Catnaps & Ghost Tours & The Most Beautiful View You Have Ever Seen

 Today I woke up in a timely manner, feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Most of the day, I was focused on getting content. I filmed a day in the life video, and it proved to be harder than expected. I get it now, when influencers say their life is hard. It was difficult to stay consistent with filming--sometimes when all I wanted to do was sit, breathe, and enjoy the moment, I had to pull out my phone and record. I am definitely sticking with writing. Creating content is hard! 

Despite it all, visiting some of the locations to specifically film content was fun. Schoodic Peninsula was beautiful, with crystalline, sparkling water, the bluest I had ever seen it. I am obsessed with all the granite that is found here. I wandered off to film content, capturing an awesome shot of a passing boat through my binoculars. It was definitely one of the prettiest places I experienced, and I was in love with how the water twinkled under the sun.

When we got back to the cabin, we dimmed the lights and I took a nice catnap. However, I was sleepy the whole rest of the day. We embarked on our Bar Harbor Ghost Tour with our charming tour guide, Daniel. He led us through town, most places we were all too familiar with. I thought it was awesome how the "sketchy alley" he led us through was the one we had been parking in since day one! As a tour guide myself, I appreciated his storytelling skills and his ability to seemingly transport us back in time as he was narrating. I personally took notes on how to improve my own tour, and jotted down some of his jokes to translate into my script. I am now in bed, ready to fall asleep. I am sad to go to sleep and wake up tomorrow knowing it is our last day!

I Can't Believe Tomorrow is the Last Day

Flower at Schoodic Peninsula

 This morning I woke up feeling a lot better than the day before because I actually got more than two hours of sleep and didn’t go see the sunrise at 4:00 a.m.! I did have to rush to get ready super quick, though, because I said I would braid Kira’s hair this morning. When I got back to my cabin, Edith was there with Kira, so I also braided her hair and still made it on time to the van. Shout out to Libby for making everyone sandwiches today! I headed out with the white van squad at around 8:00 a.m. towards Schoodic Peninsula. At all of the different locations we ended up, I was videoing my entire day of views and experiences for one of my Reels for Dale’s class. Then, about half of us went to Acadia National Park and drove through Park Loop Road with a few quick stops. Afterward, we went back to the campgrounds at around 3:00 p.m. and Mallory and I decided to go walk to the KOA store and get some things for breakfast. On the way back, we stopped by the Lobster Trap Cafe and I got a milkshake. Mallory and I also videoed ourselves drinking apple juice and a milkshake, respectively, and at the end of Mallory’s video, there was a loud noise and she quite visibly froze. I’ve definitely laughed at that a few times since 3:30 p.m. today! Later, we had hot dogs for dinner again and went into Bar Harbor for the most interesting ghost tour. I had never been on one, so this experience was really neat! Now, I’m back at the cabin writing this and talking to Mallory and Libby.

Future National Geographic writer maybe?

 

Kimberly the harbor seal pup 

I got the incredible opportunity to help tube feed a seal today. Rosemary Seton, my interview contact who is the stranding coordinator of Allied Whale, emailed me this morning to come see  a seal that they had rescued last night. I showed up a little before Seton and I met Megan Krussman, a research assistant for Allied Whale’s cetacean team, and it was her first time tube feeding a seal too.

Seton arrived in the transport truck and unlocked the basement, leading us to where the seal was kept overnight. When we got in, we saw a lively (and adorable), gray spotted seal that took every ounce of my willpower to not cuddle with. While I stood bewildered by this wild animal so close to me, I learned she was more hurt than I realized, Krussman noticed that she wasn’t moving her left flipper and Seton told me the seal was very malnourished.

So Seton and Krussman set up a glucose/pedialyte concoction to hydrate the pup, feeding her through a tube down her throat. I was worried for the pup but Seton kept encouraging the seal saying, “this’ll make you feel better..see it’s not so bad..you’re doing so good,” and it settled my anxiousness for the seal.

It was clear that Seton loves these animals and saving them isn’t just a job, it’s her passion. After she was fed, I helped them transport her via crate to the truck where she’d make her trek over the next 3 hours to the rehabilitation center. They even let me name the seal Kimberly, after the restaurant she was found next to. I felt like a real journalist today, and I hope I can continue to do work where I feel like I make a difference.

Sporadic stops and Father’s Day thoughts: Acadia Day 4!

 Sporadic stops and Father’s Day thoughts: Acadia Day 4! 

Day four was our opportunity for make up shots, clips and tourism moments in Acadia and Bar Harbor. It was a relaxed day, much needed after a poor night of on/off sleep and an early wake up call to go to Schoodic Peninsula. 

I took a moment at each of our stops beside the water to think about my dad, with it being Father’s Day I found myself missing him extra hard. I was first introduced to the ocean and many of my current day interests through him, including my love and passion for sport journalism. The water, but specifically the ocean, makes him feel like a kid and at peace with himself- noting to my sister and I once that he only feels at home with a body of water nearby. 

I imagined what would be his favorite part of the view, and took many mental pictures to describe to him the next time I see him. I need to bring him back here.

After taking in the many a ocean and glacier carved views from different stops on the peninsula (and me absolutely demolishing a Redbull) we had a choice: head into Bar Harbor for some retail and ice cream therapy, or head back to certain parts of the park and eventually our campground. I took the latter choice, hoping a nap was in my near future. It was not. We stopped back at sand beach, then got a closer look at Thunder Hole and attempted to stop at Jordan Pond House for their historically famous Popovers. I say attempted, as any hopes for visiting were quickly squandered due to every last parking spot being taken. After an almost delirious van-ride back to our KOA, I took what felt like a 100 year nap to the smoothing sounds of the birds, other campers, and Big Bang Theory. 

BABY ITS COLD OUTSIDE

Me when I eat a hotdog

Hello there fellow ruffians. As you may know, my name is Abrielle Kate Maddison and I don't quite like the cold. However, I love to be a travlling squirrel and hop around to different places of the world, and unfortunately not all places have the ability to be as warm as Texas. This is a sad fact I have come to learn quite aggressively this week. Kate Maddison is not the biggest fan of the cold, and neither is her body. The second we stepped our grimy little toes into Maine, I got a sniffle. Then I got the chills. Then the cough, And now, the light at the end of tunnel! I am praying so aggressively for my body to finally rid itself of these aggressive allergies and allow me to fully enjoy and take in our last day on Mount Desert Island. Additionally, I'm nervous for our 4 mile hike with sand in our bags tomorrow. I'm not fully positive that the little amount of sleep I have gotten can support that trek, but I am highly optimistic that me undeniable charm and charisma will give me an extra boost of energy as I set a wonderful example for the class and walk up that hill ever-so nonchalantly (somebody please gas me up). 

Be there soon, Chipotle!

On June 15, 2025, we started our day at 8am AGAIN. I was ready early this morning and had a blast pretending I owned a deli shop while making everyone sandwiches. We visited Schoodic Point first before visiting Thunderhole. Then we came back to camp for a couple hours where we caught up on homework and edited photos for our posts. Jess fired up the grill and cooked AWESOME hot dogs for us again, and I tore those up. And then the part of this trip I had been waiting anxiously for was here, and we finally got to go on the Bar Harbor Ghost Tour. I loved that our tour guide was the owner’s husband, and how great at storytelling he was. His voice flowed each story naturally and got creepy when it got to intense parts. Also the sun setting and it getting darker during the tour really set the scene. Afterwards, we got to talk to our tour guide, Daniel, and shared some good laughs on the way back to the KOA. Now, I’m sitting on my bed in the cabin with Emma and Mallory and talking about the Chipotle I am going to tear up in the Maryland airport on our way back home in a couple days. I’m sad about going home, but so unbelievably happy for Chipotle.

My Morning Mayhem and Giggles

📷: Libby Sanchez

Today I woke up feeling very rested as I got eight and a half hours of sleep after the crazy day I had before. Emma and I layed in bed for a little longer today and then we headed to the bathrooms to get ready. Emma went into a bathroom and I waited for one as it looked like the middle one was in use and the other two were as well. After about 10 minutes of waiting, none of the rooms had opened up yet and Kira walked up to the middle one I thought was occupied and casually opened the door and it made me giggle. I came back to the cabin and found Emma braiding Kira and Edith’s hair and it was super cute and just screamed girlhood. Once we were all ready, we piled into the glorious white van and headed to Schoodic Peninsula. This spot was very pretty and we all had plenty of opportunities to get pictures and videos. When we finished here, the group split in half, one went to Bar Harbor and the other headed back to a different part of the park, Park Loop Road. I went to Park Loop Road because I didn’t film anything the first day. I wanted the opportunity to grab more videos there for my reels, also Emma, my twin, was going so I obviously had to go as well. We stopped at Sand Beach, Thunder Hole and attempted Jordan Pond but the parking lot was too full. Then we headed back to the KOA and Emma and I went to the convenient store to grab some snacks for tomorrow. We then came back to the cabin to do our school work for the day, and now I'm writing this.

Out the door and into the Carriage

When I heard the knock on the door, I knew we were in trouble. I jumped down from the top bunk and rushed out — we were running late. My apologies to everyone I kept waiting. You’d think the second alarm would have done its job. We made it to the horse carriage tour just in time, thankfully. Upon our arrival, I asked Helena for some hair ties to braid my hair and tame the nest of strands before the horses mistook it for hay. I gathered myself in the restroom and walked on over towards the gate.

Once we arrived at the stables, I ended up being separated from Kira and Candice. They didn’t even notice until halfway through the ride! After getting over the split, I enjoyed the experience. Our guide, Cindy, shared fascinating facts about Acadia and I asked her a few questions of volunteer work in the park. Her knowledge of the moss and trees stuck with me — she was fantastic. By the afternoon, I was wiped out. I took the van back to the KOA and listened to Gracie Abrams while reflecting on everything we’ve done so far. Later, Kira and I picked up warm lobster rolls from the Islander Shack. We brought them to the shore and had breakfast by the water while sharing a warm conversation about our siblings. The rest of the day was spent working and catching up. Despite the chaotic morning, I’d say we pulled it together. Now I’m getting ready for bed, hoping the alarm does its job this time.