Friends, I have one last travel story for this month. Hope you enjoyed this series, as much as I did. And, if you have any travel stories of your own you’d like to share—please do so in the comments section!
One of my favorite travel memories, didn’t happen to me. In other words, what I am about to tell you is not an experience of my own. Rather, it is one I witnessed on the top of Cadillac Mountain, in Maine, just before sunrise.
Now, I realize most people on their vacations rarely ever see the sunrise. But, as it is one of the best times of day for photography*—and I married a landscape photographer—I’ve seen quite a few. Only this sunrise in Maine sticks out the most to me, and not because of the view.
As Mount Desert Island is one of the first places in the United States to see the sunrise each day, and Cadillac Mountain offers the best vantage point, it can get pretty crowded there in the morning. And when Tony and I arrived that day, quite a few cars were already in the parking lot.
After finding a spot to park, Tony and I each donned our camping headlamps, and turned them on. He grabbed his camera bag and tripod. I swiped two thick blankets from the trunk of our car. Then we headed to the side of the mountain overlooking Bar Harbor.
The dark of night was beginning to lift, and I could see perched all long the rock face were at least twenty or thirty more photographers, all standing behind their tripods. We took the designated path leading us over to the left, where I found the perfect rock to sit on. I called out to Tony, letting him know I had found my spot. As he continued to search for his shot, I wrapped myself in my blankets and sat down.
Then, I waited.
As I sat in my cocoon, the sky gradually changed color. A band of orange appeared to split the sky from the earth, creating an ombre effect. The black sky faded into navy, then blue, then a lighter blue until it mixed with yellow, and finally orange. Just as I could begin to fully make out the mountain top around me, a family came along and started to set up camp just below the rock where I was sitting.
First two woman arrived, both carrying children wrapped in comforters. Then two men appeared, followed by another couple carrying mugs and a glass pot from a coffee maker. It was filled with tea bags steeping in what I assumed was hot water. They carried it to the middle of their group, where it was covered with blankets to keep warm.
Just as the sun began to break, they pulled the coffeepot out of its hiding place, and began pouring mugs of tea—one for each person who was there.
Collectively, they looked sleepy, yet happy. In hushed, morning tones, the family spoke a language I didn’t recognize. Then, just as the sun began to break, they pulled the coffeepot out of its hiding place, and began pouring mugs of tea—one for each person who was there. Finally, one of the woman pulled out a half eaten bag of potato chips, and began passing it around.
Breakfast.
As I sat watching the sunrise, I couldn’t help but sneak peeks at the good time they were having. I didn’t want to be nosy, but the simplicity of the moment struck me.
In our culture, there is a pull to make everything epic.
In our culture, there is a pull to make everything epic—a vacation, a night out, having people over for dinner, etc. That having meaningful moments with those we love, requires planning, a big production, and possibly fancy food. But here was this family, drinking tea out of a coffee pot, eating old potato chips for breakfast—and looking like they were having the time of their lives.
I realized in that moment, I wanted what they had. I wanted more moments that were about being with people, not about what we did or how we did it. That morning, the sunrise was beautiful, but the view I took with me is the one of that family.
The only thing epic about this year, is the pandemic. But it is my hope… this season is reminding us how important just being together really is.
In this season, none of our trips or time with family, has gone how we pictured. The only thing epic about this year, is the pandemic. But it is my hope that we all have been able to enjoy simpler moments with loved ones. That this season is reminding us how important just being together really is.
What is one of your simplest yet most favorite memories with family or friends?
What made that time so special?
Photo By: Tony Schlies
*Want to see more photo’s from our travels? Check out Tony’s photography here.
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