Bar Harbor & Acadia National Park - June 21st thru June 30th

Our travel plans hit a little bump in the road when we were leaving Salisbury State Park in Massachusetts on Monday, June 17th, when we hit a concrete abutment and bent an axle.  So, instead of being able to head to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park that afternoon, we found ourselves scrambling to have a new axle shipped to us.  After hearing horror stories saying that it might take two to three weeks to get a new axle, we were pleasantly surprised when Crossroads (the manufacturer of our Cruiser), managed to ship a new one to us in just a couple of days so we were on the road by Thursday, June 21st.  Fortunately, we were able to change our reservation here at Hadley's Point in Bar Harbor.




Overlooking Frenchman's Bay at Acadia National Park
(with a cruise ship in the background)

Acadia National Park is the first National Park that we have ever had a chance to visit and we were not disappointed.  The views from Cadillac Mountain are breathtaking.  It was suggested that we go to Cadillac Mountain to catch the sunrise but since that comes around 4:45 a.m., we weren't quite up for that.  We had planned to catch a sunset from one of the lookout points there but Mother Nature has not cooperated very well.  In fact, she's followed us all along our travels so far. 





The view from Cadillac Mountain

On Sunday, the 23rd, we took a drive to Southwest Harbor and while having lunch, were able to watch the "Blessing of the Fleet" across the bay. All of the lobster boats in the harbor took part in a procession and passed by the clergy standing on the pier - one by one - to receive their blessing.  It was quite impressive to watch.  And our mussels, lobster roll and clam roll were delicious. 

We also had the chance to walk on the natural seawall that protects the island.  It's amazing when you walk out on the rocks and watch the waves come in.

 

 

Free shuttle service is provided from the campground to the park as well as the Village Green in Bar Harbor.  We took advantage of this on Monday when we walked around Bar Harbor and enjoyed watching some of the boats in the harbor as well as some of the inns.  The one below is right on the harbor and reminded us of the Grand Hotel on Mackinaw Island in Michigan.

One of the inns in Bar Harbor

 

Because the park is so large, you can connect up with several shuttle options from the Village Green that take you to different parts.  Tuesday, we took the shuttle to Jordan Pond.  After having lunch at Jordan's Pond House, we took a walk down to the pond.  This "pond" is nestled between two mountains and the water is crystal clear.  It is an absolutely beautiful setting. 

It rained for three days during the week so we did not have as much of an opportunity for sightseeing as we would have liked.  Like the other areas we've been to in our travels, on Friday we had over an inch & a half of rain. 

Sunday turned out to be a fairly decent day - no rain and some sunshine - so we took the loop road shuttle to Sandy Beach.  In the middle of the park is a beautiful sand beach with fantastic rock formations and cliffs.

Sand Beach with a haze

 

From Sand Beach, we walked along one of the hiking trails to Thunder Hole.  Thunder Hole was nice but the views we saw while walking the trail were magnificent.  You could actually walk to the edge of the rocks and look down at the water hitting the rocks below.  Amazing to watch the waves hitting the shore.

Between the two of us, we have probably taken over a thousand pictures on this trip and it is so difficult to decide which pictures to post - we don't want to bore you - but this place is simply amazing.  If you ever get the chance to visit Acadia, you will see what I mean.  He has blessed us with the beauty He has created.

We finally had our lobster and clam dinner Sunday night and left Monday morning for Jackman, Maine.  The bent axle has changed some of our travel plans - we are eliminating Quebec City and Montreal on this trip - but were fortunate to make reservations at some other campgrounds so we could still meet up with friends at Niagara Falls on July 10th.

Our travels continue as we head to "moose country."