April 24, 2010 - Moose Point State Park

Bruce Mayo, my favorite bartender, has offered me an art show at Hattie's starting the fourth Thursday in July. In addition, Bruce has also offered to accompany me on some of my trips so that he can sketch and I can do my thing. Oh what fun that will be having company. I have never had company before. It should be an added dimension to these exciting adventures.

Anyway, Moose Point State Park starts my second excursion finding photographic images for my adventures to the state parks this summer. Why did I pick Moose Point? The answer is that I have never been there so my eyes will be open to what will come before me. MapQuest is my new best friend as well as the Maine Atlas Gazeteer.

As I had no idea the layout of this state park, I loaded my camera, took extra film as well as some provisions. Well, I just brought water and pretzels. Isn't that enough??? I steered my car towards Route 3 in Augusta and headed off to this new wonder. What would I find? I certainly didn't know at all. What does this mean? Eyes wide open!

Anticipation was building as I drove through Belfast and on to Searsport. Oh look. The Moose Point State Park is prominently right in front of me as I slow down. The gate is closed so I have to park on the side of the road. There are a few cars just before the gate and mine is the only one on the road. This means that there is life found at this state park today. It didn't look like a long way to hike so I just put on my windbreaker and slung the camera over my shoulder for the walk into the state park. As I walk down the road, I see people packing up from their day at the park. A father and son are carrying the huge cooler. It looks like they had a party! Woo Hoo! Anyway, I spy a few people walking around plus one woman sitting on a picnic table taking in the view. Oh what a view to behold!

This state park had an open expanse of land with trees around the parameter plus many picnic tables and a gazebo. I wandered around slowly taking in the area. Of course, I could see the Penoscot Bay. I walked down towards the Bay. Before I maneuvered down the stairs to the shore, I took Photograph 1 that shows the rocky shoreline as well as how hard the waves wanted to show me their magic. As I was watching the waves break gently in front of me, a man walked down the stairs over to a perfect place among the big rocks and just sat there. Oh my. What a great idea!

After I had landed on somewhat firm ground, I shot Photograph 2 as well as Photograph 4 that shows the rocky beach as well as the deep blue waters before me. As I looked to the right ahead, I saw what the man was looking at in the distance. I so wanted to capture that view. This is what Photograph 3 shows as the man is leaning back against a big rock. Oh, how gorgeous it is here. It is peaceful too. I certainly did not know what to expect so I was thoroughly pleased with what expanse there was before me on this gorgeous day!

As I wander done the shoreline, I wonder what I will find along the way. I certainly was not disappointed with all that driftwood set out before me in its somewhat awkward fashion. Photographs 5 through 11 as well as 13 through 16 show the assorted array of driftwood and logs that grace the end of the shore near the land. Of course, there were no two alike so I had to take several photographs. I think that I really like driftwood. I had not really thought about it before but it has so many different angles and wood gradations associated with each piece that has been designed only by nature itself. No manmade designs at all. I think it is very cool.

Photograph 12 shows a peacefulness of the water gracing the shoreline with the vast expanse of trees in the distance. However, Photograph 17 shows the waves breaking and struggling hard to kiss the rocks on the shoreline.

As I walk along the shore, I come across a double set of stairs making its way from the shore to the land above. This is where Photograph 18 comes in as well as Photograph 24. I can see myself climbing the stairs to get to some unknown location. Do I go? I decided not to go because I wanted to continue to explore the shoreline. Priorities.

As I continue my journey, I notice a huge tree looming in the distance. The tree is leaning towards the Bay so that it looks as though it is reaching for the sun. I guess we all want that beaming light of goodness. I so wanted to capture this image so this is Photograph 19.

There were so many sights to see that I wanted to capture all of them. The water is just so calming but is not calm. The waves work their magic to let you know that they will not be forgotten and will make you in awe of their brilliance as well as their forcefulness. Photographs 20 through 23 show the wide array of the waves brilliance as well as the bits of nature thrown in. Of course, there is seaweed amongst the rocks and on the shore.

As it is getting late in the afternoon, I decide not to wander down the many walking trails that are associated with this state park. I guess I will leave that for another day. I wander back to my car taking in all the sights as I go on ahead back to my life. As I drive back, I wonder where the next adventure will take me. Actually, I do know the date and location. Tomorrow with Bruce at Popham Beach. Oh how exciting!