Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Thursday evening, after we arrived at our campbground in Bass Harbor, we learned that the Bass Harbor Lighthouse is only a 10 minute walk away.  So, toward sunset, we ambled down the road to take a look.

The lighthouse was built in the mid-1800's and has a resident lighthouseman who managed the light.  It was always a red light, but while it started as an oil lamp, in recent decades it was changed to an automated electric light.  The lighthouse is now part of Acadia National Park, and a ranger still lives at the residence to manage the property, but the light runs itself now.  In times of fog, there is also a buoy with a bell to warn off ships.

The walk led down right to the light itself:

However, there was also another path that led East past the lighthouse and gradually down the cliff.  It leads through wind-twisted fir trees standing on deep, green, moist, moss-covered forest floor.  The cliff itself is comprised of many huge, pink granite boulders, which are so common all along the coast of Mount Desert Island.  Here's a photo of Kathy on the path down the cliff...

...and here's a photo of David on the other side of the lighthouse, with the pink granite boulders underfoot:

We began to understand what a feast for our senses this Acadia National Park is going to be!