Day # 14

It was one of those days when we kept trying to do something, and failing. Not that it wasn’t a great day… it was.

Kaylyn really wants to see a whale. There have been several companies along the coast which offer whale-watching trips. She selected one in Bar Harbor and we arrived at the boat with a bag of our warmest clothes, only to find the trip cancelled by high waves. It surprised us because the day was clear, sunny and in the high 60s. But the whale watching trips go 30 miles out into the ocean, and it was rough there.

We headed over to Acadia National Park, one of the few national parks in the northeast. There is a wonderful bus system which transports visitors around the park. We climbed aboard. Visitors can get off at a scheduled stop, or pull the cord and the driver will let them off anywhere they wish. Or visitors can stand along the road, wave the driver down, and he will stop to pick you up.

We got off the bus at Jordan Pond Tea House. As you are no doubt observed, Kaylyn has been pursuing the culinary on this trip. My one request was to eat lunch at Jordan Pond. In 1978 Greg and I came to Acadia on our honeymoon and drove around the park. In 1981 we returned with our 5-speed tandem and rode the 27-mile loop around the park. I didn’t take along food because I recalled there was a tea house about half way around the loop road, and decided we could stop there for lunch. Well, we bicycled on and on endlessly, refilled our jug at little streams, and couldn’t find the tea house. By the time we completed the circle, which took us most of the day, we were really hungry! I inquired and was told that the tea house had burned down. It has been rebuilt – though not with the charm of the original building. Kaylyn and I stopped for lunch.

Thwarted – it was a half hour wait to eat. Nevermind. We wanted to see more of the park. We did not come to Acadia to eat! So we ate our sandwich while we watched the tea house people dine on the lawn.

Our next stop was the Sandy Beach area. We walked beautiful hiking trails along the water. The view was spectacular. They refer to the ‘rocky coast of Maine’ and it is here. Just enjoy these photos Kaylyn took. It was hard to pick which pictures to post from all the incredible views.

As we were walking along, Kaylyn commented, “This is one of the two most beautiful places I have ever been. The other is the Ouray and Silverton area of Colorado.” I think my dad would agree about the Colorado comment, he introduced our family to Jeeping in that area when I was a teenager. My cousin David would agree concerning Acadia – he has a special place in his heart for this beautiful park.

We drove up Cadillac Mountain to watch the sunset.Standing on top of the highest peak in the park, we could see water every way we turned. A network of islands, jagged shorelines and lakes circle the park. As we stood upon a large rock watching the last rays of the day's sun sink in the sky, we were surrounded by a calm serenity. 

 Kaylyn decided she wanted to try lobster. Because she never had lobster, we didn’t want to purchase an entire lobster. We stopped in three different restaurants only to find that each place offers only an entire lobster. The cost is about $17 a pound, and a small lobster weighs about a pound in a half. She gave up on trying lobster. We agreed she needs to go to dinner with someone who is ordering a lobster and try a bite of their lobster.

Our final un-success was a stop at the L. L. Bean outlet which was supposed to be open until 9:00 and closed at 6:00.

In spite of the canceled whale watch, the full tea house, the too-expensive lobster and closed L. L. Bean, it was still a great day!

On the home front, Aussie is really lonely without us there. Greg says she follows him around all the time. Each evening he takes out the Segway and takes her for a run. She really needs the exercise. He told me a couple mornings ago she was so lonely for company that she followed him into the bathroom. We have a tiny bathroom and he didn’t expect her to follow him in. When he turned around, he tripped over her. Kaylyn and I laughed picturing Aussie and Greg crammed in the bathroom… kind of like Kaylyn and I in the Marshmallow!