June 4th, Monday – Relief for an Aching Back, Rainy Days, History of Schoodic Woods Campground

Imagine my surprise when I came out from the bedroom this morning to the living room and found the temperature outside at 47 degrees! Hey, isn’t this summer time?

Oh, I forgot, summer here is during the month of August and then it’s winter time, September to the next August.  Ah well, it could be worse, it could be snowing.  Perish the thought!

So today was a day I had been looking forward to for several days.  Barbara had finally found a chiropractor who didn’t run the other way when they

found out we lived in an RV.  I guess most of them believe that they will never get paid by someone who is always on the move.  So, first visit was today with two more to come, one this Thursday, and then another next Monday.  How do I feel?  Thankfully much, much better.  I should be good to go by next Tuesday when we move north.

So that was the first part of the day.  Returning home, we walked in the front door and discovered it was a bit chilly inside.  Top is inside, bottom is outside. Time for the heat pump.

It was not only chilly but the rain was coming down.  This was the view out the front solarium window in the afternoon.

But this I know a chilly, rainy day here is better than any day at work.

Let’s turn our attention now to Schoodic Woods Campground.

 

It has, I discovered, quite an interesting history regarding its development and how it came to be a national park.

The land that the campground sits on was once owned by the Modena family of Italy who was interested in developing the land into a large-scale resort.  Many in the area believed that the development would be an enormous economic opportunity for the two Schoodic Peninsula communities that had been distressed since the closing of the former U.S. Navy base at Winter Harbor in 2002.  There were others, though, who were more interested in the conservation of the area.

In the conversation group was Lyme Timber.  Lyme Timber, a private timberland investment management firm from Hanover, New Hampshire, entered into an agreement to buy the land from the Modena family.  However, soon after the announcement was made, a private family foundation approached Lyme Timber and offered to provide the capital for the purchase so it could then donate the land to Acadia National Park.

Lyme and the family foundation formed Schoodic Woods LLC, with the Hanover company remaining as managing member of the partnership so the foundation could remain anonymous. So the campground was built and the total cost of acquiring the property and of building the campground and trail network adding up to $29 million.  To this day no one knows the name of the family foundation.  Imagine having that kind of money!

Here is where it gets interesting.  Many believed that it could not become a national park until and unless Congress gave its approval.  Not so.  Just like that it came under the control of the National Park Service.  How?  They stated that under a 1926 law they only needed approval from Congress for purchase of land, but not donated land.  Deed done.  So today it is part of Acadia National Park.

But why the uproar?  Everyone expected it to happen so what was the problem?  The primary concern for Winter Harbor officials was the loss of property tax revenue that resulted from having the federal government take.

The solution?  The Maine Coast Heritage Trust came up with a solution by offering, thanks to multiple donors, to give the town each year the full amount of what would have been owed in property taxes had the land remained in private hands, according to officials. The land trust will pay $7,821.75 to Winter Harbor annually, which was the tax bill total for having the entire parcel classified as tree growth, as Lyme Timber did.

Now for some facts about the Schoodic peninsula and the campground

• The campground has 33 RV sites with water and power, including 20 pull-through; 50 car tent sites with electric, including 26 listed as for only tents; 9 private hike-in sites with no electric and no open fires allowed; and two group sites.
• The 8.3 miles of well-graded gravel bike paths echo the carriage roads on Mount Desert Island, down to the carved wooden signs. In addition to adding to the 6 miles of the one-way Schoodic Park Loop Road, these new paths provide an important connection between the east and west sides of the peninsula.
• There is a 5.5 mile one-way section of park road that hugs the coast around the peninsula with several turnouts that offer breathtaking views of the Maine coast and its waters
• The 4.7 miles of  hiking trails in the Schoodic Woods section are a nice complement to the existing trails further south on Schoodic Peninsula.
• The campground’s 100-seat amphitheater hosts ranger-led programs, such as talks about monitoring birds, butterflies and bats, and the role that Theodore Roosevelt and Franklin D. Roosevelt played in preserving national parks.
• There are no shower facilities at the campground, a conscious decision to encourage local business development of camper-focused services
• Schoodic Point, located at the southern tip of Schoodic Peninsula must not be missed as it provides one of the best places to view pounding surf during rough seas as well as stunning views of Cadillac Mountain to the West.

So, time now to call it a day.  Night is upon us as is the rain.  It’s not supposed to let up until sometime Wednesday.  The temperature is also supposed to stay in the 40 to 50 degree range.  Such is life.  We will survive, traveling and cuddling together, hand in hand, under a nice warm blanket.  Hey, hope your weather is better and that your day was as great as ours.  Now a closing thought for all of us:

Live with Intention

Be Bold In The Face of Adversity

Live the Life You Were Destined for

As always,  if you are coming to the end of your day with concerns and worries let me suggest that you turn them over to God.  After all, He is going to be up all night so why not let him handle them for you.

Time now for our evening prayers and eventually some shut-eye.  Till tomorrow.

These are the voyages of  Graybeard and it’s occupants, four paws and two humans.  Our continuing mission: to explore as many new states as possible, to seek out new acquaintances and make new friends, to boldly go where we have not been before