I finally managed to get up in time for sunrise, in fact I
woke up before my alarm. Stars were still out, but I knew I had to drive and
then walk before sunrise.
I wasn’t really awake as I kept finding myself just standing
there staring into space. So I took a
little longer to get ready that I had planned.
I climbed into my car,
wound down the windows so I can see and drove down the main street. I
hadn’t been able to find the map the barman drew for me of the secret carpark
but I was pretty sure I could remember the directions.
Driving out of town, into Acadia National Park, I had someone
sitting on my tail. I wasn’t sure of the
speed limit and it felt like they were pushing me. They must have been running late for the
sunrise too.
Next thing I know there is a deer in my headlights just
standing there in the middle of the road. I slam on the brakes and swerve to
the edge of the road. It stands there stunned looking at me for a second or two
and then runs luckily in the other direction to me as I go past it. Im still not sure if I dreamed it or not. I really wanted to see one, but one with enough time to get my camera out not to just miss him with a car.
Obviously the fellow behind wasn’t as close as I
thought. He dropped off a little after
that too. Then he disappeared at about
the same time I realised I had missed my turn. Pretty sure he was heading where I needed to
be. After I turn onto this road I
realised I had forgotten all about high beam. That might have saved me the
incident with the deer. Its been so long since ive driven in the dark.
I see a carpark off to the side, just as the road tells me
no unauthorised cars past this point.
Good thing about being late for sunrise is its starting to get a little
light. As I have no idea where my torch is. I can just see the wooden sign
posts but not that it really helps as this one is telling me that Great Head is
both ways. I take the one that is heading towards where im pretty sure the sea
is and stumble along.
I come out onto a beach, sky is starting to turn orange and
its really peaceful here. I think about staying but I decide the point I can see
from here would be much better. I start to really hurry, which is hard with
rocks in the path and a shoe lace undone. As im stumbling along its as though
someone just turned on the lights. Im
almost trying to run here and then im out on the headland. Its perfect a 180
degree view of the sunrise. A cruise ship coming in and Lobster Boats heading
out. As with all places in America, I cant say its peaceful as those lobster boats are noisy little things.
I sit down and watch. It wasn’t spectacular but there is
always something about watching a sunrise and even better there was no one else
there. No idea where the fellow from the road ended up as his or a car was in
the car park. This place was a hint
given to me by my Kayak Guide yesterday.
Everyone heads up Cadillac Mountain for sunrise but if I didn’t want to be
surrounded by little children crying and many people this was the place to be.
I had plenty of time before the sun rose, didn’t need to try
and break my neck. After the sun had risen, the owners of the car appeared,
seemed they had headed to a beach on the other side. They were very jealous of
my spot.
I wander along the path towards the Great Ocean Walk. I path
that I walked a little of yesterday which is packed with people during the day,
Im hoping ot get to the end and back before everyone arrives. Are you sensing a theme here? I dislike people, which is hard with all the
cruise ships coming into town this week.
Well apart from a few runners and one or two other early
risers at the must see beach there is no one its amazing. I take just as long
as I did yesterday to do the stretch between Sandy Beach and Thunder Head as im
retaking all my shots without people in them.
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| Sandy Beach - Acadia National Park - Maine USA |
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| Acadia National Park - Maine USA |
Then I spot some Cormorants on the rock, drying themselves
in the sun. I figure if I wait long enough they will hold their wings out to
dry. So I climb down a little bit closer
and sit to wait.
After a while I get the courage up to get closer, and then
closer. Me who is scared of falling, give me a camera and im fearless. I was
clambering down rocks knowing I was going to take a while to work out how to
get back up and then its on the flat
rocks I slip. Somehow saved my camera and wrist from damage, but not my jeans.
This only scares off one bird and not the one that has been
watching me the whole time. After stalking
them for at least 20 min I finally scare him enough that he moves a further
away and at no point has he trusted me enough to dry his wings. Time to get
moving I haven’t even reached anywhere I haven’t seen yet. But I don’t mind, im
pretty sure I got the shot of the day and I loved every minute of it.
I continued on a little way, thinking of the fact I still
had to walk all the way back and I was starving hungry. Was just about to turn
back when I saw a Cormorant, in the distance, im sure it was the same one,
drying its wings. I told it to stay and raced around the cove to the headland.
It was still drying its wings I took a few snaps then decided to try and get
closer. He wasn’t keen on this at all
and a stand off ensured.
I finally gave up and wandered back to the car. On the way I
met a few red squirrels. Yesterday my
Guide had said the noise I thought was a cricket was a chipmunk turns out he
was wrong and its red squirrels and they are vicious little things. He was throwing acorns out of the tree and
making a real racket. He must have thought I was going to steal them cause he
came running down the tree chattering at me and started to come towards me. You
should have seen me telling him to stay back probably exactly what he was
saying to me! I was convinced he was going to come running at me and bite my
ankles or climb up my legs. I backed off
pretty quickly but not before I got a few good shots in. He ran circles around
me to make sure I left.
The next one I ran into I liked much more it was too
interested in eating its acorn to worry about me.
I returned home for a much earned Lobster Benedict. I felt
after being up for 5 hours I was allowed this treat.
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