Whatever the sun was up to here, other than being the sun of course, its selective lighting created a colorful photo op that Peggy and I could not ignore— even though it involved fitting our long F-150 into a space it was clearly not designed for. “Good job!” I told Peggy. I was impressed. Had there been some park rangers around, they might have had another opinion. But given the government shutdown, none were to be found. Acadia National Park was packed with leaf-peepers and visitors were on their own. Our infraction was mild in comparison to some we saw.
This was our second time visiting Acadia during leaf peeping season. The first took place in 1999 when Peggy and I both took sabbaticals from our jobs to explore North America with a focus on National Parks. (We visited 50.) Before reaching Maine, we had already been enjoying fall colors for three months! Our adventure had started in June with a drive up the Alaska Highway to Alaska. By the time we finished exploring the state, backpacking, and kayaking, it was mid-August. The leaves were already changing. We followed the advent of fall down through western Canada and across the northern tier of midwestern states to Maine. It was color the whole way. And It continued for another 2000 miles as we traveled down the Appalachian chain of mountains into Georgia.
I concluded my last post with a photo of what we considered the most colorful section of the park. This was from the same area. The combination of being close to the trees and bright sunlight made the colors pop out.With distance and lack of sun, the colors faded in this view across Jordan Pond…And blended, like an impressionistic painting. Still beautiful.Roads continued to provide the opportunity to get up close and personal with the fall foliage, however— and traffic.The roads were full. Wherever there was a pulloff meant to feature the beauty of the park, it was packed. Even large parking areas were filled to the brim with people fighting to get into spaces whenever they opened up. While Peggy and I normally avoid national parks during peak season, we knew there was no option when peak-season is defined by peep-season. Still, it was a bit much for us. We headed for roads just outside of the park where the views were similar but traffic was minimal.We came on a small local park near Northeast Harbor named the Asticou Azalea Garden that demanded our attention. It was too late for the azaleas, but the fall colors made up for it…Cascading down…Providing a backdrop for a large granite boulder…And hosting an Oriental sculpture with brilliant red.The pond provided an interesting perspective on fallen leaves and pine needles floating on water while being divided between light and darkPeggy got into the act by providing an opportunity for a final photo of the garden’s colors.Having worked up an appetite, we headed into the nearby town of Northeast Harbor for lunch. It was busy shutting down for winter. Our waitress told us it was the restaurant’s last day for the year. After lunch, Peggy captured this colorful collection of pumpkins and squash on the sidewalk outside with her iPhone. Few things say ‘fall’ better.She was also attracted by a unique sculpture made out of shells in front of the Maritime Museum. It made us think of Davy Jones Locker in Pirates of the Caribbean.We found a small road (Sergeant Drive) leading out of Northeast Harbor along Somes Sound that fit our needs perfectly. It had all of the beauty of Acadia National Park with minimal traffic. Make that zero. We didn’t see any.It provided a number of views across the sound.Dark grey skies provided interesting silhouettes of the trees. I was particularly fascinated by the one on the right with its matching curves.Suminsby Park, created in memory of a beloved scoutmaster and selectman whose efforts helped preserve the area, provided us with closer views of Somes Sound and a peaceful stop.A golden, brown rockweed in the sound added to the fall colors.Looking down the sound from the park. Note the rockweed’s contribution.Looking up the sound.A wrap-up for today: Christmasy red and green leaves hovered above the memorial to Bob Suminsby. I couldn’t help but believe that the old scoutmaster and local leader would be well-pleased with the park that had been given his name. That’s it for today. Next up Peggy and I travel down the Maine coast to the town of Belfast, where we discover Curtis Island. I insisted we check it out.Curtis Island, Maine with its lighthouse. The island, btw, isn’t named after me, sigh, it’s named for Cyrus Hermann Kotzschmar Curtis, founder of the Saturday Evening Post.
You could frame some of these photographs, huuuuuge prints, like those immersive Monet sizes you saw once in some museum? (On several of your walls of the big mansions on your several secret islands, hehe, or in a museum for everyone to enjoy too. Because excellent phographs!
Wonderful contrast of color! Happy Thanksgiving to you and family! Enjoyed the little park you discovered. Is there no end to discovery? Thank goodness not! The leaves on Maple Park Street are down but I love the bare trees as I look over their tops from my 4th floor. We are still waiting for an elevator. It has been almost 5 months and my gams are really showing it! Love to you both!
On on this or one of your other leaf peeping New England adventures you should check out New Hampshire’s Monadnock region – the town of Keene with its pumpkin festival and claiming the Guiness Record for most lit pumpkins and just a little farther east on State Highway 9 is the most beautiful town of Harrisville….
That curvy tree against the dark sky is interesting. My favorite photo of the group lies just below that image: the first photo from Suminsby Park. All this color and autumnal glory is amazing; we’re still so much in summertime mode that the cicadas have started singing again!
I really liked the photo as well, Linda. It seemed to capture the beauty as well as the peace of the park. Sorry about the endless summer. Fall has just about stopped falling here. Now it is pretty much I blow the leaves away and the wind blows them back.
Your photos render me speechless, Curt! (Almost) 🙂 They are stunning! And that sculpture made out of shells sure is unique. Thanks for sharing this autumn glory! 🍁🍁
Almost, grin. Can’t have writer’s block here. Thanks, Lauren. Trying to capture the colors was both challenging and fun. Mother Nature came through for us, however.
Mother Nature excelled, Curt! Happy Thanksgiving, and I just saw your comment on Gobblers. Thanks again! Wishing you both a wonderful holiday.
And to you and your husband as well, Lauren!
Thanks, Curt! 🍁
These photos are just magnificent, Curt! Sometimes I think grey days make colours really pop. So the sun shots you got here are only part of the story when the brilliant hues come out in different ways without the sun. Just gorgeous. 🙂
Thanks, Crystal. It was special taking the time to head up to New England in fall. It’s been on our agenda ever since we came east. We were just elsewhere each year.
Wandering through Time and Place 
Gorgeous!
You could frame some of these photographs, huuuuuge prints, like those immersive Monet sizes you saw once in some museum? (On several of your walls of the big mansions on your several secret islands, hehe, or in a museum for everyone to enjoy too. Because excellent phographs!
Wonderful contrast of color! Happy Thanksgiving to you and family! Enjoyed the little park you discovered. Is there no end to discovery? Thank goodness not! The leaves on Maple Park Street are down but I love the bare trees as I look over their tops from my 4th floor. We are still waiting for an elevator. It has been almost 5 months and my gams are really showing it! Love to you both!
On on this or one of your other leaf peeping New England adventures you should check out New Hampshire’s Monadnock region – the town of Keene with its pumpkin festival and claiming the Guiness Record for most lit pumpkins and just a little farther east on State Highway 9 is the most beautiful town of Harrisville….
Wow those colors are STUNNING!
As is obvious from the other comments, you and Peggy have outdone yourselves with these photos. They would make wonderful prints.
The colours are sensational. Mother Nature sure knows her stuff.
That curvy tree against the dark sky is interesting. My favorite photo of the group lies just below that image: the first photo from Suminsby Park. All this color and autumnal glory is amazing; we’re still so much in summertime mode that the cicadas have started singing again!
I really liked the photo as well, Linda. It seemed to capture the beauty as well as the peace of the park. Sorry about the endless summer. Fall has just about stopped falling here. Now it is pretty much I blow the leaves away and the wind blows them back.
Thank you so much for dealing with the traffic, to capture these gorgeous photos! 🍂
Laughing, it wasn’t all that much of a burden, Michele. More of an itch that needed to be scratched. Thanks.
Understood! 😃 Thanks, Curt.
Your photos render me speechless, Curt! (Almost) 🙂 They are stunning! And that sculpture made out of shells sure is unique. Thanks for sharing this autumn glory! 🍁🍁
Almost, grin. Can’t have writer’s block here. Thanks, Lauren. Trying to capture the colors was both challenging and fun. Mother Nature came through for us, however.
Mother Nature excelled, Curt! Happy Thanksgiving, and I just saw your comment on Gobblers. Thanks again! Wishing you both a wonderful holiday.
And to you and your husband as well, Lauren!
Thanks, Curt! 🍁
These photos are just magnificent, Curt! Sometimes I think grey days make colours really pop. So the sun shots you got here are only part of the story when the brilliant hues come out in different ways without the sun. Just gorgeous. 🙂
Thanks, Crystal. It was special taking the time to head up to New England in fall. It’s been on our agenda ever since we came east. We were just elsewhere each year.