Follow my blog with Bloglovin I know this is not my strongest opening sentence, but I’m working on a little admin with this post.
Summer is in full swing and it’s a beauty. We had a cold, rainy spring which makes these gorgeous sunny days all the more wonderful. With July 4th behind us, we’re hitting our summer stride. Below is a list of eight summer activities you don’t want to miss.
Arriving at a new hiking destination for the first time is always a bit confusing. So when we stopped at the admission booth at Reid State Park to show them our park pass, we asked for a map and she handed us a photocopied, one page simply drawn diagram. It was a nice, high level overview but didn’t help us figure out where we actually wanted to go. After passing through the entrance, we encountered a fork in the road, and went left.
We quickly came upon a decent size parking area also on our left. I caught brief views of the ocean horizon through openings in the trees so it seemed like a good place to start. We pulled into the lot, and my husband opted to hang in the car so he could cajole his cell phone into bringing up more helpful hiking maps for the area. It’s always a challenge on our hikes to make technology work for us. I’m fine without it, but my husband likes to have a plan mapped out. So, while he worked on pulling the route together, I made a beeline for the beach.
Winter hiking is exhilarating, challenging and fun but without the right equipment it can be dangerous. Trails can turn into slick, ice-covered pathways which is what you often encounter in winter, and even much of the early spring, here in Maine. You need a plan to stay on your feet. Fortunately, I have a plan.
Our last few hikes of March fell into this icy, treacherous category. While there were sections that were clear of ice, most areas were not. It didn’t stop us from hitting the trails. We had a newly purchased state park pass sitting in our pocket and were ready to go. Plus, I had finally invested in the right hiking gear for Xtreme Conditions. I own a pair of STABILicersTM Maxx which I had broken in during an earlier winter hike to the Mountain Division Trail in Freyburg.
Okay, so maybe it’s not fair to call myself a couch potato. As my many hiking posts show, I enjoy being active and love to be outside exploring Maine, but I’m not comfortable with the word athlete. I once tried with little success to play at that level. I ran track for one year in High School. My strongest memory from that season is consistently coming in last place for my event.
The reality is that I could never be a true athlete. IÂ don’t have the physical aptitude and in all honesty no desire to commit to that level of training. However, I do understand the importance of living an active life and, when I’m not trapped at my keyboard, I am always looking for ways to move my body.
Some hikes are planned while others are more a matter of convenience. With our goal to say active each weekend, we always incorporate outdoor adventures into the agenda. With a trip to Saco River Brewing planned, we stopped at the Mountain Division Trail in Fryeburg along the way for a quick hike.
It was also an opportunity to break in my newly purchased STABILicersTM. I’d already attempted a few too many winter hikes without the right gear and was excited to be finally properly equipped for the ice and snow. I was also especially happy that my new equipment came from a local company out of Biddeford. I bought them at Renys in Portland and this was my first opportunity to try them out.
Weekends in Maine 