Because I should have figured out a way to take that cruise the day before or gone with Steve on his birding to see more of Acadia in the sunshine. Tuesday was absolutely beautiful, sunny and warm. Tues Night/Wed AM we got a rollicking thunderstorm. The thunder was so loud it woke us both at 3:30 am. By the time we got up the rain had stopped but it was gray and gloomy, and when I called Lulu Lobster a little after 8 they said they were not doing the morning cruise, only the afternoon--and we planned to be gone by then.
Acadia Park Loop Road
Still, we could at least do the Park Loop Road. I almost didn't go at all as it as foggy, then decided to at last give it a shot. Weather wasn't great, but there were a few sunny moments.
What is there to say that someone hasn't said before and more eloquently than I? It's a beautiful drive. So much to look at and ooh and ah. Small waterfalls, mountain streams, ponds with beaver lodges, the lovely Jordan Pond, rocky, spectacular shoreline. Passing under some of the bridges for the carriage roads. Both of us agreed that a week wouldn't be enough time for this park! We saw lots of bikers and hikers. If we were to come back to Maine, we would be inclined to simply base ourselves here and explore the area, and hike, etc.
Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound http://www.trentonbridgelobster.com
We didn't have time for a whole lobster, but it was fun to stop at this place on the drive out of Bar Harbor where you could see them boiling the lobster in pots of sea water just outside the restaurant. There is a row of pots boiling over wood fired brick ovens, and in would come one of the cooks with lobsters in a string bag to fill orders.
Instead I had a lobster salad sandwich - their version of a lobster roll and very good and a cup of clam chowder, and Steve had a bowl of clam chowder and blueberry pie. The clam chowder was not a winner. First, I prefer clams to be chopped in my clam chowder so I can get some clam in more spoonfuls. The clams were whole. Second, the broth just had no flavor at all. The lobster salad sandwich was worth the stop though, and if we had more time the whole lobster would have been great.
Big Chicken Barn Books and Antiques
A friend had told us to look out for this outside of Ellsworth (about 20 miles from Bar Harbor) so we made this our next stop. The first floor is all antique stalls and the whole upper floor is used books. Really well organized, and so many! After my haul earlier, I wasn't really feeling the book shopping love so left Steve to his browsing and went outside where the sun had now decided to shine,
Steve eventually showed up, but disappeared to the end of the parking lot where a chestnut sided warbler was singing. Eventually we moved on. I plugged in the hotel in Bangor ME that we were going to, and I guess since we were already past the straightaway route, Google Maps took us on a very scenic drive through the country.
We arrived at the Hampton Inn in Bangor where I had topped off points to get a room for $80. I think it must be very new. Very nice rooms and very nice people.
Nearby is the Bangor City Forest, and Steve heads over to look for black throated blues, and any other birds that show themselves. It was a successful trip as he didn't get back until nearly 8. His stomach was a little queasy so I just made a sandwich and we stayed in for the evening.
http://cityforest.bangorinfo.com/maps.htm
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