Mountain Quest

Our day at the coast was followed by a day inland to Maine's Highlands, on a quest to find the best view of Maine's highest peak, Katahdin, without actually climbing it! We planned a full day of round-trip driving that would also take in Maine's biggest lake, Moosehead. My searches ahead of time informed me that the best, unobscured view of the peak was possible from the Abol Bridge in Millinocket. So of course, I had my heart set on that - and there was NO veering from this course.

En route, we stopped to enjoy a beautiful covered bridge in Guilford, which was reconstructed in 1990. This poor bridge has a history of being washed away in flood by the Piscataquis river, this being the 4th iteration of it!

This bridge was a low point for both of us, actually - whilst walking through the bridge, the car keys in Dale's pocket found a way out through the hole they'd been working on for some time, and fell onto the planks below us, just missing a gap! It could have been straight down into the river! So close!

Whilst there, I experienced a moment I wish I could forget, too. I needed to use the restroom but new visitors kept arriving, and walking back and forth across the bridge, not giving me enough privacy. Dale suggested I walk further off the road and into the woods, which I did. However, I noticed, too late, in a very uncompromising pose, a sign that read "Smile, You're on Camera." All I could do was keep my head down and scurry away as soon as I was able!

It seems as if this bridge has a history of low points! Except that the spectacular foliage at the river's edge was worth stopping for:

There were so many stunning scenes like this that we had to keep stopping all morning, and we hadn't yet reached Moosehead, never mind Katahdin.

Spectacle Ponds, Monson

Farm view in Monson

I kept wanting to IMBIBE all this beauty.