Maine Day 5: Cadillac Mountain

After a long day on the Schoodic Peninsula, we were headed back to our room for the evening when suddenly, for the first time since arriving in Acadia, the clouds began to clear and the sun came up. We could hardly believe it! And we seized the moment deciding to head up to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in Acadia. Of course we stopped at the local gas station/pizza place on the way up. Honestly, I was surprised that no one else had dinner with them! It was a beautiful evening and what a great location for a picnic... Okay, no picnic tables or garbage cans... not really anywhere to sit... but that didn't stop us from settling down on some of the rocks to enjoy the sunset.

What a beautiful view... from a rocky mountaintop... out over the islands and oceans that were wrapped in fog. It made me miss the Bay Area... Berkeley was such a great place to watch the fog rolling in over the Golden Gate Bridge and across the bay. Driving into San Francisco from Marin on foggy days was a magical experience as the fingers of fog reached down from the tops of the hills and over the highway. And you never knew what view would await you as you exited the final tunnel leading into the city and the bridge and panorama of the city opened up before you. I love unexpected moments like that evening on Cadillac Mountain. Totally unplanned. No expectations. Just a serendipitous gift. I wish I had more space in my life for those. And that I took more opportunities to enjoy them. It seems that most of my favorite moments in travel have occurred unexpectedly. So why do I try so hard to plan them? Why can't I just let God unfold the surprises of the day? And trust that in God's creation there will be miracles and wonders and beauty? To top off our evening on Cadillac Mountain... a Scottish bagpiper showed up as the sun was setting and began playing for the crowd. Singing the sun down beyond the horizon. That beautiful, eerie music drawn from a heritage that was so tied to the earth and nature. So fitting... a little benediction to the evening. And as the music played, silent prayers of praise were lifted up all around.