We stayed a whole day Acadia National Park...because we like the place so much. All of us had been there fairly recently and were left wanting, so an extra day there seemed like a good thing. The morning weather was supposed to be iffy, so we postponed our ebike rentals until afternoon. As it turned out, the weather was good all day. So after breakfast at the hotel, we headed out for the park.
The rain had moved out.
A stop at Great Meadow
Well, dam!
Moose!
Then we headed into town for our ebike rental. The last time we were in Acadia, we rented ebikes and rode for 3 hours in the rain and fog. Impressive, but not exactly fun. This was a chance for a do-over.
Along the carriage roads.
Nice day for a bike ride!
Look ma! No hands! Only counts while riding? Never mind!
We stopped at Jordan Pond and decide to stay for lunch on the lawn. It was a bit of a wait, but worth it.
Jordan Pond House
The Lawn
Iconic popovers and jam on the lawn - hard ice tea on the way!
We then pedaled back to the bike shop in Bar Harbor, taking the scenic route, and arrived a bit later than the shop expected us. They were supposed to tell us "be back at 5", but failed and we thought "be back before they close at 6". They weren't happy, but no harm, no foul.
The bikes were great! They flatten out the hills on the Acadia carriage roads like they are nothing. We highly recommend renting good, mid-drive ebikes at the shop in Bar Harbor. Just be back by 5!
We headed back to the hotel for dinner. Patti and Sue went to see if they could get lobster rolls to go while Don and Tom held down the view from the hotel room patio. It took a while. It seemed there was a detour in the restaurant via the bar.
When you send them for takeout...
...meanwhile on the veranda...
So, we ate our lobster rolls and decided we needed desert. Maine is known for blueberries and they had blueberry pie. Yes, please! With blueberry ice cream on top. It didn't last long enough for a picture....
The view from the hotel restaurant
Good password!
We didn't need to get to the ferry for Nova Scotia until 2 PM. Plenty of time to explore Acadia.
Thunder Hole. More of Gurgle Hole this day.
Wild Iris
After a quick burger for lunch in Bar Harbor (Lobster place in Hulls Cove was closed on Mondays!) we boarded the ferry. The CAT ferry makes the trip to Yarmouth in 3-1/2 hours. It was built for inter-island service in Hawaii, which failed, bought by the Navy, then leased to the Bar Harbor - Yarmouth ferry operator. It operates with water jet propulsion, like a jet ski, and runs at nearly 50 mph.
Boarding
The specs
On board
Under way
Departing Bar Harbor
Arriving Yarmouth
After waiting a good bit at border control (Boy, I miss the old days...) we headed to the hotel. Except, it wasn't our hotel. At least not today. Our reservation was for the wrong day and it was booked today!
They suggested the "other" hotel in town - the Rudd Grand. How good can it be when the Hilton - Tru is booked and they have rooms? Turns out, quite nice - and cheaper - and walkable to restaurants.
We walked over to Rudder's Seafood House and Brewery and had their Hot Lobster Roll - Nova Scotia style creamed lobster served on a soft roll. Fabulous! Who knew?
Yarmouth harbor view
View from hotel. CAT ferry in background.
The next morning, we walked to breakfast and then hit the road.
Let's drive? Because Fredericksburg, VA to Bar Harbor, ME is just a long, one day drive? Because there's a ferry from there to Nova Scotia? Because, we can get from Atlanta to Nova Scotia in just one long day's drive? So, not so bad?
Sure.
Maybe not our best decision. (Soooory!)
Lots of seat time getting there and back, but what was in between was excellent.
Here's what. The Prequel.
For starters, we decided Bar Harbor was too far for one day, so we headed to Newport RI on a Friday. 440 miles and 9:30 later, we arrived. Not exactly smooth sailing in Connecticut on I-95. Our hotel was just off I-95 west of Newport. We checked in and decided we were DONE with driving, so we walked to get some beer and wine and then walked to get some pizza.
Saturday morning, off to see The Breakers plus one other mansion. The Breakers is the far-over-the-top Gilded Era Vanderbilt "Summer cottage". You make your reservation for The Breakers, then can chose to visit any one other mansion at any time in the next year. We chose "that morning". We had places to be!
The cast. Patti, Tom, Sue and Don
Self-guided audio tour
A room. One of many.
Where Dr. Suess got his inspiration?
Not "ceiling white" from Pittsburgh Paint
Stone tub needed to be filled a few times to heat stone and bath would stay hot.
On the porch
Some pots and pans
"All I Want is a Proper Cup of Coffee, Made in a Proper Copper Coffee Pot..."
2025. Trying to recreate history.
Only 40 years earlier (1985) Higher shorts and socks.
For out other mansion, we chose The Elms. Only slightly less over-the-top-than The Breakers. Built by Berwind Coal founder. Had coal-fired power plant on the premises.
Harumph. Men's Drawing Room
Who doesn't need a room of statues?
Large art depicting the owner's favorite Roman general
Breakers had more copper!
Arbor over service entrance hides it from resident and guest view.
On the lawn in the back of the house
Two mansions explored. Off to Bar Harbor with lunch on the way out of town. 260 miles and 5:00 later we're at Young's Lobster Pound, staffed by men from Jamacia - the Country - not the borough - in Belfast ME. YUM!
The view from Young's
Lobsters - the first of more than a few on the trip.
... and steamed clams
Another 50 miles and 1:20 puts us into Northeast Harbor on Mount Desert Island and our hotel, the Kimball Terrace Inn, just after dark. It's a nice place, with a nice harbor view, but we wouldn't know that until Sunday.
.jpg)
