Few hours

     Yesterday I woke up and checked out a lighthouse and a natural sea wall. Deciding to hike a "mountain" I climbed Mt. Acadia to conquer the park. A park ranger I talked with had suggested the climb. Only .6 miles to the peak. Boy it was steep. Signage claimed it was a moderate hike and I disagree sith that. Strenous is more like it. Toughest short hike Ive ever done, haha.

    After catching the video at the visitor center and driving the park loop road I left Acadia. Then drove through Maine and entered the White Mountain National Forest around the NH,ME border. Found a primitive site and called it a day.

     Only a few more hours until I finish all the places I wanted to hit. Just the Green mountain national forest and I'm done.

     I almost drove up to the peak of Mt Washington but I couldn't do it. I believe Anthony hiked it. One of these days I will as well. I won't spoil it for my future self.

     This area is the highlight of the east coast, I reckon. Reminds me of out west.

*bows*

     The Maine part of the trip is wrapping up, hehe. I grabbed the Acadia park map and was Mainely filled with all sorts of emotions, hehe. The last national park of the trip. I will be exploring a couple national forests on the way back, but it's not the same. A calming sense of acomplishment with a dab of sadness rolled through the veins.

     The air is calm as the skies are blue. The surrounding area is bliss. There couldnt have been a better last park to lay eyes upon.

      The usual hike, visitor center video, and exploration of the lands will occur tomorrow. Arriving a little later at the park didn't allow for any of that today. To respect the NPS and conclude the adventure I stayed within the park and bought a campsite for the evening.

     Sitting here listening to the neighbors campfire crackle and pop I revisit the last time I was in Maine. As my trip failed last time around its only appropriate to feel a sense of relief that I made it this time. Maybe third time is the charm for Anthony and I (South America tour coming up?).

     The small bridges stretching across the ponds. The forested hills surrounded by the ocean. These views along with the hundreds of others over the past couple of months speak for themselves. Happy centennial, everyone.

P.S. my companion is back. I longed for the feeling. Who? Well, no one. What? Well, the check engine light of course. Hello darkness my old friend...

Off

     Yesterday was just an off day. Nothing seemed to work out after I left the beach. A 4 hour drive turned into 7 hours due to traffic. Clutch...first....brake....clutch....gas...gear...shift...*repeat for two hours*.

     When I finally arrived at pachug state forest, CT I couldn't find the map I downloaded from the night before showing a "lean to" near by, which is basically an overnight shelter in the woods. I looked for about a halfhour on slow service. I said screw it Ill just hike a few miles.

     When I got back to the car I figured I would just find a place to camp for the night and attempted to do so. Headed back out into the woods about a mile and found a cool spot. Set everything up, cooked, and then laid in the hammock as the darkness was setting. I couldn't find my phone...and believed I left it on top of the car (bad habit, lost the gas cap that way, haha. Almost lost sunglasses (Tony can vouch for that one)).

     Maybe it was the lack of sleep or maybe I was dehydrated but I just had a gut feeling that something wasn't right. I caved into the idea and headed back go my car to find my phone in the dark.

     Found the phone laying on top of the car and it was around 10pm. Glad I went back. After being at the car for a few minutes a couple groups of younger adults showed up and were drinking at the boat ramp. About 20 feet from where I was. Guess the plan to crash in the cI looked for a new spot to head too. MA,RI and CT have no national forests or parks. The closest is a "historic park" which isn't the same.

     I started driving North into the night. Another naturally protected land was nearby, but I couldnt find any areas to pull off into. Another dead end. About an hour later and I came to I 95. A small gas station was open and I ended up falling in and out of sleep for a few hours of rest total. I'd have to suck it up for another day and try to find a state forest or park instead of a nationally protected lands.

     At about 8am I arrived at Harold Parker State Forest, MA. I read a display, took a short hike, and then took a much needed nap.

     Going to keep heading North and try for Acadia National Park in ME. CT,MA, and RI have the most state parks/forests of any states from what it seems. Also people of MA like to use the shoulder on the highway as another lane (at least near construction zones) interestingly.

Resume

     After laying around for a couple of weeks and putting a few applications in I decided it was time to continue the trip. Only the Northeast is left to be conquered.

     The Subaru is PA legal without a check engine light, I almost miss it. The car needed a new catalytic converter. Everything else looked good.

     Yesterday, I started to fill up the car with all the essentials and some goodies. Today I finished packing up the car and left for the NJ beach.

     This last section of the trip should be about a week in length (estimated). Unless I make a run for the Canadian border. All their law enforcement have are horses, right? Joking aside its nice to get back out on the road.