Our theme this month has me thinking about connections in ways I've never done before. For example, I never thought about the concept of connections in regards to travel but we do indeed make connections with new experiences, new places, new foods, and new people when we travel. Since I've just come back from a 10-day vacation, the idea of travel connections is very much on my mind.
One of the items on my "life list" (I prefer that to "bucket list") has been to shoot a coastal sunrise. This week I did that! We carefully checked the almanac to see what time the sun would rise, set the alarm, dragged ourselves out of our warm bed, into the chilly car and up to the top of Cadillac Mountain (Acadia National Park), the highest point on the East Coast at some 1500 feet above sea level. The air temperature was about 40 degrees (F) at that hour but the winds were upwards of 20 mph so, yes, it was cold! But I was not about to be deterred as the first photo today illustrates.
I love the seacoast and coastal Maine is as good as advertised. There were elegant sailing ships -
And quintessential harbor towns at every turn.
But not all of our adventures were limited to the seacoast variety. When our whale watching tour was cancelled due to rough seas (yeah - bummer), we trekked back to Acadia and found ourselves at Jordan Pond with its crystal clear water -
and the lovely nature trail that runs around the perimeter of the pond. We were surprised, though, by the boardwalk on the low side of the pond. Said boardwalk consisted of half sawn logs laid end to end for maybe a mile or more. Have a look for yourselves -
But you know what always seems to stick with me about my journeys? The details, the little things. The flowers, the food, the wildlife, the things that are unique to the area -
These photos, of course, are just a precious few from hundreds that now reside on my hard drive. It will take some time to process the photos ... and the memories.
What about you? What photos do you take ... and keep ... to connect you to the memories of your journeys and adventures? Perhaps you're like me and never thought about travel in the context of connections before. Why not change that mindset and share some of your vacation/travel connections with us on our Flickr page? And if there's a special story ... share that, too. We love stories!
18 comments:
Oh Dotti , The walk up the mountain was well worth it. It's so hard to get up out of those warm beds and make yourself do it, but it's so worth it. Look at that shot! Amazing. As we discussed, I too was in Maine the last few days for a wedding. (It just kills me that we were so close to meeting and yet so far away) . But anyway, I too did a harbor sunrise. Gotta go to work now, but I will post one of mine tonight.
All of these shots are beautiful, as are your words-nice post!
So thrilling to know you saw all of this and even more so to see it ourselves here in this post. Feels like you really immersed yourself in the trip, all the nuances and the real essence of the place. Bravo you for the getting up so early. Have you considered fishing? I think you have a calling... Yeah, to think you were so close to Nova Scotia. Boy oh boy. Beautiful array of shots of your trip and yes, to travel with a theme in mind, great idea. Welcome home, Dotti!
I loved this Dotti. I like the Travel Connection idea - connecting to everything where we travel. Also makes me think of the connections of when we get back home. Home Sweet Home. Your photos are great, I feel like you took us with you. So glad you had a great time, with so many memories, and I hope all of the "troubles" getting your post up today didn't take away all of your rest and relaxation!
Yay! You made it! Computer problems are the worst, so I'm happy you persevered because this post is so beautiful! Maine is a place I've always wanted to visit and I feel like I went on a virtual journey there with you. I love the connections we make when traveling. Being in a different locale makes us notice the tiniest details and I love that, as photographers, we not only notice them but capture them to share with others and to help us remember the journey. You make me want to go to Maine even more than I did before! Welcome home.
Oy, I've never been to the East coast OR the West coast, just the gulf coast! ha Getting up for a sunrise photo is always well worth it, and my favorite shots are always in the winter here when the winds are blowing at 30 mph, and believe it or not I need gloves! ; ) One of the things I like most whether I travel 30 minutes to Galveston or home to Chicago, or on vacation in Florida this summer is the connections to people. I almost always meet a stranger with an interesting story . . . and just the other day I didn't have to travel far...to my nearest starbucks to make a connection with some musicians playing blue grass music (who were wishing really hard that I played an instrument as they had several extra) and I had to disappoint them that I didn't sing either. But so much fun to watch them sing and play and interact and invite me to sit and stay awhile.
So bummed your whale watching trip got cancelled, but your photos are just wonderful! Those little harbor towns are so cute and even though I live close to the water they are so different than here - I would love to go to Maine sometime! Love your collage, and I have to say that the sign about the weeds made me laugh out loud! Welcome back . . .
I was there in August. It was warm. Sorry it was cold for you but it is quite beautiful. I was brousing through your photos but as soon as I hit the boardwalk I knew you were are Jordon Pond. I hope you had some popovers?
Thank you, Carol! Yes ... I had the same thought you did when I saw your IG photos: so near and yet so far.
Thanks, Pam! But no thanks on the fishing ... ! :-D Although I'm getting better, early mornings are definitely not my best times.
So happy you "connected" with my post! Yes, computer problems. Ugh. I'm right now camped at my daughter's house but I did want to check in on the FOL hotline. So glad I did!
Thanks, Terri! Although it was a lovely trip, I missed the FOL (and PA) family. It was good to get home ... except for the internet woes. Yes, the details ... that's what I notice now more than anything. The broad vistas are lovely but they don't evoke the same response in me as the sweet little details. It must be a photographer thing. :-D
Well, Kim, in some ways we're even. I've been to the East and West Coasts and the Gulf Coast in FL ... but not TX. Thank you for your lovely comments and welcome. So glad you're here today!
Thank you! Actually, except for an overnight thunderstorm and the trek up the mountain, the weather was wonderful! So glad you visited and took the time to respond.
OOOH thanks for taking us along! I really like the bridge shot and love your sunflower too! We make connections every day even if we are not thinking... and how we treat people really does make a big difference maybe to their life.
Glad you have ok with your computer ... *sigh* nothing worse.
Nice to have you back.
Claudia
Oh so happy that you had such a beautiful vacation and that you have these wonderful photos so you can re-connect with your memories at any time. Cadillac Mountain, would love to go there one day...that being the highest point, with you standing at the top watching the sun rise are the first in America to see the sun rise on that day. How awesome is that.
Thank you, Claudia! It's nice to get away but always nice to get back! My computer is still limping but I pop on whenever it's working, never know when I'll lose it. Tech coming tomorrow. Can't wait to be fully connected again! :-D
Gosh, Deanna ... I hadn't thought of it that way. But I and the other hundred or so people must have been the first to see the sun rise on our country that day. I'm sure the folks over in Newfoundland and Nova Scotia (shout out to FishGirl!!!), saw it before I did. Still pretty awesome though, I must admit!!
:-D
That's so cool - I didn't think of it that way either!
What a beautiful trip! I would love to go there! I do love taking and keeping the photos I take on vacations. Probably keeping too many but they all have such memories attached to them! Thanks for sharing this!
xo,
Linda
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