7/13/14 City Forest

Warmer and more humid with rain forecast for this afternoon. A good day for the nearby forest. A lot fewer deer flies and few mosquitoes. We met several people but no dogs until the very end.

We started from the end of Kittredge Rd. and walked across the meadow

The rest of our route is on the map above. These are a few of the things we saw. Not a good day for close ups as it was breezy at times.

Not bad- still lots of water for Kelley, the flies were far fewer, and we met some nice people. 2 hours 

7/12/14 Sheepscot Headwaters

Another beautiful day with temps in the 70's. The question was going to be bugs. We started from the Whitten Hill Trail Head. Very few mosquitoes and no deer flies. Kelley did not seem her usual enthusiastic self and I thought maybe she was tired and we would just do a very short one today. The first part of the Northern Headwaters Loop has no water so I decided we would hike to the Goose Ridge Trail- a short distance down that are two small streams and a small pond- Kelley could get into the water and then we would turn back.

Kelley was very happy with the water

Problem was we encountered lots of deer flies around the water and did not stay long

I also found the smallest damselfly I have ever seen- about 1.5 inches long

After the water, Kelley perked up and we decided to go back and finish the loop. Part of the time the trail is close to the river and there are also some small streams. Once we were back on the main trail there were only a few deer flies.  Most of this trail is in fairly dense woods so not many flowers but there is one section that crosses the edge of a meadow

and I found a wild morning glory

Back into the woods

All in all not a bad hike. The deer flies had only been really bad on the goose ridge section and Kelley seemed happy to be on the trail once she got her water time.  2  1/4 hours

7/11/14 Newport Dover-Foxcroft Rail-Trail

Kelley had an appointment with her vet in Newport so we did the trail that starts near his office. A beautiful day- 70's. low humidity. almost not mosquitoes and only a handful of deer flies.

Near the start of the trail

The trail has open spots so you find flowers

and at times is quite close to Sebasticook Lake

There are small ponds

Another spot for Kelley to get in the water

Another view of the lake

There are also a few camps along the lake. At one of them a couple were outside painting  had a young puppy in the yard. Kelley immediately went over to meet Tyson but Tyson had much more energy than Kelley had there was a lot of Tyson chasing Kelley around the yard. They got along very well- the pictures were difficult because of the light and movement. They played again on our way back.

 Some more of what we saw

A nice hike on a beautiful day 2  1/2 hours

7/10/11 University Forest

Pleasant day with lower temperatures and humidity.I was  hesitant to drive a long way only to find deer flies making the hike unpleasant. We had not been to these trails in a while and usually start at the Stillwater Ave. end but today we started from Park Ave. We always get confused on these trail because there are more trails than are indicated on the map and other posted maps don't always coincide. We were pleased, today to actually follow the map all the way to the top, near where we usually start. But it was too good to last and as we tried to loop around we again lost our way. soon we were on trails without numbers and wandered until we came to something familiar- and met someone who gave us directions.

I also screwed up all the pictures I took. On a positive note the weather was pleasant with few mosquitoes or deer flies and Kelley was able to find lots of water to get into. We also got in a 2  3/4 hour hike. 

7/9/14 Belfast Habor

Something a little different. Tired of fighting the deer flies and tired in general,  we drove to Belfast and walked around the harbor for an hour and a quarter. Quite warm but no bugs.

Near where we park there is access to the shore but today the tide was in so we couldn't walk  it.

Kelley, however, was able to get in a swim.

There were lots of roses growing by the walk along the harbor- both red and white

Belfast has some tourists but is more of a regular town with a working harbor- fishermen, busy boat works, etc.

A huge boat lift

The area near the boat launch offered another chance for a swim

We walked a couple of blocks on a street a block over from the harbor and found  these unusual planters

and some flowers

A pretty nice outing- easy and different- and no bugs.

7/7/14 Down East Sunrise Trail

This is an 85 mile rail-trail that we have only done the first parts of. Once again, we were looking for a dry trail that was easy. A little warmer and more humid. Few mosquitoes or deer flies at the start but the deer flies increased as we progressed.

Start of the trail

Because it is mostly open to the sun there were flowers and insects.

The trail crosses the Card Mill Stream but the banks were too steep for Kelley to get down to it.

She was able to find water in the ditches beside the trail and some small pools but I was taking here to a better spot. This woods road/rail leads to , what I think is,  the end of Donnell Pond.

There was water behind a beaver dam that she got into before we reached the pond but she was really happy when we did reach the pond

Unfortunately the trail to,  and the pond area had lots more deer flies and we din't stay long.

On the way back we found more flowers and insects.

I have photographed several crab spiders and everyone of them was eating. Here we have a couple of scavengers waiting their turn.

In spite of the bugs, not a bad hike. We met two other walkers and saw one man on an ATV. Kelley was able to find enough water to cool off and seemed to enjoy the hike.  3 hours