A hike, a bike and beaches – all free

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Editor’s note: Cheap Thrills is an occational column in the scene that features inexpensive things to do in and around Bangor. Since Jeff Strout is on vacation, this week’s activities are outdoor-related.

Wend up to wind down

By Becky Bowden

Sure it can be crowded … naturally you have to fight the traffic in the summer … of course it may be an out-of-the-way drive. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a better bargain than simply the cost of gas to take a trip up Cadillac Mountain in Acadia National Park.

Want to hike? Try your hand (rather, your feet) at trails that wend from base to summit.

Want to hike, but Homer Simpson-style? Drive up the scenic, 3 1/2-mile paved auto road, park in one of the two lots on opposite faces of the mountain, and explore Cadillac’s summit. There’s a quarter-mile paved walking path that loops the summit proper, or you can wander among the rocks and bushes in any direction and catch gorgeous views — ocean and islands to the east and south, the mainland to the north and west.

On a clear day, if you’re lucky and have eagle eyes (binoculars help, too), you can make out Mount Katahdin to the north. By the same token, clear nights offer soothing starry skyscapes; and try looking southwestward for the Blue Hill Fair fireworks during Labor Day Weekend.

Best of all, the sunrises and sunsets as seen from Cadillac Mountain, though they’re free, are worth millions in “aesthetic” currency.

Me — I’ve made Cadillac my own little holy place, my home away from home. I’ve done the hiking thing, the skywatching thing, the fireworks thing. But what I like to do most is get up there and just stop. Relax. Calm down. Unwind. Think. Reflect. Breathe. All those things that constitute the quieter (and cheaper) aspects of recreation. I’ve gone up there to read, to write, to solve problems, to make decisions, to talk with friends, to stare off into space. I had fully intended to witness this month’s solar eclipse from there as well, but even the most loyal of Cadillac worshipers can forget to set the alarm.

I’ve even marked a milestone birthday atop Cadillac. Trust me — a smooth celebratory beverage and the views conspire to make the big Three-Oh much less traumatic.

So take a ride up, pick a spot to plant yourself, and just gaze down and wonder what all those harried tourists are spending their hard-earned money on …

You never forget how

By Kristen Andresen

In my pre-car days, I rode my bike everywhere, all the time, out of necessity. Looking back, I was in the best shape of my life. So this summer I had the brilliant idea of buying a new bicycle, figuring I could work off those last few pounds of post-college baggage.

That lasted for about an hour. I don’t remember bike riding ever being that strenuous. Nor do I remember even breaking a sweat after riding five miles when I was younger. However, even though the first outing was a bust — a grueling one at that — I have hopped back on and taken a few rides around Orono.

I live within a mile of two great bike path networks: the University of Maine bike path and cross-country skiing trails, and the Orono Land Trust. The UM bike path network is a “catacomb of trails,” according to Dave Henderson of Rose Bike in Orono. The trails — some paved, some dirt — span more than 20 miles in Orono and Old Town and can be reached easily from the UM campus at the Bumstock field — at the end of Rangely Road — and near the tennis courts. There also is access behind the Shop ‘n Save plaza in Old Town. These trails are scenic and mostly well-maintained.

The land trust is a sometimes bumpy ride through forests and fields, across a stream and along the Stillwater River. If you don’t have shocks or a comfortable seat, there are parts of the land trust trails you should avoid. The trails are somewhat scattered throughout Orono, broken up by roads in some places. There is public access to the trails at MBNA in the Stillwater Business Park and on Forest Avenue, past Noyes Drive on the left if you’re heading out of town. My favorite is a trail that runs along the south bank of the Stillwater River, which is accessed by a cedar-chip path about an eighth of a mile past the post office on the Bennoch Road. The trails offer a peaceful ride through land maintained by members of the land trust and private landowners.

Detailed maps of the UM trail system and maps delineating private and public trails in the land trust are available at Rose Bike on Pine Street in Orono.

Life’s a beach (or two)

By Jessica Bloch

I love spending time in the water, near the water and on the water. So when I moved to Maine, I didn’t waste much time before I trekked down to Sand Beach.

Yeah, it’s pretty down there. The sand feels great on the toes. But the crowds and the traffic were too much.

That’s when I found Lamoine Beach.

It took a wrong turn in the peninsula north of Mount Desert Island to discover the nearly empty, quiet, and free swath of beach where I now go when I want to relax near the ocean.

Set on Eastern Bay, Lamoine faces the hills around Salsbury Cove and rivals the scenery at Sand Beach.

On a recent Saturday afternoon in July, with temperatures in the 90s in Bangor, there were only about 50 people at Lamoine. I sat out for 2 1/2 hours and was bothered only by a dog.

And Lamoine is a truly cheap experience. There’s no fee to park or swim. There are no tempting gift shops or food vendors. Most afternoons it’s just you, a bottle of water and a book.

The drawbacks? The water is numbingly cold, so there’s not a whole lot of swimming. The beach is covered by small rocks, which are fun to collect but tough on the feet. Wear some kind of beach shoes if you plan to go walking.

To go to Lamoine, get on Route 1 north in Ellsworth. Turn right at Route 184 and follow signs to Lamoine State Park. Continue straight and you’ll see the ocean rise in front of you. There are also some spectacular water views to the right on the way to the beach.

If you’re looking for an even more remote beach in the same area, try Marlboro. Located off Route 204, the beach area is much smaller and narrower than at Lamoine, but a little less rocky. And in spots, it’s much warmer. A definite plus.