It's no secret that October is my busiest month and also one of my favorite months. Each year as Summer comes to a close I find myself eagerly anticipating the changing of the leaves and cooler temperatures. So as a way of celebrating the new season and as a little retreat before things get crazy, we've gotten into the habit of taking an annual Fall trip. Last year we headed up to Vermont. (You can read more about that here) It was truly a memorable trip and my first time seeing so many bright colors on the trees. We just don't have enough Maple trees in Virginia to compete! This year found us in Maine. Its a place that has long been on our travel list and I'm so glad we made it there. The rugged coast line and the quiet time on the lake matched the experience I had in my head.
When planning our trip we were torn between where to stay. Do we choose the coast? Or do we go off grid inland? I can't tell you how many AirBnb's I saw with outhouses. I'm all for a wood stove with some quietness and a remote location but having to go outside at 2:00 AM in the cold and the dark to pee is where I draw the line. Call me stuck up. We settled on a tiny cabin about an hour inland. It was a longtime boys' summer camp now turned tiny Airbnb village. It probably doesn't look that different from its camp days, what with the fire pits, docks, and seemingly endless supply of canoes and boats for use on the lake. This "camp" closes down for the winter, so at just about the end of the season, we had the run of the place and it was a joy.
We woke up at sunrise every morning, wandering down to the lake to see the mist and to see the trees light up. I recommend everyone try to wake up and take in the sunrise every now and then. There is a peacefulness at that time while the world is still waking up unlike any other. Plus sunrise isn't that early these days.
Our favorite shot from the first sunrise on the lake!
My favorite part of our trip was coming back after having been at the coast to see the sunset on the lake. After a day of relaxing in the sun on giant rocks made smooth by the unrelenting ocean, the contrast to the dark trees, smooth lake, and the haunting sound of the loons was startling. It felt some how spontaneous and novel. I mean the sunsets every day but it felt new and different. The dying light coloring the sky purple, pink, peach. The trees utterly black in silhouette. The last time I had been in a canoe was in the 7th grade for a field trip. I don't think Tyler had ever been in one before. The canoe was metal and definitely felt a little topsy-turvy on the water but we hopped in not wanting to miss the experience of being on the water with our cameras for sunset.
Maine was an experience. Our stay was too brief and I won't lie, it was a lot of driving. Even with a little pitstop on the way up and back in upstate NY, but I already want to go back. It was the perfect stay to collect some quietness and time to ourselves before a busy holiday season. And I must say, those misty mornings and loon calls were the perfect touches for setting the mood to a spooky month!
Look below to see more from our trip to Maine!
