Monday morning dawned dramatically, didn’t it. The cold gold glow of pre-sunrise pushed the cobwebs from my early-morning, post-Super Bowl daze. It didn’t take long for the sky’s golds to fade to dusty gray-pinks as the sun rose into a layer of high thin overcast, beginning its push on the thermometer that registered 16 degrees.

Tuesday’s opener wasn’t too shabby either albeit less spectacular and shorter lived. The rest of the week was not worth writing home about, was it? OK, Friday morning was a little different, particularly if you just love shoveling snow.

If you’re the type to take note of this sort of thing, you’re probably happy that the morning show in the east is getting earlier. Back in December when the days were at their shortest, it was easy to witness the event around 7:10 a.m. Now you have to get up about 25 minutes earlier. Better yet we’ve gained about an hour and a half of daylight since Dec. 21 when the sun started its march northward again.

I walk the dog the first thing in the morning, and on winter’s shortest days the sun rises right over Stephen King’s house. Now it’s moved up the street, or about eight degrees measured by my finger-at-arm’s-length calculation. (Each finger represents 2 degrees.) By June it’ll be close to the water tower.

We had a great break from winter over the weekend – before Thursday’s snowstorm hit – with temperatures reaching into the 40s and bright sunny skies. It was almost like taking a trip south. Funny, isn’t it, around this time of year when the temperature gets above 30 degrees we run around in T-shirts commenting on how warm it is? Last fall, before we became “temperature hardened,” we shivered and shook when the mercury dropped to the 40s.

Sunday was a workday for me, so my wife and I decided Saturday would be a good day to get some fresh air. We weren’t up for a strenuous outing, so we decided a drive to Schoodic Point seemed in order. The lure of fresh air and wonderful scenery and the ease of taking it all in from the loop road was too much to resist. Besides, there’s always a side trip to the L.L. Bean Factory Store or Renys to sweeten the pot.

The tide was low but coming when we stopped first at Frazer Point at Mosquito Harbor. A brisk breeze coming off the land put a chop on the water, bouncing around a bit a loon in winter plumage just off shore. Ice cakes lined the shore, seemingly out of place in the relative warmth of the day.

We parked again on a turnout near the end of Schoodic Point overlooking Arey Cove and walked back along the road to get a better look at a flock of eider ducks riding the incoming waves. As larger waves broke over a kelp-covered ledge, the birds would duck under the crest and pop up on the other side. If the wave didn’t break, the ducks simply rode it in serpentine fashion. We clambered over snow-covered rocks to the bare, flat ledges to get closer to the feathered antics. The snowcapped shoreline contrasted with the brown of the seaweed, the pinks and blacks of the ledges and the blue of the sky.

Awhile later we walked to the parking area at the road’s end and walked down on the ledges to marvel at a Thunder-Hole-like display. Larger waves would roll into a wide depression in the shore, slam against the end wall like a freight train and white foam would fly 15 or 20 feet into the air, whipped seaward by the brisk breeze. To the eastern side of the point, waves were rolling into the mouth of Arey Cove and breaking on the near shore in a flourish of white.

At least a half-dozen other folks were taking in the views at the end of the point, and we saw another half-dozen or so other folks out walking the road, taking in the fresh air and great views. Even a short visit to this wonderland is rejuvenating. Put it on your list of places to visit if it’s not already there.

From Ellsworth, take Route 1 north to West Gouldsboro and hang a right on Route 186. Follow it to Winter Harbor and watch for the big sign for Schoodic Point. From the east on Route 1 turn left onto Route 186 at Gouldsboro and follow it through Prospect Harbor toward Winter Harbor and turn left at the Schoodic Point sign. Don’t forget your binoculars and a camera.

And if other family members need an incentive to get out of the house, promise them a stop at the L.L. Bean store or Renys, or maybe Helen’s for some strawberry pie. If that doesn’t get ’em off the couch, nothing will!

Maine Snowshoe Series race

If bouncing about the woods on snowshoes at breakneck speed is your bag, don’t miss the fourth annual Maine Snowshoe Series Sunday for a jaunt around foot and jeep trails with short climbs and descents. The winner gets bragging rights. Registration begins at 11 a.m. at Craig Brook National Fish Hatchery in East Orland and the race begins at noon. The $5 entry fee will benefit the Great Pond Mountain Conservation Trust. For more information call Peter Kinney at 288-9498 or e-mail him at pktrldrt@midmaine.com. If there is no snow or too much the weather date is Feb. 20.

Paddling courses start soon

If you’re looking to get a jump on paddling season and want to improve or learn new skills, consider taking a course or two. Keep an eye out for offerings at local YMCAs or YWCAs and community colleges or technical schools.

Paddling friend Karen Francoeur of Castine Kayak Adventures reminded me the other day that she is running a series of classes and clinics starting next month. Check out www.castinekayak.com for a list of upcoming offerings, or call 866-3506.

Paddle Smart symposium May 14

And while you have your calendar out, mark May 14 for the Fifth Annual Paddle Smart Safety Symposium in Bangor. This year the location is new, the YWCA (Bangor’s YWCA and YMCA have merged), and the event has been moved to a Saturday from the past’s Friday evenings in hopes of giving families more of a chance to attend.

This year’s event promises to be as educational and as fun as past years, and new this year will be the chance to try out kayaks in one of the YWCA’s two pools. The symposium is free as always. If you’re experienced or new to the sport, or simply curious about kayaking, this is the place to be on May 14. I’ll see you there!

Jeff Strout can be reached at 990-8202 or by e-mail at jstrout@bangordailynews.net.