Bar Harbor, Maine
Friday - 28 May 2004 - Bar Harbor, Maine:
We woke to a downpour - after such a pleasant day yesterday. We were going
to drive north today, which meant we had to hitch-up in the rain. Yuck. We
were also worried about driving on Route 1, along the coast, north to Bar
Harbor. As it turns out, the route is only narrow through Camden - after we
left town we had a lovely drive (in the rain) along the coast. I found
another cleverly named company, "Yankee Strippers" - wood-floor refinishers.
Also I need to mention the amusing cross-walks in Camden. On the street it
is painted "STOP, WALK, WAVE", for your instructions on how to proceed
across the street. Everyone waves at the drivers who stop for you to cross.
Quite charming, and probably so much safer.
We arrived in Bar Harbor after a 90 minute
drive and found our reserved campsite. It is Memorial Day
Weekend, so we thought it would be best to reserve, but
because of the weather I can't imagine this campground will
fill-up. But, maybe Mainers are like Oregonians - if you
can't do stuff in the rain, you just don't do stuff. We are
on Mount Desert Island, the home of
Acadia National Park. Mount Desert Island, at 108
square miles, is the third largest island off the
continental United States, behind Long Island and Martha's
Vineyard. (Your trivial fact for the day.) Of course, we are
here to visit Acadia National Park, but will try to see as
much of the island as we can over the long holiday weekend.
After settling-in for our long (for us) stay, we drove the
Honda into the pretty town of Bar Harbor. The town was the
summer play ground for the wealthiest of Americans until a
huge fire in 1949 burned down the surrounding forests and
90% of the homes. The Rockefellers had arranged for most of
the land on Mount Desert Island to be purchased for donation
for a National Park, and after the fire, even more land was
donated. Bar Harbor is still the summer residence for
several prominent Americans, and the town is very pretty and
covered with flower basket-lined streets, adorable
bed-and-breakfasts, shops, inns and restaurants.
The Holland America ship, Maasdam, was in port! She
sails from Boston every week from May through October
visiting Martha's Vineyard, Portland, St. John, Halifax, Bar
Harbor, Maine and then back to Boston. It was a cold, rainy
day in Bar Harbor and not too many passengers were going
back and forth in the tender.
The Maasdam, anchored in Bar Harbor, Maine
We took a tour of Bar Harbor, in the car (I mean, seriously,
look at the lovely weather we were experiencing!) and then headed back to
Our Intrigue. Just a mile short of our goal, DT noticed a small sign reading
Atlantic Brewing Company, so he took a left and drove down a little
country road. We were sure we were lost, until we stumbled upon a teeny
building with a few cars parked outside. The brewery operates all year, but
their small tavern opened yesterday for the season. It is in an old
building, with no heating and about 8 items on their food menu, and 6
different brews on tap. Our friendly beer-tender, Tim, offered a sample of
anything we wanted to try, but DT plunged right in and ordered a SOB
(Special Old Bitter) as he adores bitters. I sat there... hmmmm.... it is so
rude to ask beer brewers, "Do you have BudLight?" But then something sparked
my interest - they had Ginger Beer - Mount Desert Island Ginger.
Real beer, brewed with fresh ginger root. So, your correspondent tried (and
finished) a micro brew. It didn't even really taste like beer. I can imagine
on a warm day the Ginger Beer would be quite refreshing. DT also tried their
best-selling Bar Harbor Amber Ale. They also have a "Coal Porter", a
blueberry beer and a Bragget Ale with a 12% alcohol content! Wowser. DT just
loves a microbrew!
We will enjoy a quiet, cold, dark, cloudy, rainy Shabbat at home.
Added later: This is what I get for updating my website
before dinner. Just as we were sitting down to dinner, there was a commotion
in the campground. An Elvis impersonator was driving through the park on the
back of an overly-decorated golf cart. (And, I swear, I just saw his
grave..??) Elvis was in full costume - a pale turquoise jumpsuit, complete
with cape. Seems tonight in the RV park's rec-room, Elvis is doing a show!
If we weren't ready to eat, we would have gone to the show... but we did put
in an Elvis CD to accompany our feast.
RV Park:
Mt. Desert Narrows Campground
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