Quoddy Head Light sees the first sunrise in the US. I had already experimented with sleep in the car in the condo parking lot. This was the first field trial. I was looking forward to pulling into Lubec for a beer at Lubec Brewing Company. The fact that Janelle and I had tried, and failed, three times previously should have told be how that was going to go. I walked up to the take out window at the brewery at 5:05 PM. With a five o’clock closing time. With some whining, I was able to get one beer for the beer garden, with the promise to be gone by 5:30. Done.

Every seat, in every restaurant in Lubec was booked for dinner. So it was off to the IGA with no plan. I scored a soggy pre-made “Italian” sandwich, a bag of chips, and a bottle of water. Lesson learned. Secure dinner before dark. And bring enough dinnerware to work from raw materials as necessary.

Back to the car to enjoy my meal and settle down for the night. And another lesson. Park in a manner that puts the car completely level – bow to stern and port to starboard. My very serviceable synthetic shell sleeping bad, and synthetic covered sleeping pad are extremely slippery. Any slope results a slow slump into an uncomfortable pile.

Up the next morning at 5:30 AM and West Quoddy Head Light for sunrise. From pitch black to full sun over ninety minutes. Stunning. And surprisingly well attended. While I was slightly perturbed by people continually stepping in front of me, it never occurred to me that I could actually command the location and behavior of the fifty or sixty people there. It never occurred to me. But there were plenty of others there that were fully prepared to take that role. I suspect they also had the freedom not to be vaccinated. Just making assumptions.