Back on Isle au Haut

Hey, everybody! Well, I managed to make it out to the lovely little island of Isle au Haut once again before the season's out, and I actually took pictures of myself this time, too. (I got one comment on my Weekend In Vermont photo gallery something to the effect of, "140 pictures and not one of YOU???" So, I made it a point to point my little camera at myself a few times just to smooth the ruffled feathers. Some of them even came out okay, which is a rarity.


One of the huge bonuses of this trip is that it came during low tide, which forced the captain of the mail boat (the passenger-only ferry) to approach the Town Landing from the western entrance of the thoroughfare. This the first time I've come this way by boat, which necessitated a steaming by the Robinson Point lighthouse. I've always wanted to take a shot of it from the water, so this time I finally got the chance. Woo hoo!!!


On my two-mile trudge to the cabin from the Town Landing (a 40-lb pack and a tote bag of groceries will do that to you), I came across this island truck that has been here a very long time. I've never been pleased with any of the photos I've taken of it before, as I don't feel any of them did it any justice. This one is no exception. So, I thought, what if I capture some of the details of it, instead? Hmm . . .


Moving in even further, I was much impressed by the display of rust and the crinkled effect of the chrome headlight molding. Now the real character is beginning to show through. This is more like it.


Closer still, we see the true character in this shot -- me. I was trying to get the spider-web effect as the main subject, but the little camera's Macro mode didn't know that, so it focused on me. Oh, well, this was going to be a trip with self-portraits, anyway, so here's the first one. The best, in my estimation.


Another detail shot, this time on the truck hood's rust pattern. My photographer friend Alexa used the same type pattern in a shot of hers, but turned it upside down to give it an otherworldly effect. I tried it with this one, but it just didn't work out right.


Finally moving on, I arrived at the cozy little Eli Creek cabin just above Moore's Harbor, a bit tired and thirsty but happy as always to be here. (In a move to save on weight carried, I ran with empty water bottles and Camelback bladder. Bad idea) This is one of the big benefits of working here at Acadia, being able to use this little place as a getaway from it all.


The next item on the agenda was to head back into town to obtain the necessary essentials I didn't bring along -- "D" sized batteries for the cabin's zoom lantern, cleaning supplies, BEER -- available here at the Island Store. It would have saved me a bit more hiking to have done it on my way in, but the store wasn't open that time of the morning. Besides, I had enough to lug to the cabin without another bag of stuff.


And here we have it! Ah, a nice still-fairly-cool bottle of Tecate to go with all the other essentials of any decent camping trip: Cheetos, jerky, and Jack Daniel's. (This is actually the first bottle of JD I've bought in quite a while, but I figured the occasion warranted it.) Now, that's a lunch, folks!


I decided that since I was so intrigued with the details of the old island truck, it might be nice to show off some of the island's details, as well. I always show the grand views, but hardly ever the little things that catch my eye. This is a low-tide shot at Deep Cove -- the northern one (there are two on the island) -- which fascinated me, especialy the little cluster of barnacles.


I can't come to the island without stopping off at the little lone pine tree and paying my respects. I've been in love with this little tree (which isn't so little anymore) since I discovered it on my first trip out. It held me in awe then, and is a constant source of solace for me even now.


Some things can find a home in the most unlikely places. This little tree is making an effort to set up house in this little catch of a granite boulder. I didn't have the heart to tell it there wasn't enough soil to grow up to a full tree in, but it will be interesting to see it a few years down the road to see how it makes out. Good luck, little guy.


No, we didn't time-warp back to Little Moose Island, I just decided to dress up the Western Head trail by building a cairn a la the Little Moose ones. I didn't use the little pebbles and such to secure the stones on top of one another, so I hope it makes it.


Another curious thing I came across on my Western Head trek is this intrusion field, which at first I thought might be someone's spray-paint doings. Interesting stuff, as this is the only site for this phenomenon on the island -- at least as far as I can tell. Weird.


BOO!!! Boy, doesn't this look like something a kid might conjure up in his head on Halloween? Hmm . . . Didn't I see this same guy in Poltergeist? I may have to watch it again and see.


Okay, here's a little scene I'm quite proud of to hopefully settle any nerves that might have been jangled a bit by that last image. I know how some of you are. This is looking down the western approach to the town landing, the same one we came down when I shot the lighthouse shot. What a beautiful, peaceful morning, huh? Now you can see why I love this place so much.


Well, as this is getting kinda long and I'm going to put these images and lots, lots more in a photo gallery very soon, I'll leave you with the final sunset of my stay and say Thanks for checkin' in, and be sure keep your eyes on your Inbox. I'm off to fire up the new photo gallery and get to work. Catch ya later.