The air has changed to the cooler tones of September but it is still warm enough that my son has stripped off all of his clothes and has claimed this beach as his own. At one he can already tell that this is a special place. He doesn't realize how lucky it is to have an entire beach to ourselves, especially one with such soft sand that glitters in the sun light. But here we are alone on a beach listening to the lapping of the water and the occasional lobster boat coming in. The three miles of shore line on Hermit Island is spotted with sandy beaches, like the one we have claimed, rocky shores and cliffs all which over look Casco Bay.
For three days my family has wandered and loafed, meandered and basked on various of the beaches and rocky outcrops that are connected by mossy trails that criss cross the island. While it is only a mile long it is possible to spend a good hour or two following fairy tale trails over giant boulders and through grassy copes only to pop out on a cliff that over looks the sea. One trail deep in the center of the island feels almost like a rain forest with misty turns and rises. Another traverses the the western edge of the island wandering along cliffs and rocky shores. While you can drive across the island to the beaches we found once we were there we didn't want to get in the car at all.