Day Three – Baxter State Park

June 23, 2016 -  We’re getting up WHEN??

We’ve been told that traffic may be awful getting to the park and that parking may be limited, to boot, so we get up at five am!  We still have to have breakfast and do some stretching, even though we’re on a schedule, so we’re out the door by 6:30.

 There’s a pleasant surprise on the road, though!  There’s hardly any traffic and the road construction crews aren’t out and about yet, so there’s no problem get to Baxter.  We stop at the Visitors Center and chat with a charming man who is a retired teacher (of course!  All park employees seem to be retired teachers or librarians!) who give us her version of what we should see and do.  He starts by sending us right behind his Center, for what might be the very best view of Mt. Katahdin!  He also assures us that there are outhouses all over the park.  That had been a concern since we plan to spend nearly every minute of daylight in the park!

He also tells us about the park’s history.  Governor Baxter, back in the 1930s gave the land to the people of Maine, not the state, so it is not, strictly speaking, a state park.  He also set up a seven million dollar (in the 30s!!) trust fund and the park administrators can only spend 5% of the trust’s interest each year.

 Our first excursion if actually not part of the park’s loop road, called the Tote Road.  We drive to Sandy Stream Pond, where people had told us we might see a moose.  We follow the trail and turn off for a view point.  The first thing we see is a group of silent photographers and not more than ten feet from them is a young bull moose!  He’s quietly munching on his breakfast and seems unfazed by the strange animals gazing at him and making clicking noises!  What a way to start the day!

Back down to the ranger station where we signed in, and we pick up the Tote Road.  A word about the road - There are no paved roads in the park because that’s the way Governor Baxter wanted it.  So, although you don’t have to drive many miles, the average speed is only about fifteen mph!

Our next stop is Stump Pond, which lives up to its name.  There is a man there who tells us that we are hearing green tree frogs and points out Double Top Mountain and Mt. Katahdin.

 Onward to Daicy Pond.  There’s a spur road to a parking area and then a hike down to the pond.  There is a splendid little library right on the pond with rocking chairs on the porch, overlooking the pond.  We’d call it a lake! We begin the hike and not to far along we come upon a young doe! 

 The purpose for this hike is to see Little Niagara Falls and Big Niagara Falls.  And they’re gorgeous.  And guess what!  We’re hiking part of the Appalachian Trail! It’s quite a hike but we’re glad we did it! 

 The next stop is Kidney Pond and they have a library, too, but it’s not as adorable as the first one.  The ranger there, is Diane Freelove and she tells us that the best part of her job is meeting all the interesting people who come to the park.  There are bunnies and butterflies and unusual flowers.

 Back on the main road we pass a white cross, dedicated to the unknown River Driver.  Many people have died in the river, driving the logs to the mill.  The park actually has it’s own logging operation.  No one is allowed to bring firewood into the park to protect the trees from the organisms that threaten them outside the park.

On, now to Ledge Falls which is more of a slide than a falls.  People ride the rushing water but there’s no one here today.  We were told that if we wanted to do that, we should wear cotton socks inside out.  That’s supposed to keep you from slipping but I think it would take more than that!!

 There’s just one more stop.  We thought there was supposed to be a field of wildflowers at the Newsowadnehunk Campground but we don’t see anything much.  A ranger pulls up and asks if we’re birders.  She’s been seeing a “merlin” chasing away other birds and even people from her nest.  We go looking and Marilyn spots her!  Turns out she’s a falcon and boy can she scream!  We figure that’s a good way to finish the day, since it’s about six-thirty! 

We head back into town and have dinner at the Scootic In Restaurant again.  Spinach salad and clam chowder sound good!  After dinner we head home and are too exhausted to do anything else!  Bed is calling!