Bangor to Acadia Natl Park ME(8/31-9/9)

Leaving Moosehead Lake and its quiet surroundings was made easier by the fact that we were headed to one of our most anticipated stops on this trip. 

But how we did it could make one ask if we left our "marbles" up there. We drove to Bangor and parked on a Wal-Mart lot for the night along with quite a few homeless people living in their cars and about 5 other RVers. Some who had their jacks down, lawn chairs out and awnings out because it was hot! For those of you who RV you know this is NOT proper etiquette, but here it actually was ok. So we shopped at Wal-Mart, went out to dinner at 5 Guys and Fries, and took ourselves to the movie to stay cool. "The Giver" with Meryl Streep, Taylor Swift and Jeff Bridges is thought provoking and keeps popping up in our brains.

The next day, Labor Day, we moved over to Whited Ford Truck Center to be in position to have our rig serviced first thing Tuesday morning.  If you're on the road and find yourself near this area needing Ford Truck service, we'd highly recommend them!

On Labor Day we went to the Cole Land Transportation Museum which is located about a mile away from Whited Truck Center, and built by a very patriotic man, Galen Cole. 

Mr. Cole had served in WWII and lost his entire squad to a German tank gun. He promised God that day: "If I survive this war, I will do my best to leave my community and fellow man better than I found them." He followed his father in a very successful trucking business and in 1989 opened the Transportation Museum, one of Bangor's attractions that allows you to view up close the influence of transportation on history from roller skates to a mighty diesel locomotive. On display are vehicles from 1917-1997 used from dirt roads to super highways. 

Mary Sue was quite taken with snow related items, probably due to her years of skiing, as you can see. Snow rollers were pulled by 2-8 horses depending upon amount and condition of the snow. 

 Once the road had been rolled and frozen, a car could drive on it.  The issue being in the spring it was so compacted dynamite was needed to break it up so the advent of snow plows and snow blowers was well received.   

This Tucker Sno-Cat was purchased in 1952 (in service till 1999) and used by Maine's power company to service transmission lines in remote areas.  Sno-Cats are a staple at ski areas.

 There were also cars, sleds, tractors, early tent trailer, milk trucks, fire engines, 18 wheelers and so much more. 

This is a very comprehensive collection that tells the story of how transportation changed over time. The museum is used for school children a lot as well as tourists like us from all over the world. On the grounds outside is a war memorial with the World War II addition being the latest. A Jeep had been taken apart to be cast in bronze for this memorial. Irene was out for a stroll when thunderstorm cut loose, but a great rainbow at the end.

The drive to Bar Harbor Campground (commercial park closest to Acadia) only took about 2 hours (49 miles). 

When we arrived we were very surprised to see that the fog was still dense making it hard to select a RV site with a view.

There must be an ocean view somewhere out there!

Even Bar Harbor was in the fog at 4 pm our first afternoon.

  

Unlike most parks, this large park with some full hook ups and many electric and water sites does not take any reservations. So off we went to find a "room with a view" of the bay and hopefully sun on a clear day. We found a spot, left the car on it and went back with the RV to book our week. Then day by day we'd keep any eye on people leaving to see if we could score a better view. Sure enough on day 3 we moved to what was a great site with a view of the water and an occasional sailboat when the wind was right. 

Acadia is beautiful and best appreciated if you can get up high or out on the water, and we were fortunate enough to do both. The highlight of our week on Mt. Desert Island (MDI) was a boat trip with Andy and Bruce who we met in France last year on a river cruise. They drove up from Belfast and we met them at a beautiful spot called NE Harbor. Their power boat, built by Bunker & Ellis in the mid 50's, is beautiful and comfortably held 6 of us.

Colin, their "captain", brought the boat up the night before and gave us quite a tour with Bruce or Andy helping him keep an eye on the various navigational devices, including maps, to steer clear of the MANY lobster traps. 

From a distance one thinks there are birds on the water, but close up they are buoys.

The homes on the private lands within Acadia were amazing, the rocky shores were beautiful, the lighthouse quaint and the beautiful boats anchored in harbors made for a spectacular day. 

Lunch on board was delicious, the people we met were great fun and great weather made for a perfect day in every way. The lobster boat was bringing in its catch of the day from specifically marked buoys floating above wire lobster traps left for the season and checked daily.  On this topic an interesting read is The Lobster Chronicles; Life on a Very Small Island by Linda Greenlaw.

  

Having gotten out on the water to see Acadia, now we had to get up high so we took a ranger led hike up Gorham Mtn (525 ft). 

The way up was quite challenging as it was mostly on granite surface with large "steps" made of large rocks. Thankfully Mary Sue stayed behind me and gave me a hand up once in a while as my hip did not care for this at all. The view at the top made it all worthwhile and the walk down seemed easier. 

We learned all about how the paths were laid across the park and specifically about Waldron Bates who pioneered this process. 

We also learned about cairns made of stones to direct hikers on the path, and direction, to take. The rangers really are well versed on any topic when they are leading a hike. 

The shoreline of MDI is made up of quite a variety of rocks which all have geological explanations. Here are a few.

We also drove up Cadillac Mtn (1535ft and the highest spot on the island) in the daylight on a hazy day, and one spectacular evening when the moon rose and the sun set within minutes of one another. There were many of us up there hoping from rock to rock to get the perfect picture or have the best view. Those in flip flops and scantily clothed too many with their warmest garb because we knew it would be cold and windy. What a spectacular finish to a beautiful day. Enjoy the view!

 

After Labor Day the cruise ships arrive in Bar Harbor as regular tourists are all MDI can handle in the summer. We took a walk along the Shore Path and watched a few load up at the end of their day. You could almost hear a sigh of relief from those of us left on land. 

 Alas, it wouldn't be a proper post without some food comments. We ate out at least once a day because we were out and about plus the feeding opportunities were outstanding. We had lunch at the Thirsty Whale the first day and it's a good thing we did. That evening the restaurant next door(Portside Grill) burned, and was demolished two days later, putting it out of commission for the rest of our time there. 

That evening, in celebration of our 1^st night at Bar Harbor, we went to a Lobster Pound (found all over on the coast of Maine) and had dinner in a bag which we took home to eat. 

You tell them how many pounds of lobster you want (we underestimated), they cook it for you in a little shack outside, give you drawn butter and corn and you're set to go. We could have eaten twice as much because of how deliciously sweet and tender it was! 

You can also eat in and have a more complete meal including a local beer from Atlantic Brewing Co. (motto being "Save the Ales") which we toured later in the week. Having tasted beers at the end of the tour, we had a late lunch at the Mainely Meat BBQ restaurant conveniently located right on their property. For breakfast two great places are: Café This Way (down an alley) and 2 Cats. 

 

Our last day in Bar Harbor we ate at Finback Alehouse because when we ducked in to check it out we saw two RVW members & just had to stay!

Should you ever want to come to Acadia, here are some tips to consider. The national park campgrounds are dry camping and very shaded (not good for solar), there is a free shuttle service around the island and to Bar Harbor as well as some commercial campgrounds.  There are several visitors' centers and you want to pick up their maps, The Acadia Weekly and Bar Harbor & Mt. Desert Island Menu Guide. Talk to people about their experiences to help you sift through all the information and enjoy because we certainly did!