Photos and text as seen in Downeast Coastal Press
Cobscook is a Maliseet-Passamaqoudy word for "boiling tides".
Cobscook Bay Park -by Joseph S. Palmer
Cobscook Bay State Park is surrounded by the salt waters of Cobscook Bay, 4 miles south of Dennysville. The park contains 888 acres of land and gives magnificent views of the ebb and flow of the tides.
Across from our campsite were two small islands. At low tide we treked across the mudflats to do some exploring. The island we chose offers a fascinating geological history of the area. The name "Cobscook" is a Maliseet-Passamaqoudy word for "boiling tides". With the changes of tides, the water seems to bubble. The tides on average rise to 24 feet, with some reaching as high as 28 feet.
Across from our campsite were two small islands. At low tide we treked across the mudflats to do some exploring. The island we chose offers a fascinating geological history of the area. The name "Cobscook" is a Maliseet-Passamaqoudy word for "boiling tides". With the changes of tides, the water seems to bubble. The tides on average rise to 24 feet, with some reaching as high as 28 feet.
One island was decorated a single giant pine tree growing on the ledge. How could it survive surrounded by salt water?
We discovered the park to be a heaven for bird-watching. One camp assistant said the park has more than 200 species of birds, including the America bald-eagle.
We were fortunate to see a nest in a tall spruce on our campsite with fluffy, white - feathered chicks. We speculated they were raptors of some type.
Although we cooked all our meals on an open fire pit, early mornings we drove a short distance to a local friendly grocery store for our coffee. We camped two days and have vivid memories of the park's beauty and facilities.
We discovered the park to be a heaven for bird-watching. One camp assistant said the park has more than 200 species of birds, including the America bald-eagle.
We were fortunate to see a nest in a tall spruce on our campsite with fluffy, white - feathered chicks. We speculated they were raptors of some type.
Although we cooked all our meals on an open fire pit, early mornings we drove a short distance to a local friendly grocery store for our coffee. We camped two days and have vivid memories of the park's beauty and facilities.
TRUCK CAMPING at Cobscook Bay by Joseph S. Palmer
Prior to our oldest daughter's wedding, which took place on Sunday July 3, we had confirmed a campsite reservation at Cobscook Bay State Park. We knew that after the wedding we would need to get away from it all, "...a walk with nature..." kind of idea.
Put simply, we would be going truck camping with two tents and a bug shelter, four bicycles, four kayaks, firewood, and of course camera equipment. (Check out the wooden rig we built to accommodate our toys.)
Prior to our oldest daughter's wedding, which took place on Sunday July 3, we had confirmed a campsite reservation at Cobscook Bay State Park. We knew that after the wedding we would need to get away from it all, "...a walk with nature..." kind of idea.
Put simply, we would be going truck camping with two tents and a bug shelter, four bicycles, four kayaks, firewood, and of course camera equipment. (Check out the wooden rig we built to accommodate our toys.)
We never been camping previously, but Doug Thompson and Kirsten Jo Palmer Thompson, who taught school in China two years ago and now in the Philippines, were seasoned campers. The four of us made a good team.
After we arrived at Cobscook State Park, the campsite we ended up with was for small groups, with an
Adirondack shelter and a fire pit right on the bay. We parked the truck and unloaded the kayaks . The tide was high and I immediately took a panoramic photo of the bays, looking toward the ocean. Before we unpacked, we jumped into our kayaks and paddled around the cove.
Speaking for the four of us, I think we experienced the sense of peace and tranquility to which John Muir's quote refers to. No mobile phones, TVs, iPads, iPhones or computers- just the cry of gulls and the squawking of crows.
Later in the afternoon of our first day, Doug spotted a nest of baby chicks in a 40 to 50-foot-high spruce tree on our campsite. Through binoculars the fluffy chicks seemed more white than grey with black around the eyes. Doug speculated they might be baby owls. After checking with Ethan Davis, a park assistant, he thought the chicks to be baby falcons. Off and on for the rest of the day, I looked with excitement at the nest through binoculars.
Our two days at Cobscook Park went fast. We cooked on the fire pit. Talked among ourselves. Listened to the silence. We trekked across a mud flat and rock weed to a nearby island at low tide. The pristine beauty of Cobscook Bay gave us a sense of inner peace.
After we arrived at Cobscook State Park, the campsite we ended up with was for small groups, with an
Adirondack shelter and a fire pit right on the bay. We parked the truck and unloaded the kayaks . The tide was high and I immediately took a panoramic photo of the bays, looking toward the ocean. Before we unpacked, we jumped into our kayaks and paddled around the cove.
Speaking for the four of us, I think we experienced the sense of peace and tranquility to which John Muir's quote refers to. No mobile phones, TVs, iPads, iPhones or computers- just the cry of gulls and the squawking of crows.
Later in the afternoon of our first day, Doug spotted a nest of baby chicks in a 40 to 50-foot-high spruce tree on our campsite. Through binoculars the fluffy chicks seemed more white than grey with black around the eyes. Doug speculated they might be baby owls. After checking with Ethan Davis, a park assistant, he thought the chicks to be baby falcons. Off and on for the rest of the day, I looked with excitement at the nest through binoculars.
Our two days at Cobscook Park went fast. We cooked on the fire pit. Talked among ourselves. Listened to the silence. We trekked across a mud flat and rock weed to a nearby island at low tide. The pristine beauty of Cobscook Bay gave us a sense of inner peace.
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