The Desert of Maine

On our way through the state of Maine this summer we stopped at a truly wondrous attraction, the Desert of Maine!  Open spring until fall, this anomaly hosts a variety of interests from campgrounds and a museum to sand art and coach tours! Check out their web site.

Although Count and I arrived after hours, the staff let us take an unguided walking tour before nightfall because we were on our way back to Canada!  However I suspect my celebrity status influenced us gaining entry. Here we our wearing our  VIP sticker passes!

 

The desert of Maine was discovered after the Tuttle family founded their 300 acre farm here in 1797.  After growing potatoes and hay for a few years, severe soil erosion occurred from land clearing, over grazing and not rotating their crops.

The desert sand was deposited here 11,000 years ago during the Pleistocene period (the last ice age) by a glacier.  The camels appeared more recently.

Here we are riding the camels! Count is on the small camel because he is just a baby, and apprentice adventure cat.  I get the big camel because I am the boss.

Usually it would be difficult to stroller through sand. Fortunately, we have 3 wheel drive.

Right! Down to business! I have been drinking lots of juice all day in preparation for my desert visit! First I get to work on digging a hole...

 

...then another, and another, and another... it has to be just right!  Yes Count, that is FOUR holes so far that I have dug. Was that a bolt of lightning?

Peeing in a natural phenomenon requires a perfectly excavated cavity!  I achieve this paragon on my FIFTH hole, according to Count's meticulous tabulating.

Count is not as fussy with his channelling as he is with his enumerating...

 

...and seems comfortable with his first hole, despite its wide, shallow opening and dangerously rounded edges.

Here we are standing on a house that was built in 1938 and buried in sand by 1962! Count would like to inform us that it took 24 years to become entombed.  Thank you, Count. Was that thunder I just heard?

Even trees are enveloped by the sand!

So is this a tree top peeking out of the sand? or a new pine sprouting? Hmm. A mystery wrapped in an enigma wrapped in...sand.

This displays the 69° Fahrenheit during our visit at about 8pm.  Since 1° Fahrenheit equals negative 17.222222° centigrade, Count would like to point out the conversion results in 20.555555555555557° centigrade. Thank you, Count.  There goes the thunder and lightning again!

Naked Fact:  Only America, Belize and the Cayman Islands still utilise German physicist Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit's scale.   

Along the trail, there are many signs with interesting features of the sand dunes. 

 

Daddy took a video of us walking along the path. As you can see, Count has really improved with his leash walking! You may also observe my need to be in the lead position. I am just naturally competitive. It can not be helped.

 

 

Here is a pretty moss bed around a tree, also naturally competitive according to the sign.

During our walk, I discovered some deer tracks!

and here we are enjoying a fabulous sunset with Daddy!

Um, Daddy, are you positive this is the route back to our car? Count says we are at 43.858831° Latitude and -70.153347° Longitude.  Thank you, Count.  Do you HAVE to use thunder and lightning during your tallying?  Now, Since I took an orienteering course last winter perhaps I should be in charge of the map?!

Count Von Count and I give the Desert of Maine 5 meows out of 5!  The staff was friendly, the grounds breathtaking, and the restroom facilities were top notch!  We would like to return some day to camp and participate in sand bottle making!
Do not forget to check out ALL my other blog reviews! Just choose a date under the "More of my Adventures" heading in the upper right column.

© 2012 Aislynne