ocean | Disposition Disposal

Writers Note: This is the fifth part of a multi-part series detailing a 3 day trip to Mt. Washington, Acadia National Park, and Portland, Maine. In case you missed it, here’s Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, and Part 4.

The Still of Morning

After a less than restful night, I was the first to Acadia’s Sand Beach in the morning. The gentle rush of waves, the funky organic smell of seaweed, and those inescapable rocks of Maine made it hard to believe this was just another Tuesday morning. I could feel the warmth of the sun rising through my body. Moments of solitude like these make morning my favorite time of day.

The still of morning

The cool Atlantic breeze reminded me of how far the wind must travel. Somewhere on another continent a stranger was enjoying the later stages of evening and listening to the same ocean growl and purr. Physically being in nature has a way of connecting humanity. Our world and its basic elements transcend the most ingrained world cultures. We all know the stir of a calm breeze, the persistent lap of salty, foamy water, and the comfort of a cool rock on our behind. Universally understandable, even to a child.

This bird is ready on a Tuesday morning

A Mystical, Grey Cloud

The clear beach sunrise eventually gave way to a dense, consuming fog. Long-distance visibility was almost completely compromised. Instead of obscuring the brilliant scenes from the day before, the fog highlighted the natural beauty of Acadia that much more. The jagged rocks, green pines, and conifers were accentuated in ways unimaginable just a day before. The whole island was enshrouded in a mystical, grey cloud. Places like the spectacular Jordan Pond were unrecognizable. The biggest treat came on the ascent to Cadillac Mountain. It was pure magic to be able to see the fog clouds slowly clearing the bay. Time, along with the clouds, seemed to be moving at a faster clip. After a couple of hours of hiking and sightseeing, I began the journey back home. The only planned stop was a quick search for quality chowder in Portland, Maine.