6x4 on 4x4: Expect the Unexpected, Maine, pt2.

Acadia.

As rivers run
And moonlight shines
We will catch them close
One finger tripped shutter
Ice glistening in the Sun
A new world coming from it

I threw the look
We faced the Moon
Asked the maker
"Where were you?"

(my take on Peter Murphy's song)

I want to write this part a bit backwards and not in order events happened. But by now, you know that's how my mind usually works.

It's about moments, about freezing time, about us in between of then and now.

There is a place in space and time
there unexpected things happen, islands fly above the waters, squirrels laugh at you, waterfalls stop midflow, and frozen sunsets dazzle you like a crystal in a ball light...

Acadia.

Cliffs of Acadia National Park.

Take a walk with us on Wonderland trail - it's swirling in enchanted woods, with blue puddles painted with intricate patterns of frost, smell of pine cones in frosty air, and incredible views of the sea and cliffs as you come to the shore.

Island floating above the waters.

If you lucky enough, you will catch a mirage of flying islands in a distance, see sun reflections playing in smooth stones in nearby laguna, and admire patterns of empty sea urchin shells, white as a paper.

Frozen.

Take it all in, walk around, sit here and enjoy this...

Reflections.

Sea Urchin Shell.

The circle drive around the whole park is very scenic and peaceful, there are many stops along the way to take a break and admire the scenery. I breathe in fresh salty air, and I cannot get enough...

Jeep and a tree.

End of the road was closed due to icy conditions, so we had to backtrack to make it to Cadillac mountain before sunset...

What we found there was absolutely incredible - frozen waterfalls lining the way along steep and windy road going up and up, more beautiful than any holidays decorations...

Frozen Waterfalls.

Rain that fallen day before was frozen into glass sculptures on branches, grass and trees - making it most fragile glass sculpture park ever...

Frozen sunset.

It all lights up, as most amazing sunset fires up the sky.

Frozen sunset.

There is almost 360 degrees views open up from here, but if you want clear view of sunset and bright moon, drive down just over first turn, there is an outlook that faces right direction.

Sunset at Cadillac Mountain.

I love this.

Shell-moon.

Now, I am going to rewind back to conversation around breakfast table at Dragonfly that started another chain on unexpected events...

Talk went from covered bridges to wildlife to moose - and specifically to places to see moose or find good antlers to purchase. Our hosts sent us to Moosehead Lake, and store called Kamp Kamp - they knew the owner, and said he will recommend something.

Moosehead Lake.

Not only we found store full or antlers, skins, skulls and other cool things, but from there, we got directions to small restaurant, closed for the season, but with front porch covered with antlers in all shapes and sizes - so, so cool!

While talking to store associate, she mentioned B52 Crash site, and asked if we would be interested to see it. Store owner shook his head and said road is more than icy and only crazy people would drive there... Obviously, we had to. Right???

Jeep pretending to be a deer. Or a Moose.

Ok, so... It's deep winter there. GPS completely lost its mind. My partner's phone catches weak signal in and out, and my phone is completely out.

We driving tiny narrow road covered with ice and snow in the woods in the middle of nowhere.

...

Wooohooo!!! This is fun.

Finally, we came upon signs directing to crash site. Yes! We did not get lost after all.
Jeep and 4x4 was surely useful. I doubt any normal car would make it here.

Explorer.

I cannot believe this site been here for 53 years...

B 52 crash site.

Think about it, how one conversation triggered another, and another turn, and another in this chain of adventures. You cannot plan it, for real.

We are staying in Bangor, as central location for this part of the trip.

There is a great restaurant called Blaze (here is our fire again!), that have most amazing oysters with toppings, roasted bone marrow, most delicious wood-burning oven pizza and handsome drinks menu.

Must eat. Seriously, not kidding, we could not resist to go there twice during our short stay.

Oysters!

There are few more incredible sites along the way while we drove around. First, my travel companion shows me The Stephen King's house.

at Stephen King's House.

Heck, I am sure travelers like us annoy the hell outta owners of the house - but damn, it was a great place to stop for pictures.
House itself looks like many of houses in same era - but what simply amazed me were the gates. The details and design is just cool. Bats, dragons, numbers - and the attention to every design detail - done in wrought iron.

Wow.

Yes, color me impressed.