New England Trip, Part 2: Acadia

Sunday October 7th:
With renewed effort at reaching our destination before dark, we left Penn Wood at 6:20 am.  Our first stop for gas was in eastern Pennsylvania.  While filling up, an Amish buggy rode past... all of us were watching them and were delighted to see that the gawking was mutual.  (Until they noticed us looking at them and quickly ducked back into the buggy.)

We arrived at our overnight destination in New Hampshire before dark. (Whew!) Reinergirl (owner of a 1963 Overlander in mid-restoration) fed us a hearty homemade dinner and provided evening entertainment by way of puppies and kids home from college.  Her kids are a few years older than ours but seem to share similar interests.  Would you believe that two of our kids even share the same name?

Monday October 8th:
After some homemade scones and hot showers we left New Hampshire vowing to see our new friends again.  Reinergirl assured us we didn't want to miss the to the L.L. Bean flagship store in Freeport, ME on the way to Acadia.  Something happened in Freeport, we got sucked in and stayed longer than we intended.

When we returned to the RV/trailer parking there was a note on our windshield from some Colorado Airstreamers.  They had parked beside our trailer with their Airstream and wished us happy travels. (Too bad we missed them!)

Arrived at Acadia at 8:00pm in the pitch black.  The campground was full but we found our name on the reservation list.  We were assigned A78,  next to another Airstream in A77.

Tuesday October 9th
Hiked Gorham mountain.  There are a few ways to get to the top of Gorham Mountain.  We chose the strenuous Cadillac Cliffs route.
 

...a kid's dream hike.  They wished their friends could be there, too.

During the busy season there are buses that run all over Acadia.  It would have been nice to catch a ride back to our car. Instead, we scurried back along the ocean path- barely made it in time to the College of the Atlantic for a tide pool ranger talk.

We heard about a shop in Bar Harbor with lobster flavored ice cream.

None of us feel any special need to try it another time.

Wednesday October 10th:
Carriage Road walk with ranger Anne Warner and our Airstream neighbors in A77. 

Anne closed our walk with a hope for our visit-that we all find "Acadia joy" which she described as an unplanned, unexpected experience of happiness.

A drive to the western side of Mount Desert Island landed us in Northwest Harbor for laundry and lunch.  Then, a little farther south, we stopped to explore the Wonder Land trail.

Aptly named.  

A place like no other we have been.  

A beach full of rocks, tide pools, and surrounded by evergreens.  

Could this place be more perfect?

Acadia joy, indeed.

To top off the day, we swapped trailer tours with A77 and also a 1960s Safari camped nearby.

Thursday October 11th:
(Quite possibly the most amazing day ever!)

Visited Wildwood Stables early in the morning to make reservations for a carriage ride later that day. Then, went to Seal Harbor and pretended to be locals.

 

The nice lady at the post office talked to us about the weather when I bought postcard stamps. We leisurely drank our coffee, munched pastries, and watched (actual) locals come in a coffee shop to get their breakfast.  We peeked in the store windows of Naturalist's Notebook and decided to make time for a return trip to Seal Harbor.

Our carriage ride was splendid (if frigid.)

 
For lunch we scored a table at the Jordan Pond House.  No one was eating outside on this blustery day. Their hot tea, popovers, and (my very-first-ever!) steamed lobster warmed us nicely.

After lunch, we traipsed back to Naturalist's Notebook. Loved everything!  The kids could hardly be coaxed away.   (They had a bird-identifying scavenger-hunt to finish, after all!)  We finally tore them away in time to hurry to the middle of the park for a beaver talk/watch. 

Dinner in Bar Harbor was some tasty Chinese food with a side of wi-fi.

From Bar Harbor, we drove up Cadillac Mountain to peek at the stars.  The smallest Sanders was already asleep by the time we reached the top. It was cold and oh-so-windy.    How strange to be at the top of a cold mountain in Maine- to look up at the stars and think of Hawaii (star gazing on Mauna Kea.) Amazing view! 

Friday October 12th:
Slept in.
Dressed in (many) layers in preparation for our whale watching tour.
Got to whale watching tour... found out it was cancelled for high winds.
Tried to sail on the Margaret Todd ship instead- but they cancelled for high winds, too.
 
Returned to "Naturalist's Notebook" in Seal Harbor to finish the bird hunt scavenger hunt.
Back to Bar Harbor for the 2:00 trip on the Margaret Todd.
Trip cancelled again (for winds.)
Walk along the shore in Bar Harbor.

Found rocks and tiny shells.
Had a lovely time walking along the path by the edge of the shore.
Went for a drive on park loop road.
Drove to Cadillac summit  (felt kinda lazy for not taking the hike.  )

 Took pictures.

 
Met new neighbors in the Acadia campground with a vintage Scotty trailer.

Saturday October 13, 2012
Set an alarm to go to sunrise on Cadillac Mountain.
At 6:00am we noticed it was already getting light as we were leaving.
Decided that the "sunrise" must not be the same as "first light."
Drove to Bubble Mountain for a hike instead.

Tried to get on the Margaret Todd for the 10:00 tour. 

 

High winds again.  Didn't sail.  The kids chased sea gulls instead.

Hiked the Hadlock pond trail with split log boardwalks.  

Started seeing signs about a marathon on Sunday.  Noticed that most of Park Loop Road was going to be closed for the marathon.  Decided it was time to head south.  Went back to camp, hitched up our trailer. Made a stop at the visitor's center for Jr. Ranger badges.

Left Acadia still looking for moose... finally saw one about 10 miles past the "moose next 17 miles" sign.  It took our breath away!  A truck drove past with four hairy legs sticking straight up out of the back!!!  No one got a picture.  The moment was not unlike the first time we watched "A Christmas Story."  Squeals of laughter and gasps of horror all at the same time!