up for a few days in the 3rd week in February. I had a blast. It was warm & empty (though it blew a gale on one of the days).
I kept a close eye on the weather & went up again earlier this week. Even better than last year. No gale. Very little snow & NO CROWDS. Both years I had one 50F day — & yes, in February.
I have found that between 7am to 8am the Park is empty. Both years I managed to walk the famed ‘Ocean Drive‘ during that window without seeing ANYONE or encountering any vehicles. All of Ocean Drive with ‘Sand Beach’ & ‘Thunder Hole’ all to myself.
I have also found that ‘Jordan Pond’ can be equally desolate. This year I ambled 3 miles along the west bank without meeting anyone. It is great.
Yes, I am used to the cold. But, it wasn’t that cold. One day in the 50s, the other two in the 40s & mid-30s. I can take that.
So, yet again, I just to let you know that IF you want to enjoy Acadia far from the maddening crowds go in February — BUT not during the 3rd week because that is MINE. I do NOT want YOU encroaching on MY PARK during my time there. OK? You got that? Thanks.
I was staying at the ‘Atlantic Oceanside‘ in Bar Harbor (below). I had got there on Wednesday afternoon. I set the alarm for 6am on Thursday so I could watch the sunrise (@ around 6:31). I was up on time & I had an ocean view room on the 4th (topmost) floor. The sun (as ever) rose but there was cloud cover on the horizon. But, we got some amazing pinks. See below.
Click to ENLARGE. ‘Atlantic Oceanside’ the night before.Click to ENLARGE. Sunrise on Thursday around 6:31am.
Given that I was up & dressed I decided to chase the sun. So ran downstairs (the outside staircase was right next to my room), jumped in the car & headed to the harbor (i.e., at Bar Harbor). Nothing of note there. So, I proceeded straight to ‘Schooner Head’. No traffic & I know that route like the back of my hand. (Had done it the day before also.) Didn’t bother turning into ‘Schooner Head’. Instead proceeded straight to the Park Entrance. It was 6:48am. No one manning the booths. I wasn’t trying to dodge the $15 entrance fee. I have a LIFETIME Senior Pass. So, I get in for free. I had already gone in the previous day. So, I drove straight through.
Not a soul around. No cars. ‘Sand Beach’ was eerily empty. I parked my car at the next pull-in. Empty. Then started hiking Ocean Drive/Ocean Path. There was some snow & ice so I walked more on the Drive rather than the Path — unless I wanted to get even closer to the coast (in order to take pictures).
It was already WARM, in the 40Fs — but it was windy.
The Park was EMPTY. No other cars. Nobody else around. I walked to ‘Thunder Hole’. Went under the barriers. Took pictures. ONLY ONE THERE. Thunder Hole all to myself. It was great. Continued walking to ‘Fabbri’. It was now well past 7am. Still EMPTY. No cars.
I got to Fabbri around 7:30. Shortly afterwards the first car drove by. They didn’t stop. We waved.
I had had all of Acadia’s Ocean Drive/Ocean Path ALL TO MYSELF for over 45 minutes on a ‘glorious’ day — warm & sunny but windy. Doesn’t get better than that. SMILE. All a question of timing. SMILE.
P.S., By 9pm that night, when I decided to call it quits for the day, I had hiked 16 miles. I was glad. I needed the steps to make sure I will get my 500,000 steps in a 28-day February.
