A Walk in the Woods

If you are a hiker, the Camden/Rockport area on Maine’s midcoast is a good place. It is second only to Acadia National Park when it comes to trails, most of which are groomed and maintained by Coastal Mountains Land Trust.

One of my favorite trails runs through the Harkness Preserve where often there is no sound except for the wind in the pines and bird songs.

It is not one of the more difficult trails, but it can be challenging thanks to tree roots that make stumbling a real possibility.

Too, the trail is littered with rocks, big and small, so some navigation skills are a must.

Speaking of rocks, you make think this is just another pile, but the rocks are stacked in such a way that there is a seat in the middle. This is a perfect place for quiet reflection.

For company, there are squirrels and chipmunks that aren’t at all bothered by human intrusion.

Too, there are birds, but they don’t hang around long unless, like this downy woodpecker, they are doing their own thing and not allowing anything to interrupt.

The path at Harkness winds around and around leading to a surprising view of the east side of Rockport Harbor and Indian Island.

On the water ducks float along seeming to have not a care.

They don’t tarry long before skittering across the water’s surface for take off to new surroundings.

These walks in the woods are not just about hiking. They reveal in so many ways nature’s bounty that is both real and left behind. One only has to pay attention to reap the benefits.