A Queen's Glittering View from Mount Battie

Painting of the cove and the islands from J.M. Rogers Gallery in Lincolnville Beach.

I've been many beautiful places, but haven't seen anything more breathtaking than the view from Mount Battie in Camden Hills State Park. H. and I drove there today; the auto road was open till 4 P.M.

The views I've seen that rival this have stretched out before me when I was:

• Standing on the humble little observation deck at Nauset Light Beach; on Coast Guard Bridge; or at Wellfleet Bay Wildlife Sanctuary on Cape Cod
• Walking the Shore Path in Bar Harbor or looking at Thunder Hole in Acadia National Park
• Driving along the California coastline with three girlfriends when I was in my twenties
• In New Hampshire's Pinkham Notch
• At Greenwich Point, CT
• In Vermont
• In the mountains of Steamboat Springs, CO 

But I think Mount Battie may top them all. Years ago, H. and I hiked up to it. We also camped nearby with Figgy, and explored along the mountaintop with her when she was about two.

This afternoon, it was freezing, the wind was blowing, and we were bundled tip to toe in hats, gloves and cozy jackets. We climbed to the top of the tower, then came back down and I stood there, just stood there--even after H. took cover in the car--breathing in that view, one of the greatest gifts I've ever received. And the panels depicting the sweeping vista at our feet identified places on land and in the water, as far as the eye could see on a clear day: Owls Head [where our niece and her husband live]; Spruce Head [where she and her sister grew up]; Isleboro; Vinalhaven; Isle au Haut [where H., mini Figgy and I went to stay in a lighthouse keeper's house converted to a B&B]; The Graves; and many more.

Stand at the top of Mount Battie and you are a queen, counting the stunning jewels in your coveted tiara: aquamarine sky; blue topaz water; deep emerald trees; pearl-white clouds; diamond sunshine. I could never ever be richer than that. And I am so grateful to be bringing this vision home in my heart. We head back tomorrow.

One day, when the weather is nice, I want to open a folding chair on Mount Battie and just sit there for a long time. Good night. Smooth sailing.

TCOY

1. Took two short walks today.
2. Salad [Martha brought it for dinner].
3. Looked up at stars.
4. Six of us shared about 1 1/4 pints of ice cream after spaghetti dinner. Just enough but not too much per person!