Bar Harbor, Maine

Friday-Sunday, Sept 26-28, 2014
Bar Harbor, Maine
Hadley Point Campground

We were on the road out of Littleton by 10:00, missing the morning traffic.  It didn't take long to cross into New Hampshire and then into Maine.  I think we were in New Hampshire for about 30 minutes.  The colors are really starting to come alive as we entered Maine.  We arrived at Hadley Point Campground by 3:30 and got set up for a 3 night stay.

The weather forecast for the weekend was fabulous.  Temps in the high 70's, so Saturday morning we were off to explore the Acadia National Park.  It turned out to be Free National Park day so the Park Pass we bought in Concord was not needed to enter the park.  There were lots of people in the park today.  This is Egg Rock Lighthouse.

The views and colors are wonderful.

The trees are changing and they were spectacular against the granite mountain.

Some of the houses on the shores were pretty spectacular too. Acadia  Nat'l. Park was established in 1916 and is the only Nat'l. Park that is interspersed with private property.  Much of the park was formed from donations of private land.

The Atlantic coastline near Thunder Hole.  The road is one way most of the way around Cadillac Mountain which is the highest point on the Atlantic coast.  There were two lanes so you could pass the slow sightseers or park in the right lane to take pictures.

Thunder Hole.  During high tide the water goes into a cavern and makes a thundering noise.  It was not as noisy while we were there but we did manage to spot some whales out in the sea.

Otter Cove had great water for kayaking.  You could paddle under the bridge to a gentle cove perfect for flat water paddling.

The coast line is granite rocks.  We did not see any climbers but there were plenty of climbing schools in the flyers for Bar Harbor so I'm sure there are good climbing areas.

Another great setting for a coastal house.

Lots of Carriage and bike trails cover the island.  You can rent horses, hire a carriage, or ride your bikes on smooth, level paths.  There were lots of hiking trails through the hills and up Cadillac Mountain.  This carriage path crossed over the road.   

Another interesting house near Jordan Pond.

Eagle Lake and Jordan Pond supply drinking water so it is off limits for swimming or boating.

This was an interesting thought.  New York City, Boston, Philly & D.C. are all within driving distance so it is probably true.

Great views from the top of Cadillac Mountain. 

Can you see the curve of the Earth behind the happy couple?

Looking out towards Great Cranberry Island, Little Cranberry Island and Sutton Island.

Otter Cove

Looking down on the town of Bar Harbor and Frenchman Bay

Time for lunch, so we stopped into the Chart House for a lobster roll and lobster salad for lunch.

After lunch we headed to The Oceanarium to tour a real lobster hatchery.  

This is a mother lobster with eggs on her tail, up to 3000.  These eggs stay on the tail for a year.  When a mother lobster is caught in a trap, they are brought to the Oceanarium where the eggs are able to hatch and grow in special tanks away from predators.

When they reach 4mm in size they are taken to the ocean and released on the bottom where they have a chance to hide and grow.  It takes 5-6 years for them to become large enough to harvest.  Lobsters will attack each other so they are put into separate tubes when their claws start to develop.  It is not economically feasible to grow lobster commercially so this is the best way to assure there will always be lobsters to catch.

We got an education is various lobsters including this blue lobster, literally one in a million.  Southern lobsters do not have claws.  Starting in August to December 70% of lobsters are caught.  In the fall they drop their shells and begin growing new shells.  They take in water to expand the new shell and make room to grow.  This is why you have a lot of water when you crack open a lobster for eating. 

We were also treated to the "feel tank".  We saw these horseshoe crabs on a beach in the Gulf of Mexico a few years ago. They are only found on the Atlantic coast and in the Gulf of Mexico.

Sea urchin.

Star Fish have their eyes on the end of their tentacles.

Sunday was maintenance day of laundry and football so we treated ourselves to a lobster and mussels dinner delivered right to our RV.  A nearby Lobster Pound serves deliveries to the campgrounds and cabins.  It went perfect with our LaBelle Wine we purchased in New Hampshire.  (It cost less than our Lobster salad & roll lunch).  Life is Good!!!

Tomorrow we are headed to Vermont.  More Blogs coming from Montpelier, VT in the future...

Lonnie and Becky