Black Dikes

The tip of the Schoodic Peninsula is actually DOWN EAST from Bar Harbor, but the only way to get to it on land is by driving NORTH and EAST and then SOUTH.  Giving, or getting directions around here is enough to drive a sane man crazy and the Schoodic Peninsula is a good example of it. 

This is a typical scene on the Schoodic Peninsula which is blessed with at least five harbors - Winter Harbor, Birch Harbor, Prospect Harbor and although it doesn't have harbor in its name, Corea (pronounced like where the war was - the one that came between WWII and Viet Nam).  But that was only four (you win a prize of you picked up on that).  Actually, the picture of the water front building is what's left of Wonsquirt Harbor.  Pictured below is Birch Harbor.  You won't find many quaint tourist shops or attractions on the peninsula, just hard working folks.  Judging by the number of lobster boats in the harbors, lobster traps on the docks, and in front of folks homes, my guess is the Maine (if not only) industry is "lobstering".   The lack of tourist trappings only serves to make these towns all the more quaint - if quaint were a liquid, it would be oozing from every crack in the road.

The Schoodic Bay Acadia National Park is down (no kidding) on the southern most tip, and the scenic drive is absolutely breathtaking.  Most of the 10(?) mile loop along the coast is one way traffic and what a great idea that is.  I am more than sure if it were two way traffic, there would be countless "head on" accidents

Now then, if I were Red Foxx (for those of you that remember who he was), the title I gave to this post might have an entirely different meaning!  Black Dikes are actually

formations of lava rock. 

Through subsurface pressures, magma flowed into the cracks in the granite.  The pressure and temperature pushed the granite cracks wider and the molten magma made its way to the surface, cooled, solidified, and formed these streaks of black lava rock, some more than a mile wide.

I guess I have said it ad nausium.. but I have to say it again.   The Maine coastline is absolutely heart stoppingly beautiful, rugged, and largely (and thankfully) unspoiled by human intrusions.  The state posts small signs every so often, signs to the effect "leave no trace" and "do not remove any rocks or pebbles".  Becky and I love this state (hummm... bet I've said that once or twice as well) and our impression of it has to be a very popular one judging by its pristine, uncluttered geology.  "pristine, unaltered" I was redundant there I know, simply a case of moving fingers before engaging brain but it does serve to dredge up a old memory - of one of my favorite brothers.

David was only about seven (a guess) when he became very well known in our home town.  His teacher had given the class an assignment of some sort, one involving government, politics or the like.  Brother David decided he wanted to include a picture of the president (then Dwight D Eisenhower) - so he wrote the White House a letter which went something like this...

Dear Mr. President

 

My name is David Sacchetti and I am doing a class project.  Please send me an autographed picture, signed by you, with your name on it.

A few weeks later an autographed picture of Eisenhower appeared.  The story appeared in our local newspaper and like I said - at the tender age of seven, he became my famous brother.