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Maine: Pedaling and Paddling Coastal Maine
The rugged Maine coast has enchanted visitors for centuries. On this trip, we provide a beautiful and exhilarating perspective for viewing Maine: from the saddle of a bike. Each day we offer you a variety of cycling distances at various levels of effort to choose from. For non-cyclists, we offer plenty of other ways to experience the remarkable region.
The trip begins with two nights on Mt. Desert Island exploring the carriage road loop in Acadia National Park gifted by John D. Rockefeller Jr. in 1913, and an optional ascent to the summit of Cadillac Mountain. Or, you might opt for a naturalist guided walk—either by foot or spoke—we’ll gather as a small group for a gourmet picnic lunch with park superintendent Sheridan Steele who shares the opportunities and challenges of running one of the most visited national parks in the country. One evening we enjoy dinner at a private home on Otter Point where we’ll hear about our vital work with Maine’s communities to help them identify, prioritize, fund, and acquire those places that help define their character and quality of place.
The next three days we’ll cycle through quintessential coastal Maine fishing villages, making our way through the bucolic countryside immortalized by Robert McCloskey’s One Morning in Maine. We’ll spend a night in Stonington, just a stone’s throw from an important TPL project preserving critical public dock access to Maine’s lobstermen and women. On an easy kayak tour of Penobscot Bay, we’ll paddle along the peaceful shoreline past weathered summer cottages, sprawling historic estates, and rugged islands, keeping an eye out for bald eagles, osprey, loons and cormorants. Alternate activities include a private tour of the Wooden Boat School, or a visit to Haystack Art Center (cyclists will cruise through this visually stunning campus).
Taking a break from the saddle, we’ll board a private schooner for a sail across the Penobscot Bay from Stonington to Camden. For the next two nights, we’ll stay at the historic Camden Habour Inn, overlooking the harbor. We’ll cycle through picturesque Rockport, then head into Rockland for lunch and a private tour of the Farnsworth Museum, which offers an extensive collection of paintings by the Wyeth family.
TRIP DETAILS Dates: August 14-19, 2012 |
