Day 25 – (09/09) Bar Harbor, ME (Day 1)

We just moved down the road a little way today.  A 78 mile drive got us to Mt. Desert Island and Bar Harbor.

It was a great day for travel and sightseeing.  It was in the mid-70s and mostly sunny.

We tried to stay at Blackwoods Campground in Acadia National Park.  No luck, it was full.  We ended up in an outstanding site at Bar Harbor KOA.  We got set-up at the campground, then drove the Park Loop Road at Acadia National Park.

Cadillac Mountain

At 1,530ft, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the eastern seaboard north of Brazil.  It provided wonderful views of the island.

Frenchman Bay from Park Loop Road

Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain

Along the Way

View along Park Loop Road

Sand Beach consists mostly of crushed marine shells

Seal Harbor

Jordan Pond House

Thunder Hole

When seas run high, huge waves rush into a narrow slot in the rocks, forcing air trapped at the back of the slot to compress and make a thundering sound.

Before

Kaboom!

After

Otter Cove

We saw an eagle eating dinner (a.k.a. prey).  It flew into the top of a tall pine after finishing.

It's pretty small.  See white spot in center.

The Campground

This place offers amenities we’ve never seen in a campground.  A husband/wife team drove through the park in the late afternoon selling fresh, homemade pies … we bought a bumbleberry pie.  Also, a man prepared lobster dinners in the park … we had our first lobster.

The setting ... he cooks from 5:30 to 7:30 every day

You pick out your live lobster and put it in the pot

The lobster and corn are done in 10 minutes

The cook explained how to eat lobster ... we did the rest

We’re in site 345.  Western Bay is right outside our door. 

View from our door

View from the shore

Sunset

We ended the day by sharing bumbleberry pie and coffee with our neighbors, Brian and Jennifer.  They're visiting from Syracuse, NY.

Day 24 - (09/08) Hermon, ME (Day 2)

It's overcast with misting rain this morning.  We're staying an extra day in this delightful campground.  We're going to take the National Geographic Deer Isle scenic drive (Pg 19-20) today and will head for Bar Harbor tomorrow.

====== Update
The drive began in Orland and went to the tip of Deer Isle at Stonington.  We saw Penobscot Bay, Castine, the Reversing Falls at the Bagaduce River bridge, Caterpillar Hill Rest Area, Deer Isle and Stonington.  The route wound through pine forests and small fishing villages.  There was very little traffic.  The rain stopped in the early afternoon.

Note:  All pictures were taken at low tide.

Penobscot Bay

Castine was a highlight.  It's the home of the Maine Maritime Academy.  Markers around the town describe its 200-year-old history.  The waterfront was a real attraction with lots of boats, including the academy's training vessel, the State of Maine.

State of Maine - MMA training vessel

The old homes are well maintained

Markers unveil the history

Even if there is no history

Downtown is pretty small

The windjammer Angelique was in port.  She's 130' and can carry 31 passengers and a crew of 7.  She's a "Gaff Topsail Ketch".

Angelique

The passengers have to work a bit to get on board

The harbor had some beautiful yachts.

Ohh!

Ahh!

The Reversing Falls is a phenomenon caused by the fast-flowing tides.  The falls flow one direction at high tide and the other direction at low tide.  It was difficult to get a good picture.

Caterpillar Hill offers a view of Deer Isle, Penobscot Bay, Camden Hills, and the Bay Islands.  We could only catch the panorama in pieces.

Left

Center

Right

Stonington is on the tip of Deer Isle Island.  It's a working waterfront community that ranks as one of Maine's most productive ports in terms of value and volume of its annual catch.

Bridge to Deer Isle

Stonington Harbor at low tide

Street along Stonington Bay

The afternoon sun gave a great chance to remember the campground.  We'd return here anytime.

Site 45 - Pumpkin Patch RV Resort

Day 23 – (09/07) Hermon, ME (Day 1)

Quebec has been a delightful place to visit.  However, we returned to the US today and won’t miss the high cost of living there (e.g. regular gas @ $5.11 per gallon, sales taxes) or the language difference.

The weather made it even easier to leave.  There was no sun in sight.  Clouds were hanging low over the mountains; it was raining and chilly (mid-50s).

Our 230 mile drive got us to a very nice campground just west of Bangor.  The route:  south on Canada Autoroute 73 to Beauceville, south on Canada Rte. 173 to the US border, south on US 201 to Skowhegan, east on US 2 to I-95N at Newport, east on I-95N to exit 180, and then local roads to Hermon.  We felt isolated as we traveled through remote, wooded countryside.  The rivers flowed wildly.

Scenes from the Day

Carol spotted these mushrooms on the
way out of the Quebec campground

This waterfall is on the Chaudier River
near exit 311 on Autoroute 20E

This church along Canada Rte 173 in
St. Georges, QC caught our eye

Along the way

Kennebec River

The campground:  Pumpkin Patch RV Resort is attractive and well managed.  We got a full hookup site for $16 per night with our CCUSA discount card.