On Thursday, it was “my” day still, so I took advantage of an offer that Carleton had made to me. He had indicated that if we wished to climb Mt. Battie in Camden, he would be happy to drop us off at the trail at the base of the climb, and he would drive to the top and wait for us. I like the Mt. Battie climb, so I told Carleton that I would be happy if he could help us in such a way.
Carleton drove us in his car, and after a brief bathroom stop at the public landing in Camden, we were dropped off at the trail head. There were a couple of other cars in the small parking lot, and this was borne out when we met two different parties of people climbing down the mountain while we climbed up. This caused Mer to remind me that we (including when she was growing up) had never had to climb down Mt. Battie. We have always met someone at the top, which is happy since I think going up is easier than going down.
The climb up Mt. Battie is surprisingly difficult in places. There are several steep parts, and two areas of bare bedrock that you have to scrabble over. Mer did pretty well – she only required a boost in a couple of places, and was only surly (because she was scared) once, on a difficult bedrock stretch. When I mentioned the spectacular views, her response as she concentrated on climbing was, “Bully!” It was rather amusing.
We made it to the top in about forty-five minutes. We stopped at several places along the way to admire the sweeping views of the ocean and nearby islands. It is a pretty climb, and the day was fairly clear with just a hint of haze in the distance.
Carleton met us at the top, and lent us his binoculars with which to look around. There is a fire watch tower at the top, and we all climbed it to see better (including Carleton, who is eighty-nine – he is my hero!). We enjoyed the panoramic views, which now included the mountains behind Mt. Battie. We spent about thirty to forty-five minutes on the top.
Carleton took us the scenic way home, through Rockport, along the sea the whole way. It is a very pretty drive. The Rockland-Rockport-Camden stretch of coast is one of my favorite places to visit.
We got back home, and Mer and I headed out, to go back to the Samoset Resort. I wanted to eat lunch on their patio and look at the ocean. We had some excellent Italian food, and the views were beautiful and relaxing. We almost had the deck to ourselves (there was one other couple); it appears the weekday lunch crowd is small. I was especially happy at the bill – it was under twenty dollars for our meals, with tip, and the ambiance is hard to beat. I recommend the lunch at the Samoset if you can get good weather.
Later in the afternoon (I think it was about 4:00), we walked over to the docks in Rockland. I had reserved space for us on the fifty-five-foot ketch sailing boat Morning in Maine. We had some amusing delays as I lost Mer in plain sight while she waited on a nearby bench, and then I had to run to a bank since the boat only took cash. We still made it on board, and the ship even left a tad early.
It was a two-hour cruise, mostly under sail (we used a motor to get away from the dock and nearby boats). The captain described the day as a 9.5 out of 10 – a good breeze of about ten mph, lots of sun, cool temperatures, and fairly calm seas. We sailed across the bay past Owls Head and out into open ocean. We got to see the Owls Head lighthouse and, on the way back, the Rockland breakwater light. We even got to see a couple of nesting ospreys in the harbor. There were about twenty people on board in all, and my only disappointment was that I did not get to pilot the ship. The captain made the offer, and it was taken by all the kids on board, but left no time for adult children. Next time. It was a great sail, and the only time I had been on the ocean while not on a ferry (I have been on the Rockland and Vancouver ferries).
We did swing by the Rockland Cafe on the way home to pick up some whoopie pies for dessert. Mt. Battie, the Samoset, the ocean, and whoopie pies – a pretty great Maine day.