We really thought this would be a bummer of a day. It began with more rain that I’ve seen at home in a year or two; I’m talking pouring without stopping for hours. But, the rain certainly didn’t dampen (pun intended) our spirits and we drove onward to Acadia National Park.
Of course, we took a wrong turn at the get-go. I just couldn’t figure out why we hadn’t passed an entrance to show our pass. Merrily we went… Up Mt. Cadillac with Eagle Lake far in the distance. The fog closed in on us at the top as if we were in a world all of our own. Then down (the wrong way!) and past the “coach house” to a place at Seal Harbor where the road was only one way…the other way, back where we came from.
Befuddled, we pulled over to check the map which really didn’t help much, so I took a side trip to Bubble Pond while Marty and Eddie sorted it out. I didn’t realize it was a hike! I walked and walked passing no one on the secluded path. It was raining so hard that the path gradually diminished to mud, I was dripping, soaking wet despite Mommy’s handy dandy raincoat. I gave up only to find out the the pond was really a large round rock (like a bubble) in a pond.
Soooo, we went to Otter Creek (no otters) and found the CORRECT route around the park loop. Finally, we came to a ranger station to show our pass, and I felt more legit about being there. The rain fell harder and harder, but we braved it for magnificent pictures of the angry surf beating up against the rugged rocks. We found what we had been looking for the entire time, Thunder Hole, but, drat, no thunder, just a chimney where the sea spits up into the air when the tide is in. Eddie was disappointed; this was one of his fondest memories of the area. By that time I was drenched and chilled to the bone so we headed for Bar Harbor.
The entire trip DillyDog chose to remain dry in the van. She would look at us like we were nuts whenever we got back in after a dash to get a picture. She stayed huddled in the corner to avoid our wet clothes and only decided it was alright to come out when we hit town.
What a great little town, all touristy and glitzy. We accidentally found a wonderful restaurant, The BeerWorks, and settled in for a warm meal. Eddie wanted clam chowder, but they had run out, so he had mussels. He was a happy camper. I had fish and chips, yum and Marty had “the best meat loaf” he has ever had!
While waiting for our order and between beers (what BeerWorks without beer?), DillyDog and I wandered around the streets of Bar Harbor in the rain. She got wet despite her efforts. Anyway, we found Bark Harbor, a wonderful little store just full of all things doggy, and she picked out a bone. I found a hemp store with a backpack just made for me…perfect! Oh, and we found something just right for Trish. I can’t say what it is because she’s reading this. Let’s just say it should be fun.
Finding our way back to Ellsworth was no problem since Marty had taken over the driving after the first beer, and we arrived safe and sound. Another great day in our odyssey across the U.S.