Howdy folks! Our East Coast journey rolled on into Acadia National Park, on the coast of Maine, where we set out to walk the Sundew Trail and find the perfect spot for lunch. What we found was a wooden bench on a rocky cliff over the ocean — and one of the most magical afternoons of the whole trip.
The Wrong Trail, Then the Right One
Full transparency: we started on the wrong trail. After a comically long battle just to print our national park pass (you need a paper copy on the dash), we set off, realized we weren't on the Sundew Trail at all, and backtracked to the truck to charge the batteries and pack a couple of turkey sandwiches. The real Sundew Trail turned out to be far better than the paved path we'd wandered — winding through Maine woods with a fog horn sounding somewhere off in the mist. We kept passing moose signs (no moose), and after meeting bears down in Tennessee, tried not to think too hard about Maine's 22,000 black bears. Bear spray, just in case.
The Ocean Bench
When the trail offered a choice — picnic pavilion or a bench right on the ocean — we picked the bench, and we picked right. There was no one down there. We ate our sandwiches with 180 degrees of open water in front of us as the mist rolled in with the tide, diffusing the sun and giving the rocky landscape an almost alien, ethereal glow. I could've sat there all day. Acadia, you found a special place in my heart.
Lobster, a Tent, and a Lot of Mosquitoes
That evening we drove a half hour for a shower — $3 for four minutes, and worth every penny after a few days without one — then wandered into Bar Harbor, buzzing with people well past 9 on a Sunday night. It felt downright sinful not to get some lobster, so we did. We'd have cooked outside, but the mosquitoes were absolutely brutal — I caught at least three bites just setting up the tent. We fell asleep watching an episode of Alone, which felt fitting: we definitely weren't alone, but out on that ocean bench at lunch, for a little while, it sure felt like it.
Gear From This Trip
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Wide-Brim Sun Hat
My wife bought me a Tilly-style hat for the trip — shade for long days on the rocks.
Bear Spray
Maine has an estimated 22,000 black bears — worth carrying on the trail.
Thermacell Mosquito Repeller
The Acadia mosquitoes were brutal — this is the kind of night it's made for.
Stanley Camp Cook Set
Nesting pot-and-cup set for the green tea and trail meals along the way.
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