Tomorrow we pack up our memories and say goodbye to Maine, a state we’ve dreamed of visiting for years. How lucky we were to visit beautiful Acadia National Park before the real crowds of summer arrive.
Acadia National Park – Ocean Path
Friends Jeannie and Jeff came up to spend our last day with us at our cozy cabin. After a short walk, we lunched, laughed and enjoyed the view from the porch as a rain shower passed over. All too soon it was time to say goodbye…or should I say, until we meet again.
While this feels like the end of our trip, we still have over 3,000 miles to drive before reaching home. I think we’re both ready!
The sun was out and Cadillac Mountain was waiting for us. It was a great day for a hike and since we lost our reservation to drive up, we chose to walk to the top. The Cadillac South Ridge Trail was described as a moderately challenging 6.7 mile out and back trail. We felt we had a pretty good chance of summiting the 1,548 foot peak with enough energy left over to get back down again.
A sticky, muddy, puddle-strewn trail climbed steadily up, finally opening onto a mostly smooth, rock path. There were views in every direction and plenty of rock cairns and blue blazes marking the way. With the exception of several semi-intimidating rock scrambles (which required some booty-scooting on the trip down), we reached the summit right about noon. Perfect timing!
We made it to the top for a windy picnic lunch and a beautiful view.
We had a Monday reservation at 9 a.m. to drive to the top of Acadia National Park’s Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the North Atlantic seaboard. We awoke to pouring rain and a forecast of much more to come. Needless to say, we nixed the mountain drive.
Armed with Google maps, we opted for a drive farther north along the coast, curious about what we might find. The quintessential rugged Maine Coast, gorgeous even in the rain, coaxed us out of the truck several times in an effort to capture photo memories.
As the noon hour rolled around I expanded my google search for a promising lunch spot. After passing several closed signs, and dismissing the chance for a slice of gas station pizza, I guided Reg to tiny Corea Harbor, an out-of-the-way spot marked by a Google Map knife and fork icon. Lunch On The Wharf it was called. Perfect…just what we were looking for. We took a chance.
We arrived to a nearly full parking lot adjacent to a somewhat ramshackle wharf. The place must have quite the reputation. Even on a rainy Monday it was hopping with friendly sightseers, bike riders braving the rain and a handful of locals. Reg ordered a lobster roll with coleslaw and I had a grilled cheese and lobster sandwich with potato salad. Although Reg didn’t believe me, I think they used Velveeta cheese…no matter, it was good, the coffee was hot and our day was a success!
This little finger of land in Lamoine, Maine is where we’ll spend the next week before heading home.
We’ve reached the northernmost point of our trip and are comfortably settled in a spectacular log cabin overlooking the Mt. Desert Narrows body of water. We have plans to visit Maine’s Acadia National Park and hope to get together once more with friends Jeannie and Jeff…but other than that, we may just sit and enjoy the view from the deck.
Our host assured us there would be space for Minnie, and Reg backed her in like a pro. While he tended to all the details of parking her for the week, our host gave me a tour of our temporary waterside home. What a special place this is. Gorgeous inside and out…we may never leave!
After breakfast we took a short morning walk around the point, returning to enjoy a quiet Sunday watching the tide roll out…and then back in.
From our front porch we could see the finger of land across the water hiding Wolfe’s Neck Woods State Park. Curious, we drove around and found a trail to explore, looping through the grounds and offering views of coastal tide pools, towering forests and an occasional wildflower.
Safety firstTypical Maine woodsPink Lady’s SlipperRocky Maine Coast
Taking advantage of another beautiful day, we thought we had found the perfect outing. A short ferry ride from Portland, Maine took us across Casco Bay to Long Island where a 6-mile walk awaited. We packed our lunch and cashed in on the senior ticket rate, excited about our big, cheap adventure. Expecting a trail through the woods and along the shore, we were disappointed to find the walk followed a paved road through mostly residential neighborhoods. Even worse, there was not a public restroom to be found. Posted signs warned of poison ivy making a discreet duck behind a bush too risky for me. We called it quits and raced back to the dock to catch the next ferry back to the mainland, reminding us that you can’t win them all!
The ferry made several stops at different islands.Fort Gorges, built from 1858-1864.What a day…Reg’s face says it all!
The weather took a turn for the worse, dumping buckets of rain. The perfect day to check out Freeport’s main shopping attraction.
L.L. Bean fans flock to the many specialized L.L. Bean stores in Freeport. But don’t expect too many bargains. While other brand name retailers offered 30-60% markdowns, Bean deals were few and far between.
With the return of the sun, we took a chance on another island walk. A 7-mile portion of the West Side Trail took us by foot from Fels-Groves Farm Preserve, across the bridge over Casco Bay and a circle around Cousins Island. We hoped for an expansive ocean view at trail’s end, but once again our expectations were dashed. However, we enjoyed the walk and appreciated the bench (where we ate our lunch) and the congratulatory signpost at the end.
We have one more week to enjoy the great state of Maine. This morning, Reg and I woke up to a new, gorgeous view through the trees and across the water to Mt. Desert Island that sits adjacent to Acadia National Park. We’re taking another lazy Sunday before joining the sightseeing crowds. More to come…
After 84 days living exclusively in our trailer, Minnie is in storage, having earned a much needed rest, while we enjoy some room to stretch.
This one bedroom cottage is home for the upcoming week.
We scheduled these next two weeks months ago when our (Reg’s) plan was to tent-camp across the entire length of U.S. Highway 20, the 3,365-mile road that stretches from Newport, Oregon on the Pacific Coast to Boston, Massachusetts on the Atlantic. Our friends, and our usually supportive kids, thought we were nuts. I’ll admit to humoring Reg for awhile and the thought celebrating the end (of what would almost certainly be a most uncomfortable journey) with two weeks of luxury in Airbnbs nearly sold me on the plan…nearly.
Our view of the Maine Coast off the front porch. Feeling pretty spoiled.
By the time I convinced Reg that camping in our trailer, rather than a tent, would allow us to leave earlier and take a longer (more comfortable) trip, it was too late to cancel our two cottage reservations. No regrets though…what’s not to love?
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