wet

It was a wet day today, with temperatures on the warm side. The forecast says that cooler air is on the way.

The relative warmth feeds color in late season flowers.

late bloom

I find it that there are still a few late blooming flowers decorating the garden.

photos! Acadia

The colors were just past peak as I wandered in Acadia National Park last week. I experienced changing weather, from pure blue skies to interesting clouds, to heavy rain and wind. The park was beautiful, as always; it was an awesome visit!

Photos can be seen in the gallery autumn, Acadia.

mirrored

While the autumn colors in the park are past peak, the remaining leaves continue to brighten the landscape. Mirrored colors and patterns create a picture.

walking, driving

The ocean called to me on the last Acadia morning for this trip. I walked along Ocean Path under changing skies. It was gray when I started but by the time I finished walking the clouds began to allow some blue to peek through.

A good morning walk was followed by a drive, a return home.

clear blue

Yesterday's storm blew away leaving a clear blue sky. Even though Denise prefers to see some clouds, it was a beautiful day.

We wandered on a number of different trails today. I think my favorite of the day was our walk on one of the Carriage Roads, the one that goes by Witch Hole Pond. That's a nice circle trail that passes by several ponds and has lots of things to look at.

When we were halfway around Denise said hello to two people who were walking in the opposite direction. Instead of saying hello and continuing to walk we stopped and chatted for a while. Our conversation mates were from Burlington, Vermont - and they come to Acadia twice a year too. Similar to our May and October schedule, they visit in June and October. Funny, it's not just Denise who likes to visit Acadia when it isn't crowded.

Tomorrow is our last day in the park for this trip - but I'm sure we'll be visiting here again.

--- Rover

a wild ocean

After walking this morning Denise & I spent some time inside, waiting out the rain. The wind died down by about noon and the rain changed to intermittent. It was time to head out again, this time accompanied by my camera.

We headed into the park looking for fog on the mountains.

It was too wet to bounce down any of the trails so we drove around Park Loop Road, stopping occasionally for walking and photos. The ocean was wild! Sand Beach was closed, and Thunder Hole was closed too. There was a big sign at each place saying:

WARNING
DANGEROUS SURF
USE EXTREME
CAUTION

The walkway was blocked too, but some very silly people ducked under the sign to get closer to the water. I really don't understand; Denise & I wouldn't have moved closer to that wild water even without a warning sign.

We stood still at several spots along Ocean Path and watched the ocean. Denise said that she doesn't remember ever seeing waves as crazy as the ones that were rolling in today.

Tomorrow should be a good day for wandering. The forecast calls for sunshine!

--- Rover

wet & windy

Oh! The rain and wind started overnight; it was very wet this morning.

Denise decided it was a good time to walk the Great Meadow Loop. It's flat, and we can start from our B&B, walking into the park and looping back. It felt like a good time to walk without carrying anything, even the camera. I hopped into a pocket in Denise's rainjacket, she grabbed her phone (in case she saw any scenes she needed to capture), and we headed out.

Luckily the temperature stayed in the mid-50s so we were able to easily stay warm. The conditions changed often, from light rain and wind to heavier versions of both.

Right now we're relaxing inside where it is dry but soon I think we're going to head out again.

--- Rover

Schoodic wander

Our first wandering point in Acadia today was the Schoodic Peninsula. It's the only part of Acadia National Park that is on the mainland, and I think it's Denise's favorite part of the park. Here's the description from the park's web site:

"Schoodic Peninsula, the only part of Acadia National Park found on the mainland, boasts granite headlands that bear erosional scars of storm waves and flood tides. Although similar in scenic splendor to portions of Mount Desert Island, the Schoodic Coast is a more secluded area."

We spent a good amount of time there, walking (carefully), watching the waves crash on the rocks, enjoying the beauty around us.

Once we finished our Schoodic visit we headed back to the west, visiting a small section of the park on Mount Desert Island before ending our wandering for the day.

It sounds like tomorrow will be very wet. Hopefully we will find some places to wander in the rain.

--- Rover

driving north and east

Denise & I hit the road early this morning, heading for downeast Maine and Acadia National Park.

I wondered if we would still see color in the trees today, and yes, we do! There were sections of road where the trees were wearing bare branches and sections where there was still color. That made Denise happy!

Somewhere between Bangor and Ellsworth I saw a field of red groundcover. We were already driving past but I convinced Denise to turn back to get a photo. I didn't expect to see red on the ground; we saw more when we wandered on the Schoodic Peninsula.

--- Rover

a carpet

Autumn is a time of change. Some of the previously bright colors are now tinged with rust and some sections of the forest are wearing a carpet of fallen leaves.

up the coast

Denise has had Acadia on her mind lately. She was thinking about a wander there during the second half of October but she seemed to be having trouble deciding on a date. I jumped in to help when she was almost scared off by what looks like a very rainy day this coming Wednesday. It appears there will be drier days surrounding the wet one so I convinced her to head up the coast for a few days this week.

I'm looking forward to wandering in Acadia National Park in both wet and dry conditions. My traveling buddy Blue & I can hide in Denise's camera backpack if it's too wet out; it keeps the camera dry so it keeps us dry too. I hope we have some good times for bouncing on the rocks along the coast - that's so much fun!

Oh! Maybe some of you don't know me. My name is Rover; I'm a little red dog who travels with Denise. I help by writing in Denise's blog while we are traveling.

--- Rover

windblown

Blue skies were decorated with clouds on the day after the storm. The wind was howling, pushing sand across the beach.

It was a good day for a long walk at Crane Beach in Ipswich, MA.

fallen

A single fallen leaf is held by bare branches.

leaves

Some brightly colored leaves continue to hold on to trees while others are fading and some are falling.

With a wind advisory in effect tonight into tomorrow and a prediction of heavy rain I imagine many more of the leaves will be decorating the ground.

back to Parker River

I returned to the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge today for a mid-day walk on the dike with a friend.

When I left home the sky was pure blue but when we arrived the sky wore interesting clouds. Hmm... while I was walking today without my camera my phone was handy to capture the sky.

from the dike

In honor of National Wildlife Refuge Week, the North Pool Dike in the Parker River National Wildlife Refuge is open this week for walking. It's a section of the refuge that usually isn't available to visitors; late this afternoon I took advantage of the open access.

quiet water

A single sea gull enjoys quiet water near the coast.

watercolor

The reflection of autumn color in a pond looks like a watercolor painting.

I think it's pure magic.

banded

The forest appears to be banded in yellow as bright autumn leaves pop against a background of evergreens.

at the end of Field Pond, Harold Parker State Forest

by the sea

It was windy, a day with interesting clouds in the sky. It was a good day for a walk by the sea.

Odiorne Point State Park

still in bloom

Dahlias continue to bloom as the air begins to wear an autumn chill.

slippery

I expect slippery conditions underfoot during the winter; this year autumn has its own version of slippery in the form of fallen acorns. They are piling up on the side of roads, and along trails in the woods.

As I walk, I hear acorns hitting the ground.

From the Boston Globe: Yes, there are a lot of acorns on the ground this season. Here’s why. It’s autumn, and if you’ve found yourself anywhere near an oak tree, you’ve probably noticed that this acorn season has produced a bit of a bumper crop. They pop-pop-pop in the road as they’re crushed by cars. On the sidewalk, pedestrians tiptoe around them. They’re the bane of the bike lane. The region appears to be experiencing a “mast year,” experts say — a natural phenomenon in the boom-and-bust life cycle of oak trees. Certain conditions, including the weather, lead the trees to produce a higher volume of fruit every few years. “There’s definitely tons more around,” said Marjorie Rines, a naturalist with Mass Audubon. “It’s been coming down pretty hard and fast.”

cozy warmth

What type of sheets do you use on your bed?

I live in the northeast so we have a decent number of chilly days. I like a combination of warmth and fresh air so the windows in my bedroom are almost always open enough to let the fresh air in (even in the winter)!

For years I have used cotton jersey sheets in warm weather and flannel sheets in cold weather but last week I was involved in a conversation that led me in a new direction for the colder seasons. A friend mentioned microfleece sheets. I didn't even know that there was such a thing but I knew I needed to try them. I headed to Amazon and placed an order for Cozy Fleece Microfleece Sheets.

My sheets arrived, leading to a first sleep in microfleece (with cool air leaking into the room from an open window). How awesome!

Have you tried microfleece sheets?

interspersed

Trees wearing autumn leaves are interspersed with evergreens.

in the woods

Changing colors reflect in Field Pond, Harold Parker State Forest.

turning red

Although the high temperatures continue to be in the 50s there is a frost advisory posted for tonight with a predicted low of 35 degrees. I suspect that will trigger more color to appear.

I wandered a bit in Harold Parker State Forest this morning, enjoying the changing leaves. Pops of red and yellow decorate the landscape.

a happy bee

Asters dress autumn gardens with bright color and a happy feeding place for bees.

anemone

The days grow shorter, the air wears a chill, but yes, there are still flowers in bloom.

Fall-blooming anemones bring a touch of pink to the garden.

grasshopper on zinnia

Today's walk in the garden during the hour before sunset was a delight. There are still flowers wearing color; this zinnia in orange attracted the attention of a busy grasshopper.

I'm always delighted when creatures of the garden consent to posing for me!