Blagden Preserve

Cove: Shadow

Still interluding... deviating from the funny papers and the continuing political nonsense, not to mention taking advantage of the record-breaking weather trends happening in this national neck of the woods. It almost broke sixty here yesterday, and I pumped up the mountain bike's tires for a quick mile down the road to Indian Point Blagden Preserve, one of handful of The Nature Conservancy properties here in Maine. 

We had actually attempted to explore this place almost a year ago, but conditions being much different back then, we were forced to abandon the outing due to deep snow. Then the "no dogs allowed" policy was a deterrent thereafter, as there are an overwhelming range of other options around Mount Desert Island. But I opted to give Bird-Dog a well-deserved day off and poke about the neighborhood for a few hours on my own. After chaining up the bike to a tree, it was a short, half-hour stroll approximately a mile down through the woods to the shoreline. The path crossed over fire-roads and private-property inholdings, alternating from open pine forest to thick spruce grottoes, peaceful and quiet except for the army of Red squirrels, who for generations had carpeted the mossy floor with seed shells and picked-apart cones.

Hit the half-mile shoreline path right at high-tide, and it was peppered with a half-dozen lichen-coated wooden benches or Adirondack-style chairs, each nestled off in their private enclaves, strategically oriented to watch the sunset over the water. It evoked all my studies of Chinese landscape prints for a BFA degree, where an inconspicuous opening in the forest was often left available for any passing monk to occupy in repose. These minor touches of humanity are viewed as evidence of healthy integration, as opposed to the more diametrically opposed, clearly delineated territorial imperative that the West takes between the two different worlds of Nature versus Civilization. Still, these little sweet-spots were far better than the usual garbage that litters many a place of solitude.

Not being anywhere quite near a Zen master, I opted instead to stretch out on one of the many open expanses of exposed granite ledges for an hour of sunning sunburning. Supposedly this area offers prime viewing opportunities for seals in season, but for now it was just this one white walrus hauled out for a nice nap. The only other critters around were a flotilla of Common Eiders, and the company of one Common Loon that drifted at anchor just offshore of my vantage point. I just to observe the loon having quite a bit of difficulty choking down an almost too-large fish that it kept attempting to flip around and swallow. I had similar struggles with pen and notepad, trying to land a couple concepts that have been swimming around my head as of late. 

Also visible just down the way was Maine Coast Heritage Trust's "Blue Horizon Preserve" which is located almost within sight of our driveway (and source of the finest sunsets ever seen on the island). After briefly toying with the idea of hiking directly back along the shoreline and going back to pick up the bike later, I persevered back through the woods, to be met at the trailhead by a surprise rescuer bearing pizza.

(Indicated path is only an approximation)