June 5th, Tuesday – Maine Sculpture Trail, Hulls Cove Visitor Center, Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse

Once again we awoke to a cold, dreary, rainy day.   What to do?  Of course, not getting up at all was one option.  Another was to stay home and play dominoes and nap off and on.  Then, too, we could perhaps find some type of attraction that would permit us to stay indoors.  One definite goal we had been getting more stamps for Barbara’s National Passport Book.  So the last option won out.  We would drive over to the Hulls Cove Visitor Center and then go to the Seal Cove Auto Museum.  Indoors all the way.

Since we were only going to two places, we were in no rush to get going.  After all we figured we would be home by early afternoon no matter what.  Yea.  To make a long story short we left at around 11 am and did not get home until after 6 pm.  In addition, we covered we figured conservatively speaking some 150 miles.  How?

Here we go.  On the way over, we knew of another sculpture that was on the way so we decided to make that our first stop.  This sculpture was located at Sumner Memorial Park which is located on the Schoodic National Scenic Byway.  The park itself is named

after Charles Sumner who had been a doctor and leading citizen of the town of Sullivan.

The sculpture located here is entitled Sullivan Tower and was created by Jo Kley from Germany.  His explanation of his work is:  I chose the shape of a tower as it is a universal icon that is understood by any society and race.  I may not understand

 

 

nor see exactly what the artist sees, but since chasing these pieces down I’ve begun somehow to gain a new appreciation for art.  The time and labor that went into these sculptures, the craftsmanship that is evident, the way that the granite has been worked is really quite amazing.

We were back on the road again and now heading toward Acadia National Park.  Our

destination was the Hulls Cove Visitor Center which is at the beginning of the 27 mile Park Loop Road.  Here is Barbara at the entrance before we actually began the climb to the visitor’s center.

Now for some the following would present no problem but for the two of us with our bad knees, this was just a bit daunting.  But you say, only two levels?  Oh no, multiply this times 6!  First up, then of course you have to come back down.  But we did it.

This was our destination the visitor center itself just inside these doors.

Once inside this was what we were interested in, additional stamps for Barbara’s National Passport Book.  There are many, many stamps to be collected and entered, some of which we know we will not get to.  But we are going to get as many as we can while we are here.  Of course, it means another trip along the 27 mile Park Loop Road.  But not today, it is just too miserable and the visibility is zero.  Another day.

This then was our second stop.  After this we were back on the road and headed for a local attraction that friends of ours had mentioned as not be missed no matter what.

However, this is going to have to wait till tomorrow because there are just too many pictures and too many stories to tell of our visit here.  So join us tomorrow as we bring you the story and pictures of this absolutely fascinating place.

Wait, though, we’re not finished.  Oh no.  We had heard that there was a really neat lighthouse out this way, so let’s go find it.  It took awhile and what seemed forever to locate it but in due time we were there.  Where being the Bass Harbor Head Lighthouse.

Marking the entrance to Bass Harbor as well as Blue Hill Bay, the Bass Harbor Lighthouse on Mount Desert Island in Tremont, Maine was built in 1858. A fog bell and tower were added in 1876.  The lighthouse, situated on Acadia National Park land, stands 56 feet above mean high water.

 

The lighthouse is now automated and remains an active aid to navigation.

Today was an excellent example of why the lighthouse is still needed.  Take a look at the fog that was like a thick blanket across the whole harbor.  Hard to see anything out there.

On January 21, 1988, the lighthouse was added to the National Register of Historic Places, reference number 87002273, under the title of Bass Harbor Head Light Station.

The keeper’s house is currently being used for Coast Guard housing.  I read this and well the imp in me wanted to knock on the door to see if it was really true.  But I didn’t.

Onward.  The day was still not over.  Nope.  We knew of two more sculptures that were on our way home, so we decided to see if we could find them.  The first one we found was in the town of Southwest Harbor and is called Sisters.

The artist who sculptured this work is named Roy Patterson who is from Maine.  His explanation of his work is:  the intention was to create a presence in space, a sense of being that merges with the primal presence of the stone.  

At this point it was getting late in the afternoon, real late, and we had not yet had anything for lunch.  Not to worry.  Right next to the above sculpture we found this neat little local spot where we were able to get a bite to eat.  We find that it is fun and interesting to try to stop at local shops whenever possible.  Glad we stopped here.

Guess what?  Not finished just yet.  We had one more sculpture to locate.  So off we went in quest of it.  Yes, we found it.  It was located at Lamoine State Park.  Lamoine State Park is a nice 55 acre park for those who want to escape the crowds on Mount Desert Island. It has an oceanside setting with picnic and campsite areas, hot showers, a dock, boat access, a pebble beach and allows fishing.   The sculpture we located here is called Dialog and was created by artist Roland Mayer from Germany.

 

HIs explanation of his work is as follows:  The play of forms of load-bearing parts, the treatment of the diverse surfaces – from the split to the drilled and from the brush-hammered to the polished surface – all this offers interesting activity and changing sights and views depending on the lighting conditions and the spectator’s position.  Unfortunately, today was not a day to see it with the sunlight on it for there was none.

Now we were ready to call it a day and so we headed toward home.  The hour was late, it was still raining, and our knees were sore and aching – because of the weather and the climbing and walking we had done all day.  But we did it!  Hand in hand, singing our song, traveling along.

Night is now here.  We’re ready for more bumps in the dark hours of this night.  Bumps?  Yup, have no idea what but every night it seems something is always out there running around and sounds like it is bumping into either Graybeard or Little Graybeard.  Sorry, I’m not really interested in knowing what it is!  Just as long as it is gone by dawns early light.  Despite the rain and the gloom we had another great day.  Don’t forget to come back tomorrow for the fascinating story of the Seal Cove Auto Museum.  And now a closing thought:

I still haven’t learned to act my age – and never hope to

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