Beech Mountain is in the less-trafficked, southwestern part of Mount Desert Island and is a hike we probably wouldn’t have done if not for the recommendation of Jean and Scott, of popover fame. It turned out to be one of the better hikes we did in Acadia. So thanks, guys, on a good tip.
Most of Mount Desert Island is surrounded by a beautifully inhospitable, rocky, coastline. The small exception is aptly named Sandy Beach, seen here from atop Great Head peninsula. Cliffs on each side not only provide dramatic scenery, but also funnel cold ocean air onto the beach, which is quite refreshing on a hot summer day.
The hike up Great Head turned out to be fairly easy, notwithstanding its classification as “moderate.” The trail is a loop and you can choose to either follow it to the right or to the left. We’d seen some other folks turn right on the trail so we decided to go the other way, because, screw them. As it turned out, the way we went looped around a fairly gradual assent to the pinnacle. Going the other way requires a somewhat arduous climb up the cliff side. Ha-ha, suckers.
I’m a lousy lazy photographer. If I weren’t so lazy I’d try harder to get places, or return to them, when the lighting is better. Too often we hit places at mid-day when lighting is at its absolute worst. It really does make a difference, as these pictures atop Cadillac Mountain near sunset attest.
Once the holiday hordes left, we ventured out to the more popular areas of Acadia. Here we set up chairs in the shade near “Thunder Hole,” which wasn’t all that thunderous at the time. It’s probably a good thing, though, because all of that racket would have distracted us from the books and snacks we brought.
We ended up leaving this spot earlier than planned because we somehow got caught in a strange time warp where our cell phones ran an hour fast. Either Thunder Hole bends time, or we managed to get far enough East for Verizon’s satellites to have us in another time zone. I don’t know which, but I’m guessing the Thunder Hole thing.
It isn’t all about hiking and biking in Acadia National Park. It’s also about…popovers. Fortunately for us, our friends Jean and Scott, and their adorable six-year-old daughter, Violet, were on Mount Desert Island the same week we were there. They’ve taken an annual trip to the area for the past 11 years. When they recommended Jordan Pond House for lunch—specifically the popovers—we knew to listen up.
Jordan Pond House has been serving park-goers its popovers, soufflé-like rolls, since the late 1800s. Dining on the lawn has a fun, festive feel and a great view of Jordan Pond and the North and South Bubble Mountains.
The crab cakes with green onion sauce were mouth-watering and the outdoor setting spectacular, but the star of the show was indeed the popovers, served as an appetizer with butter and strawberry jam. And stuffed though we were, we saved room for dessert: another round of popovers.
Everywhere Once 