Acadia National Park to Campobello Island, New Brunswick

It was so nice having extra time to explore more of the carriage roads at Acadia National Park.

Some of the views are postcard perfect.

Looking over Eagle Lake.

We love seeing the bridges.

You can appreciate the extra work added for a resting spot or a drain.

An example of the gatehouses which were at the entrances to various carriage roads.

There are 2 gatehouses and about 17 bridges over the 45 miles of carriage roads.

Along some of the carriage roads, you will run into individual horses and also carriages.

This time we had two carriages in a row.

The roads are quite wide --about 13  feet or so.

This was an active beaver lodge.  There were signs of the typical cuts on the small trees nearby.

If you plan to bike the carriage roads, be ready for some hill climbing.

This road was to the top of Day Mountain.


The view was well worth the effort.

Some of the carriage roads go by Eagle and Bubble ponds.

There are so many roads that most of time will be spent by yourselves even though there are many other bike riders on the roads

Of course, any good bike exercise deserves a stop at Jordan Pond House for popovers and strawberry jam.

As a note, we were able to park our 24 foot motorhome (Lady Blue) in the Jordan Pond parking lot by arriving before 10am for 2 of our mornings.

There are only a few RV parking spots at Jordan Pond.  But our backup plan was lots of free RV parking at the Hull Cove visitor's center.  Also , that is a hub for the free island shuttle buses which are set up to carry bicycles as well.

The view from the tables is worth at least a second popover.

Part of the time at Acadia , of course, has to be spent at Bar Harbor.

We like to walk around the shops and also the waterfront walk-----about two miles along the harbor.

These are two of three cruise ships that were visiting Bar Harbor.

At the harbor there are many choices of boats to ride out and see the whales.


Or , at the right time of year, to see the Puffins.

There are many private sail boats.

Or you might take a sail on a four masted schooner.

Along the harbor walk, I was doing my best to remove large rocks.

The signs indicated that this boulder was left by the ice age thousands of years ago--originating many miles inland.

Well-------if it's been here that long!!!

So many lobster pounds.




And so little time.

I know many of you will find this hard to believe, but we actually shared this lobster as a reward for miles of bike riding one afternoon.


Yes!!!! It's true!

This lobster pound keeps a blue lobster, caught last year, to show to customers.


Blue lobsters are supposedly rare as in one in a few million.

Jan??  What, no lobster this time?


She is looking out from Thurston's Lobster Pound in Bernard which is on the southwestern side of Mount Desert Island.

The magical steamer is on the porch and wood fired.


How could we resist. The prices were very reasonable .

As the ad says,  look for the yellow awning.


At this time of year, there was plenty of room on the upper deck.

The harbor was very active with lobster boats returning from their rounds.  They would come to one of the docks to turn in their daily catch.  While we were there we saw the dock hand next door deliver a large container of fresh lobsters that had just arrived to Thurston's.  Very fresh!!!

From Mount Desert Island , we head up to Cobscook Bay State Park.

Glad we have our small Class C.  The old 5th wheel would have had a difficult time on many of these sites.

The idea here is to visit Campobello Island in New Brunswick, Canada.  This was President Franklin D. Roosevelt's summer home from childhood.

He spent many summers here until the early 1920's when he contracted polio.  He did return as President a few times, but the Depression and World War II prevented  him from spending time.
Some of those years he would spend any free time at the warm springs in Georgia to ease his polio.


This lighthouse is seen from the bridge over to the island.

Perhaps a better shot taken as we were leaving the island.

From a high point on the island we were able to watch  a mature eagle soaring at eye level--a great sight.

Some of these cottages were built in the 1800's or added to later.

The Roosevelt cottage was large with many bedrooms and a wonderful view of the bay.


Every room was set as in the early 1900's, including the kitchen, water supply, and laundry room.

Loved seeing the old ice houses used to keep ice over the summer months.

The gardens are very well kept.

Just one of the rooms.

On the table are one of FDR's pipes and a
replica sailboat.

Outside Lubec is also Quoddy West Lighthouse

Sometimes lighthouses even have gargoyles.

As the marker reads


The easternmost point in the United States.

To Acadia National Park

There has been a little lapse in our coverage.  You might be wondering why?
Computers are sometimes very cold objects---no heart.
Ours decided to go on strike--would not start---not a good thing for those of us on the road.

But--on the way to Bar Harbor, we stopped at a Best Buy and had some good luck.  The girl at the Geek Squad desk took a look and quickly found the problem to be static which was easily fixed by removing the battery and pressing the start key.

Who knew static could cause such problems???

While we were there, we decided that relying on one computer for all we do is a little risky, so we added an IPad.  It's small , but still large enough of a screen to do our email, bills, and some other internet things.  It may take a while for us to learn everything, though.  The blog is still being added on our Sony.

So, where were we?  Oh, yes.
We had a chance to say hello to brother Clifton and his wife Vicki.  We had  lunch at The Old Mill Restaurant in Westminster, Mass.  Such a treat.  Jan and I couldn't remember the last time we had been there, but it had to be almost 50 years ago. 


The building dates from 1761 when it was used as a sawmill.

It's worth a visit just to wander around the property.


We love looking at the old exposed wooden beams.

You might want to just watch and feed the ducks on the pond.
The restaurant actually leaves out old bread for you to use.



The menu was good as well, beginning with their specialty fritters and pecan rolls.

Thanks so much Cliff and Vicki.  Good to see you again.




Cliff , I have to say that everytime I see a picture of you it reminds me of our grandfather Maggs.

It had been years since we had traveled up Route 1 in Maine.

We didn't remember much about Boothbay Harbor, but it was great to visit.  We stayed at Shore Hills Campground about 3 miles north of town.  It worked well, because they offered a shuttle to town. 

Our motorhome may be only 24 feet long, but there was very little parking in Boothbay Harbor.

As usual, we asked around for recommendations for dinner and the name Lobster Dock was mentioned.  Later we learned that it was also mentioned in Yankee Magazine.

It was a short walk over the harbor foot bridge.

There is something about approaching a Maine restaurant and seeing the lobster bins first.

That and the view of the harbor are good for a set down stay.

It was nice to put in your order and watch them pick out the lobster.

A beautiful day to be outside.  We could sit at our table and watch the various boats enter and leave the harbor.



We think these folks were headed out to whale watch.

Somehow, our attention is diverted by the arrival of the lobster.


That's a home made biscuit on top, a good sized lobster, ear of corn, and under the lobster are a great number of steamed Maine clams.

They call this a shore dinner in Boothbay Harbor.

The next stop is Camden Hills State Park.  We find a nice site with a view out our rear windows.

And then we walk into Camden town. 

Another beautiful harbor .

And another great restaurant right at harborside.

From our table on the porch at Waterfront Restaurant, we can watch the sailboats take visitors in and out of the harbor.


There are a number of larger sailboats, some three masted, catering to the late summer visitors.

The view from the library is quite spectacular.

But, on we move to Acadia National Park.  We had added bikes again to our RV travels. 

One main purpose was to ride again at Acadia on the carriage roads.  John D. Rockefeller Jr. built these carriage roads from about 1913 to 1940.

They are considered to be the best crushed stone roads in the United States. These roads are 16 feet wide.  But you will only see bikes, hikers, horse pulled wagons, and horses.

Here, we are above Jordan Pond.

Wildwood Stables offers horses for riding on the many miles of carriage roads.

You can imagine all of Rockefeller's friends and family enjoying these many roads back in the 20's and 30's.

In addition to the roads themselves, there are a number of beautiful stone bridges along the way.


We often will just stop to admire each one as we ride the roads.

Even the drains are well engineered and beautiful.

Another view from our bike ride.

This time towards Seal Harbor as we near Jordan Pond again.


Sure does raise your appetite.

Some lobster might be in order.

Labor Day in Mass.

Heads up to followers--a number of family pictures included in this issue.


Hello Lucas.   Seems a while already since we've seen you.

Good exercise--huh Grandma?

No speed reading Grandpa. 

I still like the pictures best.

The above line was from Grandpa by the way.

Wow!  Did you hear that Mom?

So Dad, what you're teaching me is a G Major chord, right?


Okay , I think you've got it Dad.

And to my skills on guitar, I will add piano as well.

Yes, I am in charge.


Any questions?

Madison is totally surprised to have this pretty little box.


Thank you Aunty Rachel.   

Is that a great smile or what?

Madison had just seen Annie performed in Portsmouth , New Hampshire.

So now she knows how to play the melody from
Tomorrow--
-"The sun will come out-----tomorrow."

Good song for New England.

Oh, it's good to have aunts and uncles.

Not to mention grandmas and grandpas and cousins and neighbors and good friends.

Speaking of cousins----


Is this how we do this routine Madison?

Yep, I think I'm getting it.

We've got to do that again Madison.


One more time!

The master of the ribs. 

Not to mention two different kinds of grilled chicken, brats, hamburgers, hot dogs, and what else.

What was that?  Oh no, not for an army, but that was a lot of great food.

Massachusetts and the northeast are known for many great orchards and farms.

Off we go to the local Carlson Orchards in Harvard for some raspberries and peaches.

Even Lucas gets in on the picking.


Of course he was extremely neat about munching a few as well.

 I don't know much about varieties of raspberries, but these were the juiciest, sweetest, and most tasty of any I have ever consumed.

This is a full container Dad.

Are we proud or what?









Yes, Madison. 

These are Madison peaches, especially named for you.

Great place for apple picking as well.

Not to mention cider donuts, apple crisp, and caramel apples

Even us little guys have our special friends.

Labor Day is over and we must move.

This time up to Winslow Park in Freeport, Maine.

Yes, that is only 5 miles from the LL Bean store, but what a beautiful park overlooking the saltwater Harraseeket River.

This park was a farm back in the early 1700's.

The farmhouse to the right was built about 1800 and is in the center of the park.

The last owner gave the land and the buildings to Freeport in the 1950's.  About 90 acres.

What a great gift!

Couldn't help but take a picture of this unit at Winslow Park.  A most comfortable setup with a small Tab trailer with a unique added shelter, deck, and chairs.

There is a nice walk around the park which is surrounded on three sides by water.


This is looking out to the Harraseeket  Marina.

Jan had remembered this walk from the last time we were here.

That was ten years ago in our tent trailer.

A great view out our windows.  Many sailboats all day long and a sunrise over the water.
 A small reminder of the miles and miles of beautiful Maine coast.