Monday in Maine

This morning before going to Acadia we walked down to this pebble beach that, thanks to low tide, was significantly larger than it was yesterday evening when we arrived here. If you were quiet you could hear a faint but definite sucking sound coming from the ground.

We did the driving tour of Acadia today to get a feel for how we want to spend the rest of the week. The park has a 25-mile loop road with a steady stream of amazing views. I took a few pictures but they're all inadequate portrayals.

These stone markers, called cairns, serve as trail guides throughout Acadia.
Matt spotted this tiny green snake and wanted me to take a picture of it for Dad.
These pictures were taken from the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic Coast. Fun fact: If you stood here alone at dawn, you might be the first person in the country to see the sun that day.
At the end of the afternoon we came back to the cabin and set up shop on a couple of lawn chairs near the (disappearing again) beach. We read, and I also napped a little, while we waited for the sun to set. After which we went back to the Thirsty Whale.
We're going to hike tomorrow, Thursday and Friday, and on Wednesday we're going to explore a 45-mile "carriage trail" for bicycles and horse-drawn carriages. We were happy to hear about this trail because bikes aren't allowed on the regular trails and there isn't much of a shoulder on most of the roads.

Today and tonight have been chilly (50s during the day, low 40s by dinner, upper 30s overnight) and I'm very thankful that this cottage is equipped with a good electric heater. The rest of the week is supposed to be warmer -- 60s during the day, which should be great for hiking. I still wish I'd remembered my fleece, though.