Finally made it to Acadia National Park!

This has been on my bucket list, and while I am sad to be leaving the kids,  I am excited to see it in person, and of course, collect my National Park Passport Stamp! I would love to be able to see all the National Parks.  

We planned an early departure from Mass on Wednesday, since a 5 hour trip in the motorhome can be a bit slower anyway, and the traffic in the Boston area has become a force to reckon with!  In spite of the fact that we are very early risers, we congratulate ourselves if we can manage to get out before 9AM!  Due more to morning coffee chat, kitty petting, and the like, rather than the actual preparations, we tried to have most of that completed the night before.  And yet a snag!  All the rain had collected on the awnings that protect the slides, and the weight of it pulled them down, rather than allowing it to roll off as would be the normal case when the slide comes in, and I had to put it in and out many times, coaxing a bit with a broom handle from my vantage point standing on the drivers seat, before I could get it to fold up properly and not kink on the outside!  Minor problem....but annoying and delaying, but we got out around 8:30, and realized it was just as well, as we encountered some of the rush hour traffic.   

For some reason, we are both of the opinion that we are headed into the back country, and feel like services might be limited, so we have stocked up on groceries, and we stopped at lunch time for a break, have some lunch, and  top off the tank!  Not always easy to fill this behemoth, as you can't pull into all gas stations, so we try to plan ahead.....learned that from experience!  

We both exclaimed as we rounded a bend and encountered a magnificent cable stayed bridge, which turned out to be the Penobscot Narrows Bridge.  Thankful to see a pull out, we were able to get a good look, and take some photos.   Little did I realize we would be crossing it!  Yikes!!  We are going over that thing???  It was a bit freaky, being one lane in either direction, and high above the water below, and I have to admit it caused a bit of a pit in my stomach!  But it was cool!  "Clem...take a picture!"  yeah....no!!  I really have to mount a dash cam! 

I knew you could go up in the observation tower, and have now learned...(google I love you!)....that the bridge is over 2000 feet long, one of three in the country with the cable construction.  The tower is 240 feet up, the first bridge tower observatory in the US, and the tallest in the world.  Of course, I would like to go up some day, but we have to move on.  

Lots of traffic and some tight situations made for a tiring driving day, and we arrived in good time to relax after getting settled into the campground. After dinner a stroll around revealed many folks are here for the season, with flowers and lights and decorations installed on their sites, and entertainment and craft classes at the activity center. I spotted  a really cute tin can man, then later another, so it must have been one of their crafts!  Would not be our cup of tea, but I can certainly understand how this makes for a nice summer for folks returning every year.  

  Another early morning departure on Thursday  to arrive at Acadia before the crowds, and again a bit of a snag with route 3 closed for construction, and our confusion as to the proper route to take....or rather, accessing it!......but we got to the visitor center shortly after it opened. 

Hull Cove Visitor center was some 52 steps up, and we got our hiking warm up climbing the stairs soon after they opened in order to try and beat the summer crowds. After some great information from the park ranger, and watching a film about the parks creation, we boarded the propane powered free shuttle to ride the 27 mile loop road, with plans to get off at Sand Beach, then hike along the Ocean Trail to the next stop.

Got off the shuttle at Sand Beach, the only sand in the park, and actually crushed shells, washed in and out by the tide.  Lots of folks here already, and arriving by the minute....I would guess a lot of locals, as the plan was to stay.  What an amazing resource to have close to home!  Tons of hiking trails, picnic spots, and this beach....but of course also all of us tourists!  

We picked up the Ocean Path trail near the beach, intending to hike to Thunder Hole, then catch the shuttle, but the views were so spectacular, and the terrain pretty easy, so we decided to go the entire way to Otter Point and catch it there. 

Thunder Hole only thunders just before high tide, but it was still pretty neat to see.  

Thunder Hole notch on left, looking up rocky coast. 

There are many areas along the trail with stairs leading down where one can step off the beaten path, and we chose a pretty area to enjoy the view and our picnic lunch.  A curious gull found us, and wondered if we would share!

Our lunch spot

a photo op along the way

I guess there was a bit up and down on the trail, as Clem informed me afterwards!

At this point, we were happy for some shade, and he was ready for a bit of a rest before rounding the bend.  

Oh, but around the bend!!!! 

The trail became rocky and we scrambled around and up to this point on Otter Cliffs.  A sure reward!

At this point, we took the stairway up to a shuttle bus stop to ride to the next destination, Jordan Pond. 

The Jordan Pond House at Jordan Pond, has been serving popovers on the lawn for 100 years!  And by the time we got there, it was very crowded.  And it is so commercialized now, with a check in window outside, and throngs of people milling about.  I entered and soon exited the gift shop, not able to stand the elbow to elbow crowding!  It is supposed to serve home made ice cream though, and we went in search of it, only to find Dove Bars and those wrapped nut top cones in an outlet out back by the observation deck. At least that was worth while!  At this point, though, Clem was so set on ice cream, that he ate a Dove Bar! Plain Vanilla!  Eh!  I'll save my calories for later!  Apparently the ice cream is served in the restaurant, and we were not about to wait for a table, but might consider a reservation for a later time. 

Having done enough hiking for the day, we enjoyed the view of the pond from this vantage point, then boarded the shuttle for the remainder of the 27 mile loop, to return home for the day. 

Acadia National Park was created by wealthy people who donated land in order to preserve the natural beauty for prosperity, and became the first National Park on the East Coast.   Amazing foresight, and incredible generosity!  One of the founders, Dorr,  became the first Park Superintendent.   It differs from  other parks,  being part of an island, which includes Bar Harbor and other towns and residences, and they all blend together so you often don't know if you are in the park! And the craggy shore and water views are spectacular! A natural, and national treasure.   So much to see and do, I'm not sure one visit will suffice!

Loved the old theatre in Ellsworth

Clem thought dinner out was in order, so we sought out the number one rated restaurant in the little town of Ellsworth, close to our campground.  An Irish pub, with house made Irish food, they count the days to each St. Paddy's day!

It also houses....how, we cannot quite figure....an old rail car for a bar!  A popular place, we sat in the bar area to avoid a 30 minute wait for dinner, but I was just as happy for the unique environment.....anybody can sit at a wooden table after all!

The railcar bar!

On the way to town, I had spotted a shopping area, and having been hunting for a new rug for some time, I convinced Clem to at least take a peek, and I found one!  The cats watched attentively while I changed out the old one, and added the new coordinating pillows, then seemingly gave their stamp of approval by cuddling up on the sofa rather than their spot on the back!  Curiosity killed the cat.........