Update 22: Bar Harbor

Update 22:  Bar Harbor Aug16-21

The old Victorian houses in each small town we travel through still manage to fascinate us. As the tide moved out the brown mud and sharp rocks became visible. In some places boat sat on the rocks waiting for the incoming tide. In Millbridge a large boat stayed moored way out in the middle of the cove where some water remained even on the outgoing tide. All around the boat, closer to shore, were the rocks and mud. We passed through the town of  Machias established in 1763. The large blueberry festival being planned sounded like a fun event.

We continued moving the 77 miles down Hwy. 1 to Bar Harbor and Mt. Desert Narrows Resort.  To our surprise two more Gulfstream G7 RV's occupied spaces close to us.  One looked identical to our model except in blue, and the other one was a newer model. This is the first time we have seen other G7s in the same park.

Our sites again offered a view of the water, probably Frenchman Bay, just off the Atlantic Ocean. Rain spurted down on and off all day. The weather felt humid and warm and wet.  So ....we did laundry upon our arrival. One of the next nights this beautiful pink color filled the sky as the sun set.

The second day turned out to be HOT!  We decided to visit Acadia National Park right away. About 2 million or more other people shared the same idea. Traffic in the park consisted of a massive bumper to bumper traffic jam. We stopped at the visitor center first. The line to get passes began inside the building, went out the door, and down the two flights of stairs. Two park aides worked the long line to triage needs. With out lifetime passes to the National Parks, we didn't have to wait. We picked up the park map and set out for the park loop drive. Cars overflowed the parking lots at each place of interest and parked along both sides of the main road. Finding a parking place involved a lot of luck after creeping around the lot.

The Wild Gardens of Acadia identify and label 300 native species of plants. The walk through the garden showcases the plants by where they grow: meadow, mountains, road, pond, bog, marsh, etc. Beyond the garden, a small nature center holds exhibits and park rangers to answer questions regarding the park or hiking trails.  About this time I began not feeling well...not sick, but not well. This photo with the black dots fascinated us. We stood on the bridge over a creek and watch these black shadows of the water bugs flitting across the top of the water.

Sand Beach appeared next on the map and sounded inviting. However the jammed parking lot and many, many, people moving toward the beach deterred our stop.  Just beyond the sandy beach huge pink granite boulders rise from the sea to the top of a cliff. People walked on the giant rocks or sat in the sun.Cars lined both sides of the road making the loop drive crawl on.

Then a parking space appeared by the cliff, and we quickly slid in.  Grabbing the coolers with our lunch we headed for the boulder cliff. The huge flat pink rocks stair stepped down to the sea. People sat soaking up the sun on the warm rocks. 

Jay and Derrille walked down to watch the waves crash against the shore and send up its salty spray.
I found a great place to lie on the rocks. When I tried to cross my ankles a bruise like spot hurt, so I crossed them the other way.  We ate our lunch perched on the rocks, enjoying the moment. Although the sun beat down on the land, a thick fog bank drifted in and then out over the water.

We continued the loop drive and considered stopping at Jordan's Pond, but the hoards of people and cars kept us moving, albeit slowly, but moving down the main road.

1530 foot Mt. Cadillac ranks as the highest point on the Atlantic Coast north of Brazil. The literature stated from October to early May, the mountain is the first place on the continental United States to see the sunrise. (I'm not sure how that works, unless it is the height factor. We thought Lubec was the first place in the U.S. to see the sunrise. hmmmm) The drive circles the mountain as it rises to the top. The forest gives way and visitors get 360 degree views of the area.

The sky remained blue over the park, but the fog bank hung on stubbornly as we climbed Mt. Cadillac. Looking down on Bar Harbor from one of the viewpoints the white Caribbean Princess Cruise liner stood out among the much small ferries, fishing boats, and pleasure boats. We watched the fog hug islands in the water and conform to their shapes.

When we arrived at the top of the mountain the mass of cars, people and heat felt stifling! We lucked into a parking spot near the dome trail. From the trail we saw Bar Harbor to the north, Somes Sound to the south, mainland Maine to the west and the Atlantic to the east.

The fingers of land that create Mt. Desert Island peeked hazily through the fog. As we jostled through the crowd, one regular visitor mentioned she had never seen so many people here before. One fact we did learn stated: 25% of the North American population resides within one days' drive of Acadia.  Wow!  They must have all decided to come today!

We did take a photo op at the top of Cadillac Mountain.




Acadia National Park sits on a 54 square mile island of granite call Mt. Desert Island. A number of finger like land masses and with harbors, sounds and coves make up the island. The park includes both ocean and mountain scenery. Spruce, fir, pine and Northeast hardwood trees make up the forests among the giant granite boulders..


We left the park and drove into Bar Harbor:  a tourist town with a capital "T". Several streets of inviting shops and restaurants try to draw visitors in.  We dined on the wharf and watched the Caribbean Princess passengers board the launches to return to the ship. As dinner progress, I felt less and less well.
Derrille took the Stauss car and returned me to the RV. Lynn and Jay went to explore downtown Bar Harbor. Derrille returned with the car and joined them in looking at what Bar Harbor had to offer.

I went to bed as soon as Derrille brought me home at 5:30 PM on a Tuesday night. I didn't wake up until 6 PM on Wednesday night. Lynn and Jay spent Tuesday exploring SE Harbor and the other side of the island. They went in search of a restaurant we heard about, but they couldn't find it. That evening my shin  puffed up in size and emitted heat like an electric stove element left on high. So Derrille and I went to the Bar Harbor ER. After lab tests and x-rays confirmed I possess very healthy stats. The diagnosis stated I'd been bitten by a white-faced hornet (also called a bald-faced hornet) and experienced massive inflammation. The hospital treated 4 other cases of hornet stings in the past week. The doctor said it should go away in 48 hours. As I approach the three week mark at this writing time, and it is still visible, but almost healed. I can see two definite bite marks now.
I slept the next day too while Lynn, Jay, and Derrille took the cars into Bangor for servicing. They reported that in their exploration of Bangor, they saw very little. The following day, Lynn and I hung out at the RVs while the guys took the Stauss car into Ellsworth for an RV electrical connection cord fix.

Before leaving the island, we drove to Somes Sound to see the fjords written up in the tour books. The long narrow body of water showed us its picture perfect form. Calm water reflected the hills and forests like a mirror. The sun added specks of light and helped us look through the clear water to the seaweed and rocks below the surface. Sailboats glided quietly across the water creating vee formations in their wake. However the fjords, as we know them, were absent!  A reader board gave us a definition of "fjord" that mimicked our definition of a "sound".  Neither does it agree with Noah Webster....A pretty sight, but not a fjord.

We continued down to NE Harbor home of the rich and famous residents. We caught glimpses of some lovely "cottages" and yachts.   :)   Then we pack up the rigs and headed a little more south.


Next:  Rockport, Maine