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September 2023 (Part 11)

Maine Trip - Thursday, Sep 28: Bass Harbor Head Light Station and Lobster Dinner

With the eBike due back to the shop at 4:30, we decided we had time to make it to the western side of Mount Desert Island to see a lighthouse and hopefully catch the sunset over the channel to the west.  Nancy thought she saw a beaver in this pond as we were on our way, so we had to stop to look at what wound up being a duck.

We made it to the Bass Harbor Head Light Station only to find a line for the parking lot, which only held about 15-20 cars.  Steve and Andy ducked out to ensure time to take pictures before the light faded.  They weren't sure which way to go and wound up finding the trail down to the north of the lighthouse first.

According to the signage, the lighthouse is one of over 70 over the 3,400 mile stretch of Maine's rugged coastline.  The lighthouse was built in 1858 and automated in 1974.  It now includes a red light which occults (darkens) every four seconds along with an automated bell used when its foggy.  Although it is automated and the land now belongs to the Park Service, there is still a US Coast Guard family residing there.

Next we headed around a trail to the south which led to the rocky shore below the light house and one of the iconic views on the island.

Luckily Nancy got a spot in a reasonable time and was able to join them quickly.

Lot of people taking pictures, which gave Steve some ideas on different shots he tried to copy.  He also took a ridiculous number of images with different settings to see how they impacted the result.

Liked the idea of capturing the reflection in this little pool, even if it meant waiting for two kids to finally get out of the frame.

Since we were already on the west, quiet side of the island, Andy led us to Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard.  This was rated as the best lobster in the area, and we really enjoyed it.  You ordered the size lobster you wanted, and they selected and weighed the life lobsters in front of you, then took them away for boiling.  Man was this good.