Edy churchill’s seasonal escapes for september ….

Great time of year to enjoy
an idyllic island
ah, the end of summer. Cooler nights, maybe a little less rain? Are you up for a lovely, leisurely long hike? Peaks Island in Casco Bay offers a five-mile walk along quiet roadsides. You can bike, walk, jog and even skateboard. On our recent visit, my youngest daughter sported a cast, so we opted for the walk.

There is a five-mile walk around the island. By taking a left at the top of the hill when you get off the ferry at Forest City Landing, you will be on Island Avenue. This is a loop that will take you along a residential area with views of Fort Gorges and islands, through a wooded residential area, then along the shore, past the open sea along the whaleback area and back along the south shore to the landing again. About three-quarters of this walk is along the water, with many small coves and rocks to climb out onto if you wish.

If you did not pack a picnic, be aware that the businesses are located primarily near the ferry landing, so plan your day and meals accordingly. We speak from experience and what was a very late lunch or an early dinner. We were also rather dehydrated so do bring along your bottles of water!

We began our walk from the Forest City ferry landing going up the hill. Turn left onto Island Avenue at the ice cream shop. Where the road takes a short zig to the right, there is a beach if you follow the path straight ahead. We thought this was a private beach when we first saw Centennial Beach. Continue back on Island Avenue until you reach Trefethen Avenue on the right. We tried to watch for the Trefethen Cemetery, but it seems to be along a loop on the left of Island Avenue just before the turnoff.

Spectacular views

The walk across the island is slightly uphill, but more shaded. The mailman rescued us, since we also attempted to find the Davis Woods songbird sanctuary listed as No. 6 on the map provided by Casco Bay Lines. We were advised that we would need to backtrack, told this would be difficult to find, and informed it may not have trails. We decided to save the search for another day.

We did find the ice pond located on the right side just as you see the ocean ahead. Turn right onto Seashore Avenue. We were visiting the island the weekend Hurricane Charley was heading up the East Coast. It was one of the warmest Saturdays of the summer, but we were rewarded by the surf!

The views are spectacular on Seashore Avenue! You have the wild surf crashing on rocks and small coves of beaches, some rocky, some pebbly.

Cherry red rosehips were hanging thickly on the rosebushes, along with the occasional lingering bloom. This fruit always brings back memories, first of my Oma picking along the Newport Cliff Walk in Rhode Island. Then, in later years, with a good friend, we raced to Newport after work, picked rosehips until we could no longer see, then put them up into jelly. What a job! I haven’t tried the process again, but seeing those beautiful rosehips always makes me think that maybe I should try again …

Making rock sculptures

We found a unique rock-building beach where fellow visitors are drawn to the long, flat rocks to create piles, cairns and sculptures. My daughter joined in enthusiastically. We spoke with a grandmother who takes her grandkids there on an annual pilgrimage. Apparently these formations have been appearing as long as she can remember. The kids sought out and recognized the spot, got right to work and were on their way. They did not stop long, but this is a memorable spot and activity for them as well as many others. We will have to return! I was not able to find a definitive reason for this building going on, but it seems meditative, healing, making a statement. You can leave your mark.

Continue along Seashore Avenue. Soon the road takes an inland turn. Continue to follow the coastline. You will come upon the 5th Maine Regiment Museum. This is a wonderful spot to take a break. Check out the real hardtack here, and the stained glass memorial “bricks” of soldiers’ names. Be sure not to miss the lovely verandah and views of Whitehead Cliff, the bluff on Cushing Island.

You have almost made the complete circle. Connect onto Island Avenue. If you want a beach detour, watch for Greenwood Avenue and follow it to the sea. Return back to the ferry landing. Grab a meal or snack, maybe an ice cream, as you wait for the ferry back to the mainland.

Finding restrooms on the island appears to be something of an issue. I was forewarned by a friend to be watchful for rest facilities since she’d traveled to the island with children and wasn’t able to locate accommodations. We found three; the first is on Island Avenue in the Community Center, which is a combination police department, fire department and library. The second is in the 5th Maine Museum at 45 Seashore Ave. and the third in a restaurant, the Peaks Island House on Casco Bay, at 20 Island Ave.

Taking the ferry: We picked this island in Casco Bay out of the seven possibilities listed on the summer schedule in effect then. The fall schedule, from Sept. 7 to Oct. 11, offers six destinations. I knew that this short, 20-minute ferry ride would yield a wonderful, healthy walk, and we could have a bite of tasty seafood to boot; I have a fondness for haddock sandwiches.

Tickets: Purchase tickets to Peaks Island in Portland at the Casco Bay Lines ferry terminal on Commercial Street where the Franklin Street Arterial makes a T-intersection with Commercial Street. Be sure to pick up a map. If this is also your first trip, realize that the maps aren’t very clearly printed, nor are they complete. Ferry schedules are available online at www.peaksisland.com/ferry.html

A special holiday schedule is being offered for Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 6. For information, contact www.cascobaylines.com or (207) 774-7871.

Cost: Tickets to the island cost $6 for adults; seniors and children ages 2 to 9 are $3. We parked in the parking garage, which was convenient but cost $1 per hour.

Things to see, do on Peaks Island

There are many beautiful sights from surf to smiles to architecture on Peaks Island. One of my favorite sights was a clothesline beside a house along Island Avenue with a stuffed bunny out to dry, hanging by his ears, and views of Casco Bay beyond. A quiet, heartwarming memory. Beauty is indeed in the eye of the beholder.

To find specific sites, check the map provided by Casco Bay Lines, or another map from www.peaksfest.com to help guide you. Note that the latter map doesn’t identify smaller roads, and a few of our findings weren’t identified on either map.

Here are a few places to look:

• Bike rentals are available at Brad and Wyatt’s ReCycled Bike Shop, along with fishing tackle and pole rentals. The shop is at 115 Island Ave., (207) 766-5631.

• Cemeteries, including Brackett, Trefethen, and Pond Grove. These are numbers 7,9, and 10 on your Casco Bay Lines map.

• The 5th Maine Regiment Museum is at 45 Seashore Ave. During September, the hours are Saturdays and Sundays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Other times are by appointment. There is a suggested $5 donation. For information, check www.fifthmainemuseum.org or call (207) 766-3330.

• Food: The Peaks Island House on Casco Bay, 20 Island Ave., has great views and food. I got two large pieces of fish with my haddock sandwich! For information, contact www.thepeaksislandhouse.com or call (207) 766-4400. Take a seat on the deck if available, as the service appears to be markedly better than in the dining room.

• Fort Gorges in Casco Bay. You can see the fort from your ferry ride and from the west side of the island along Island Avenue.

• An ice cream parlor and gift shop is located just up the hill from the Forest City Landing.

• Tours are offered via golf carts by Island Tours. A popular option, The Spirit of Peaks Island leaves from the Founders Monument at the parking lot. This gives you a chance to find out where the shops, restaurants, inns, summer theater, World War II forts and museums are located. Tours are offered Labor Day through Columbus Day, Tuesday through Sunday at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Contact www.islandtours.home.att.net/ or (207) 766-5514 or cell number (207) 653-2549.

• Whitehead Cliff on Cushing Island. You can see this view along the southern curve of Seashore Avenue. A wonderful vantage point is the veranda of the 5th Maine Museum.