Ocean Surf

Posted 28 Comments by dogear6
Acadia National Park Mount Desert Island, Maine
Acadia National Park
Mount Desert Island, Maine

Just as the wave cannot exist for itself,
but is ever a part of the heaving surface of the ocean,
so must I never live my life for itself,
but always in the experience which is going on around me.
~ Albert Schweitzer

In my last post, I mentioned the pleasure of just enjoying Acadia National Park, of sitting on the warm rocks and being in the moment.

One thing that really encouraged this was the sound of the ocean surf.  It was very loud and drowned out everything else, from other people talking and laughing to my own thoughts banging around in my head.  Listening to the ocean is timeless and many have written about it.  I doubt much has changed in Acadia in the last 50 years – the trees are undoubtedly bigger and there’s probably more facilities for tourists to use.  But the rocks, the ocean, the mountains – they’ve been there for a long, long time and will continue to be there for years into the future.

It wasn’t hard relaxing, closing my eyes, and just listening to the surf hit the rocks over and over again.  There was a rhythm to it – several soft waves, the water barely lapping the rocks.  Then a strong wave would come in, making a bigger sound against the rocks.  This might happen once or twice, then the water drew back and sent a hard wave, the water spraying all up and over.  Sometimes it ran along the edges of the rocks, curling and twisting up and back down again.  Then the wave would soften, and the cycle would start again.

I put together several videos to share of the waves and the noise as they came to share.  It’s pretty loud and you might have to turn down the volume on your computer.  The first clip has a photographer in the far right corner – oh look!  my favorite boy toy!  The second clip is the same Sand Beach, but a close up of the water only.  The noise is even louder on this.  The third is from the rocks that are along the Oceanview Trail, between Sand Beach and Otter Point.  It’s not as loud – the wind wasn’t as strong that day.

The three great elemental sounds in nature are
the sound of rain, the sound of wind in a primeval wood,
and the sound of outer ocean on a beach.
~ Henry Beston

Maine (Acadia National Park) Travel

dogear6 View All →

I am a backyard adventurer, philosopher and observer, recording my life in journals and photographs. Visit my blog at www.livingtheseasons.com.

28 Comments Leave a comment ›

    • Thanks Cee! I’m sorry now that I didn’t tape it longer. Colleen (over at The Chatter Blog) once told me she would have loved if it was another 10 minutes. I would have too, but I didn’t think at the time that I’d enjoy it so much later.

  2. Pingback: Acadia National Park | Living The Seasons
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  4. That sound is ever soothing. Chatter Master directed me here as she said that one of my recent posts reminded her of this one. I feel better for having watched/listened to your recording a couple of times. Thank you for that.

    • Thank you for the wonderful compliment. I looked at your blog and wasn’t sure what post Colleen was referring to. When you have a chance, leave me a link.

  7. This is the next best thing to being there. Wonderful videos and good sound to keep in the background while I’m writing! Thanks for sharing this with all of us. Also a nice memory for you when you need to relax after a hard day’s work.

  8. I SO ENJOYED VIEWING THE OCEAN AND LISTENING TO THE WAVES……LOVE IT. NOTHING BEATS THAT FOR RELAXATION……THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR INCLUDING THE SOUND………..LOVE, MOM

  12. Nothing relaxes me more than the sound of the ocean. :) We didn’t get to Mount Desert Island when visiting Acadia National Park last year. Your image is beautiful.

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