We got up so early that we were downstairs before other guests and before breakfast was ready to start. I went out on the back porch of the inn and settled in one of the rocking chairs to enjoy the coolness of the morning and the beautiful view of Frenchman’s Bay across to Bar Island.

After enjoying yummy blueberry & cream cheese stuffed French Toast, we head out to Little Long Pond in Seal Harbor. Even though I had been on Seal Harbor on previous trips, I always turned left rather than right, never knowing how close I was to this wonderful place. We parked off the road near the main gate entrance across from Bracey Cove. Even though it is a gray day, it is perfect for a cool fall walk.

We chose to go clockwise (a tip given to me by a friend) while everyone else goes counter clockwise (straight ahead as one walks through the gate). It is a wise choice, leaving us to enjoy that side of the pond alone for most of our walk.

There are other trails branching off the main gravel trail. We detour for a bit on the David & Neva Trail which runs close to the edge of the pond and find ourselves in a meadow across from the boathouse.

Returning to the carriage road trail, we see some good foliage color remains. I spot a small evergreen tree with colorful autumn leaves that had fallen from surrounding trees and got caught in its branches as if nature had chosen to decorate it as a Christmas tree.

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The carriage road is level and easy to walk, taking one through a still beautiful forest which provides great shade. We reach the intersection at Post 34. From here one can continue on either to the right which goes to Cobblestone Bridge and Jordan Pond. Choose to go left and the trail takes you The Richard Trail and Harbor Brook Trail. We decided to return the way we came to walk the other side of the pond. After 41 minutes alone, we encounter our first people and a happy dog carrying a stick in his mouth walking ahead of his owner. Slightly wet and muddy, he seems to be having the time of his life.

We stop to rest on a bench at the gate entrance. I notice an overgrown garden across the path with bare apple trees and a lovely half timbered house. How lucky that person is to live so close to this beautiful place. If I lived here, I’d walk here every day.

Lots of birds are flitting in and out of the trees feeding on some kind of berries. I work a bit with my new camera (Nikon Coolpix P950) at capturing photos of them. A lady is yakking in the parking lot and it’s disturbing the birds and me.

We walk up the path to the boathouse. There are kayaks & canoes inside. Would be fun to kayak on the pond. Swimming is allowed during the summer by both humans and dogs. Dogs are allowed off leash here as long as they respond to voice commands and we meet two happy dogs running around, owners following close behind.

After photographing the boathouse and scenery in the area, I notice across the pond there is a woman who is sitting cross legged on the grass in the meadow and meditating. What a perfect place to be at peace and shut out the world.