Going Long

Wanted to get one long ride in before the vacation was over.   Tom and I headed over to quiet side but avoided the road into Southwest Harbor as its all torn up.  The longer we road the better I felt.

Solo Recovery Ride

My legs are feeling like wood.  All the hiking has caught up with me and I will need to go it a bit easier today.   I purposely chose a bike route that had as few hills as possible. 

Hike to Mt Bernard

Susie, Jack and I went over to the quiet side to knock off one more mountain in my pursuit of hiking all of the Mountain Hikes.
 After some confusion over which trail we should take to the top of Bernard we settled on The West Ledge Trail.  This is the most geographically remote trail on Mount Desert Island, and looks out over Seal Cove Pond near Bernard Mountain (photo included below).  The trail takes you thru vintage Acadia forest and open rock ledges.  The top is a little anti-climatic as its mostly in the woods.   The map is wrong in that you dont pass Bald Mt on the way. Its actually next to a loop on an adjacent dirt road.

What I discovered from my original list is that there are more mountains.  Its just that some of them do not have trails.  So while I figure out whether they count or not I will complete the hikeable mountains

6 MDI Mountain Tops

Up early with the intent in getting in as many peaks as we could before Tom had to get back for a conference call.  Weather was foggy for the first 3 peaks but by the time we got to Penobscot it started to lift. 

3 peaks - Jack with Vest

This looked to be a not so great day of hiking.   We didnt get out of the house till close to 11 and then found all of the parking lots full.   I was getting pretty frustrated.  We changed plans and headed to another hike only to find a spot where we wanted to go after all.   Jack had suited up with the 20lb vest.  The first part wasnt going to be bad a lot of big rocks and bouldering but the 2nd half was short and up.   By this time we had been out for awhile and it was getting hot.  I have to give the kid credit he never slowed down although he was annoyed at me for picking a long course.

Afternoon Ride

I had enough energy to get out on the bike and get a short ride it.  I was a little concerned as the wind had picked up and it looked like not only ride but having to ride into a tough head wind.   Tom Loring was able to join me and the ride overall went a lot better than last time.  My legs were feeling pretty good and I wasnt tired before I even started.  Pushed the pace on Sargent drive and tried to keep it going once we hit Rt3/198.  

Hike to Sargent & Lower Hadlock

A later start than normal as we waited for the kids and since they are teenagers anything before 8:30am is obscenely early.  Jack was bummed he couldn't join as he had to work.  We kept it at a controlled pace for Emma and Henry until we passed the gully just passed Cedar Swamp.   Then I starting really picking up the pace to see if I could even run the last half.   My legs were screaming with lactic acid but I kept pushing on aside for one or two sections.  Good long effort.

As soon as I got home Susie and Jack were on there way to do a quick walk around Lower Hadlock.