We opted for a drive into Acadia National Park for the afternoon. This beautiful park is a showcase of Maine coastline, with tourist traps, quiet fishing villages, farms, and extraordinary scenery. Our first stop, just after crossing over onto Mt. Desert Island, where Acadia is primarily located, was at the Hull Picnic Area. Those white spots are hundreds of ducks just cruisin' the waves!
The tide was in, so some of the rocky shoreline was covered, but with the mainland in the distance, Frenchman Bay was beautiful.
There are a number of great roads on the island, and one of the most popular is Park Loop Road. Starting at the Visitors Center for the National Park, the road circles the eastern third of Mt Desert Island, and provides stops at most popular overlooks. A short distance south on the Loop Road, is the turnoff to the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the island. The afternoon fog was coming in, drifting and flowing around Sutton Island, Bear Island, and Greening Island.
To the East, Bar Harbor with Bar Island, Sheep Porcupine Island, and Burnt Island. Burnt Island is almost covered with fog.
The road meandered south toward the village of Seal Harbor, but before getting there we had to stop and take a picture of this magnificent building. No signage existed other than the signpost identifying a Carriage Road Crossing, so we don't know the buildings purpose, but in the fog, it was incredible!
BTW, the island is crisscrossed with packed gravel paths called Carriage Roads. Now used by hikers and bikers, their original intent was to separate horses and carriages from the new-fangled "horseless carriages". For years the transportation future of the island was debated, but when it became evident that motorized vehicles were not going to disappear, the two camps compromised on separate roads and the problem was solved. The Carriage Roads are kept in good repair and are heavily used.
In Bar Harbor, on the way home, we stopped on the public dock for a look at the boats moored in the bay.
And a peek from a distance at the Bar Harbor Inn.
On a recommendation from some very good friends, we stopped for dinner in Ellsworth, a village just a few miles from the campground, at the Union River Lobster Pot. In an unassuming little building situated along the banks of the Union River, you would never guess at the gastronomical delights waiting inside!
First order of business was to assess the Lobster situation. Kept in the green tanks and sorted by weight, the little rascals are wondering what happened to them since they were caught this morning! Once ordered, the Lobsters are chucked into the steaming pots just behind Jake, cooking for about 5-7 minutes per pound.
While we waited for our dinner we checked out the view from the screened in porch where our table was located.
And then it arrived! We had decided to share a Downeast Shore dinner, which consisted of a Lobster surrounded with steamed Longneck clams and Mussels, with a potato and coleslaw. We ordered a three pounder, thinking that it would be just about right, but found that it was just a little bit more than about right! We rolled out of the place an hour later vowing that we would never eat again! Well, maybe until tomorrow….
Word to the wise: Thanks for the tip about the bibs, M!
Union River...we ate there at least 3 times when we were there! YUMMY.
ReplyDelete