|
 |
|
| A couple of years ago Hali started kicking around the idea of going to Maine to shoot the Atlantic Puffins during their mating season. This June we finally made it happen. Hali did her usual outstanding job of planning, and the trip turned out to be much better than we had anticipated -- especially considering that the forecast was calling for rain all week long! We drove up the entire Maine coast over a period of a few days. We stayed as far North as Jonesport, but we drove all the way to the border (Lubec, Quoddy Head). We then took an inland route back across the state to find and photograph Moose. We stayed one night in Rockport on both ends of the trip. The remainder of our trip was divided between Jonesport and Millinocket. Although we *did* see some rain, we managed to get enough clear weather to get some pictures taken. We also got lucky with the weather during our two main events: the puffin tour and the moose tour. We visited Schoodic Point a couple of times (part of Acadia NP), as well as Moosehorn NWR (way up there near Canada). We also visited Baxter SP, and many of the dirt roads Southwest of the park from Kokadjo to Millinocket. While in Jonesport, we stayed at the cottages owned by the puffin tour company (Norton Tours). While in Millinocket, we stayed at a house owned by the moose tour company (Maine Photo Tours). Our personal guide for the moose tour was Vicki Nolan -- a wonderfully animated and extremely knowledgeable guide. We got a little taste of what it might be like to live an hour from a supermarket. We saw beautiful ocean front homes all along the Maine coast. We made friends with a Porcupine. We drove a rented SUV for 1900 miles. We even drove it down a dirt road that we later found out was an ATV trail. My least favorite moment came when we practiced our field first-aid skills after Hali took a nasty fall that banged her up pretty good *and* knocked out her favorite camera for a few days (thanks large to the ladies at Bangor Photo for coming to the rescue). My favorite moment came when we were stalking a bull moose. Hali and I were separated along two divergent tracks through ankle-deep mud. After only a few moments, I was alone with my personal escort of 500 mosquitoes and perhaps 10 million black flies. I skirted the river water carefully, not knowing if the bull moose was already behind me. Then in the absolute silence of the Maine wilderness a Loon let loose with a series of tremolo calls that echoed around the river (here is link for that sound). All in all, it was another great trip. Major kudos to Hali for all of her outstanding planning! We hope you enjoy our images. Happy trails, Mike & Hali |
| Email Mike | Email Hali | Help |