Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park

Today was a good day…at least it ended good. 

 

This morning, we began having power surges; heard a pop and smelled electrical wiring.  He had to plug into the 30 amp instead of 50 amp as it was uneven voltage (best as I can explain it).  Anyway, it blew out our coffee pot (and hope that’s all.)  We told the office, but they didn’t seem too concerned. 

 

After that, our neighbors left….whoopee… Let me make this perfectly clear…Arkansas does not hold all the rednecks in the world.  Massachusetts has its share for sure.  They were right next to us.  I thought they were gonna take out a tree leaving.  Really gouged up the dirt around their site.  They moved several sites down. 

 



At Eagle Lake/Acadia National Park ME

Then, we left.  We took the shuttle into Bar Harbor Village Green , (met a really nice couple from Boston while waiting on the shuttle and shared Mardi Gras information with them—they just started Rving and want to go down to LA ); walked a couple of blocks to Acadia Bike Rental and rented two mountain bikes (yes, we brought our own—that story later).  Then we walked back to Village Green and took the Bicycle Shuttle up to Acadia National Park/Eagle Lake.  Throughout the park are what is called Carriage Trails—beautiful, wide trails for walkers, bikers and carriages and/or horses.

 



History:  In 1901, a group of wealthy Mount Desert Island summer residents banded toether to set aside the land that would later become Acadia National Park.  One of the park’s early benefactors was John D. Rockefeller, Jr., the millionaire industrialist and philanthropist who later planned and built NYC Rockefeller Center.  Rockefeller hoped the land would one day become “a real gem of the first order among national parks.” But, in 1913, that hope was threatened by an unforeseen menace:  the arrival of the automobile on Mount Desert Island.  Rockefeller, however, did not take this threat lying down.  Over the next 27 years, he built a system of carriage roads crisscrossing his property, most of which he later donated to the park.  Gently graded and lined with broken stone, the “Rockefeller Roads” (as they were known) offered a refuge from the “horseless carriage” for hikers, horseback riders and the open, horse-drawn carriages.  Linking the 45 miles of carriage roads were a series of handsome bridges that were built with local granite and cobblestones.

 



Bubble Lake

We so enjoyed the bike ride!  We rode for 6-7 miles around Eagle Lake with a side trip to Bubble Lake (because it sounds like bubbles when the waves hit the rocks along the shoreline).  It was a real treat to ride as we’ve  not ridden bikes for **** years.  There was one hill….yep, had to walk part way.  It was tough.  But, what goes up always comes down, so the ride down was fantastic.  Horse poop along the way—felt like home.

 

After riding for over two hours, we caught the Bicycle Shuttle back to Bar Harbor, turned in the bikes and then stopped at the Side Street Café for nachos and drinks.  Perfect mid-afternoon snack.  Then, we walked up a block and hit the shops.  HAL Maasdam (cruise ship) was in port today so there were lots of people in town.  But everyone was very nice, polite.  That goes for the locals.  Everyone speaks; everyone is polite; everyone (even the teens) say “thank you”.  We shopped for a bit and found some real bargains.  Ronnie got a waterproof jacket w/hood for $20.  I found a scarf that I loved for $10 (may go back to that store….lots of stuff)  Ran into a couple from Alabama (Auburn) and shared coaches’ stories.  Lol.   Had a wonderful ice-cream waffle cone on the street and people watched for a bit.  Then we headed back up to Village Green to wait on the shuttle back to the Campground.  Once here, we jumped in the truck and, alas, had to make a trip to Walmart for a new coffee pot. 

 

It was a really good day.  We got to see Acadia away from the cars and tour buses.  Although, we took the Park Loop Road last night and got some good views of the Atlantic Ocean and the rugged Maine coastline.  Today was a calming day. 

Bar Harbor

 

The Bike Story:  We borrowed our daughter and son-in-law’s mountain bikes to bring with us.  Rob’s (Ronnie’s) is great.  He bought a new cushy seat for it, but it rides great.  I immediately wrecked on Dana’s (this was at home) and felt like it was too tall for my short legs.  So without really giving it a trial, I went down to WM and bought a cheap 24” bike.  Rode it a bit at home and, as our road is hilly, didn’t think much when I huffed and puffed on it.  However, the other day on the nice, flat bike trail at the other campground, it was tough to ride.  We  adjusted the seat, but nothing seemed to make it pedal easy.  Ronnie got on it and I got on his; my, what a difference!  His was effortless; and he agreed that mine was hard to pedal.  That’s what I get for buying a cheapie.  Anyway, we decided the easiest thing to do would be to just rent them for the afternoon.  It was cheap and they were super, great bikes.  When I get home, I am trying Dana’s again….wish I had it now because we plan to ride more.  Oh well, live and learn. 

 

Not sure about tomorrow.  I want to see some lighthouses, but none on the tours are close by.  We want to watch the massacre at 3 ish so we’ll decide in the morning.  We did get a picture of one lighthouse in Frenchman’s Bay…from a great distance.

 

 

Bar Harbor, ME

Nothing to post right now.  We got here yesterday around 1:30.  To Desert Island Narrows RV Resort.....NOT.  Old park that was built back in the day when trailers were little or popups.  Hilly, very few level sites and most of them were taken.  Short.  We are 32 feet and fill it completely UP.  And can't really get level.  Have to park the truck sideways up on the site.  At least they are spread out a bit.  These big motorhomes are really filling it up.

A neighbor came in around 11:30-midnight last night....the noise!!!  It's a really long toyhauler; he took out part of an embankment when he turned in (too fast) and slammed doors and talked loud for about 30 minutes or longer.  His truck is still parked in the road.  If we were to leave today, we couldn't.  He's completely blocked the road.  They just got up  (6) , loud....still haven't moved the truck.  R said they were looking at other spots....good.

Now, we have voltage problems.  uugg.

We drove up through Acadia National Park yesterday.  It's beautiful.  Not sure of our plans today.
We are really tired and need a day to relax.  These roads and a dually can really beat you up.

Day 9 Kennebunkport, ME

It was a wonderful day.  Beautiful weather...high 60's; low 70's, sunshine. 

We started off this morning with a 3 mile bike ride on a great trail right beside our RV.  Then back to the RV and changed clothes and drove into Kennebunkport. 

Now, I love these little quaint Maine towns, but they are not made for big trucks.  Narrow streets.  As we approached the little town....oh my, the traffic.  And, of course, road work right in the middle of the little town.  As soon as we could, we turned around and went back to a public parking spot we saw earlier and walked a few blocks to town....so much easier!  Found out that a cruise ship had docked (somewhere?) and Kennebunkport was a Shore Excursion!  Four or five big tour buses full of senior citizens :) landed.  It was wild.  We chose to walk on up the hill where there were fewer people and shopped for a bit.  Stopped at Ryan's Corner House for a lobster roll (or as they call them:  lobstah rolls).  I'd heard about them forever and never had one.  So we had one.  hummmmm.  A shrimp poboy would have been better.  It was sorta bland...no spices at all.  Just lobster, mayo, lettuce on a roll. 

Anyway, we walked back across the bridge...the buses were loading up and the crowds thinned out a bit.  So we shopped some more.  Found a really neat jewelry store that I almost hyperventilated in...but managed to come out not too badly hurt.  We enjoyed walking around the quaint little town a lot.

Thought this was an interesting picture.  The Republican Headquarters shared a building with Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream. 

Guard house  and drive

Then back to the truck for a ride up Ocean Avenue to see Walker's Point, the summer home of George H.W. and Barbara Bush.  Oh goodness, it was beautiful.  I can see why they love it so much.  It's built out on a point right in the Atlantic.  It's quite a compound with guard gates (2) and several other homes between the guards.  There were people there and we suspect the Secret Service is there all the time.  The gate on the street had a guard in it. 

We passed it, then went further down to park and walked back to get a better look.  Then walked on up to St. Ann's Church where the Bush's go to church when they are here.  Jeb Bush's son was married in St. Ann's.  It's a gorgeous old church, built in the 1700's with rock walls inside and stained glass windows throughout.  It sits right on the Atlantic Ocean and the beautiful rocky shoreline.   We visited inside the church a while...we were the only ones there and it was quiet and peaceful.  There is also an outdoor prayer/meditation area facing the ocean with benches donated in honor/memory of people. They hold worship services out there during the summer months.

Then we began the walk back up to Walker's Point.  As we approached, we immediately saw that they had lowered the flags to half-staff because of the deaths in the US Embassy attack in Libya.

The lady here at the RV park said her daughter works at a restaurant in Kennebunkport and when the Bush's come to town, they like to eat in that restaurant.  She said the town nearly has to shut down for that because of all the security.  God Bless Them.  I would not want to live like that.  But they have served our country.

It was a good walk up and down the coast line.  We saw many interesting sights.  The tide was beginning to come in and the waves were creating some  action.  We walked down to an area that would be under water by late afternoon and picked up a few rocks...smooth and worn from the ocean waves. Saw lots of bushes with big red berry looking things on them...not sure what it is.






I love the architecture of the homes here.  And everyone of them has a landscaped yard that is to die for and is kept immaculately.


 We left Walker's Point and went by Walmart...what a transition!!  But needed to pick up a few groceries.  Came back to the RV, very tired...we walked a LOT.    Grilled burgers and sat down!


Barbara and George HW's neighbors

 Tomorrow we leave for a short drive to Bar Harbor.  Looking forward to that.

Day 8 Saco, ME

A boring blog tonight, I'm afraid.  We left Black Bear CG in NY around 9 this morning and stayed on I 84 nearly all the way.  We went through Connecticut, Massachusetts, a portion of New Hampshire and then arrived in Maine.  Got to the RV ? park around 3:30.

We chose Silver Springs RV park in Saco, Maine to stop for two nights.  It's near Kennebunkport and we wanted to see Bush's home.  So we plan to drive down the coast tomorrow.  I do not like this place....it's more like a glorified mobile home park.  I saw only 3 or 4 sites for people like us; the rest are mobile home/manufactured home or "seasonal" campers.  But  it will do for our purposes.  It is quiet and there is a really nice bicycle trail right next to us that we intend to try out tomorrow.

We stopped somewhere in Massachusetts for diesel and decided to fix a PB&J sandwich.  While eating at the table, I noticed a couple parked near us.  She was straightening up the trunk of their car and he was lying on the grass...stretching...and relaxing.  She took pictures, etc.  When we walked out the door, he was walking towards us...my first thought:  uh oh...he's out of gas and out of money.  But, no,  he wanted her to take his picture standing by the RV....with his arm raised out as if it was his.  We all laughed and visited with them for a bit.  He is from India and she's from "all over" with relatives in Boston. 

We went out tonight and grabbed a hamburger (I know, right here in lobster country)  but I am so tired, wiped out, I just didn't feel like going inside a restaurant.  The roads up here are so bad, they will beat you  to death.  And we did toll roads all the way and PAID for the beating.  Here in Maine, we did get a stretch of pretty good road.

Weather is cool.  It's nearly 6 here and getting dark already. 

Thursday we will be in Bar Harbor, ME for 4 nights.  Looking forward to getting off the roads for a change.  Highway noise really gets to me...had to put paper in my ears. 

Just a comment

Some have emailed that they have not been able to make a comment on the blog.   I've gone to the settings and made some changes that should permit anyone to comment---and you shouldn't need any kind of ID.   This is the first time I've used this Blog Site, so am not real familiar with it.  So.....somebody try it out...would love to hear your comments.  Hopefully, I've made it easier.

Day 7 Black Bear CG/NY

Today was a rest day….I did a little cleaning of the RV; Ronnie did a little maintenance.  He cooked breakfast this morning (eggs, bacon, toast) and set off the smoke alarm…lol.  But it was great. 

 

I worked on the blog from yesterday….took FOREVER to get the pictures downloaded.  Verizon service is slow here; and their WIFI is slow, although it says the signal  is excellent. But finally got it done.

 

 We are at the very back on the upper level of the park.  The park is big but nice and quiet, but  kinda rustic…Out of 9 sites in this section lined up here backed up to the woods, they have crammed three RV’s in 3 side by side instead of spreading us out for privacy.  But it’s not too bad.  Wooded all behind us. (a 4^th just came in beside us)  Go figure.

 

We had to get more propane and diesel, so we went down to the little village of Florida.  It’s a beautiful day.  After the storms, like back home, the temps have got a hint of fall.  We slept with the windows open last night…a long time.  Got up at 8:30 a.m.  It was 70 degrees today and is supposed to be down in the high 40’s tonight.  Love it. 

 

The rest of the day we spent with the windows open enjoying the fresh air/sunshine and read.  And worked on the route for tomorrow.

 

I made reservations for Bar Harbor, ME and talked to the young man who worked at the resort reservation center that I called.  As we chatted, he commented on the weather where he was (raining) and I told him we were about an hour north of NYC and the weather was beautiful.  He said that he was from NYC ( Lower East Side).  When I told him we were just there yesterday to see the WTC, he said he had lived 5-6 blocks from the WTC and worked for a company who did carpentry work and had a contract with the WTC.  He and his co-workers always met in the lower level and ate breakfast together, then went upstairs to work.  That morning, he was late for work and called his supervisor and told him.  They all waited on him.  As he walked to work, listening to  his music through his ear buds, he said he heard this great roar that was louder than his music.  He looked up and saw the plane hit the tower.  His emotions were unbelief, chaos…He said he felt blessed because he was late and he felt he saved the lives of his co-workers (I agreed with him and told him God had His hands on him that morning).  He said one of his managers worked in the upper floors of the building and didn’t make it out but did have time to make one phone call to his family…told his mom he loved her.  So sad…It was so interesting talking to him and listening to his first-hand account of that horrible day.  He saw it all.  And as he talked to me about it, he said it still made chills up his spine to talk about it.   He now lives in Florida. 

 

Defrosted the last of the gumbo for tonight…Good again over brown rice.

 

Tomorrow we take I 84 East then up through Connecticut to Saco, Maine….will visit the Kennebunkport area where the Bush’s have one of their homes.

 

Day 6 NYC

 

 

Oh my…what a day.  Enjoyed a long visit to NYC and the neatest part was finding that our nephew, Brian Boyer, a FEDEX pilot from Collierville, TN was on a 2 day layover there.  We met up and, as he’s been there a few times, was a huge help in getting us to all the places we wanted to see…..I think we wore him out.

 

Inside the commuter train

We left the RV at 7:20 a.m.  (early for us) and drove about 20 minutes to the Harriman, NY commuter train station which left at 8:25.  It was about a 50 minute ride and was very relaxing and enjoyable.  Hard to believe we were that close to NYC and we went thru woods/rock cliffs/streams.  We went through several small towns and stopped for others.  The train was never crowded at all.  We stopped at the Seacaucus NJ Transfer station and had to change trains into Penn Station.  Now that train was full.  Many other trains from all over the area had connected there and now all those folks wanted to go into NYC.  We had to stand up on that train, but it was less than a 10 minute ride.

 

THEN, we got to Penn Station.  Huge underground station where the NJ Transit trains, the PATH trains, the Long Island trains and all the subway trains meet.  It’s located under several big buildings (including Madison Square Garden).  It was a monster to find your way around.

 

Freedom Tower

Our plan was to get off the train and then get on the subway and go straight to Lower Manhattan to the World Trade Center.  After looking at dozens of signs to dozens of trains, subways, and walking down stairs, through corridors, upstairs, we found the E Train to the WTC.  Whew.  The plan worked.  But I was beginning to feel like a mole.  We got on the subway and rode for about 10 minutes, got off, walked up to street level and there it was.  The Freedom Tower….just right there!  Beautiful.  It took your breath away to stand there in awe of all that happened there.  They are building  5 towers and are in various stages of completion, but Freedom Tower is just something to see.  The entire area is fenced because of all the massive construction going on so we weren’t able to see much on the ground.  The memorial now requires tickets and they were booked up until December, so we didn’t get to see that.  When they get finished with it all, I’m sure it will all be more accessible to the public.  We walked for several blocks around it  while we waited on Brian to meet us there.

 

Services inside St. Paul's 9/9/12

St. Paul’s Chapel is immediately across the street from the WTC.    They were having church services there, so we went inside for a bit.  It was a very interesting and very informal service.  There were people from all over the US and Great Britain.  One couple was mentioned (I think their name was Clark) by the Priest as having come to the church fairly often and we saw later that they were the parents of a young man killed in the towers.

 

St. Paul’s was used extensively for rest and support for the workers of 9/11 recovery.  It was a haven for them.  There were many memorials around the perimeter of the sanctuary….pictures, a cot like they brought in for the workers to rest on instead of the pews, some of the boots/jackets that the firemen wore.  Then there were pictures….of the dead, missing….just like what we saw on TV of the huge wall of photos when so many were looking for their missing loved ones.  I am assuming that these particular pictures are of people who have St Paul connections.

 

The Chapel is so full of history…George Washington prayed there.  We saw pictures of the cemetery at the back of the church (which is the side that is across the street from the WTC) after the towers fell and was a foot deep in ash and debris.  There were sculptures that were made from some of the steel from the towers.   It was almost overwhelming.  I never expected to see such reminders of it.  I can’t begin to imagine how the people of NY felt that day and days after.  It’s hard to believe it’s been 11 years.  They will never forget; nor will anyone who sees these things.  There was a Pre 9/11 Museum on the corner that supposedly contained other mementos from the Towers, but I just couldn’t handle any more.  The Chapel held so much.

 

Ronnie and Brian near WTC

We are watching a Fox News special on that day tonight.  It’s been interesting to see it now that we’ve walked the area.  The people were running down Church Street…right where we walked today.

 

After Brian met us, we walked down to Wall Street, had my picture made by the Bull, saw the NY Stock Exchange.  The Financial District is guarded pretty good.  Police were noticably around and some of the streets have huge barriers preventing cars from driving through.  Thin ribbons of blue sky were visible between the tall tall buildings.  Then we walked back up to the subway and went up to Midtown, exiting at 7^th avenue and 53^rd street right beside the Sheraton Hotel where Brian is staying.

 

It was so different from Lower Manhattan…bustling businesses, cafes, hotels.  Busy, busy.  We looked for a place to eat and sat down at an outside café, looked at the menu and the $22 roast beef sandwich and decided we could do better.  We were expecting high prices in NY, but that was a little over the top.  Walked a few doors down and found a nice deli with flatbread paninis for a lot less...  Including a bottle of water and chips.  Good deal and they were very, very good.  Sat at a bar facing the street and ate while we people watched.

 

Times Square

Then we walked down Broadway looking at the theaters, hotels, people.  Proceeded on to Times Square.  My goodness, it was alive.  Lots of people, lots of colorful signs, stores of every kind.  Saw where the ball drops on NYE every year.  As many people as were there today….can’t imagine being there on NYE. 

 

 Fifth Avenue….had to go into Saks.  Brian found a beautiful sweater for me (Made in Germany), but Ronnie didn’t seem inclined to buy it for me ($1800)….it

was pretty.  LOL. 

 

 

 



Stopped by and went inside St. Patrick’s Cathredral…wow.  So beautiful.  Many, many dignataries have been in there.  Awesome.

 



Fox News

On to Rockefeller Center, found Fox News, NBC News, Jewelry Row (blocks of jewelry stores (mostly diamonds)…amazing.  It was blocks and blocks of walking, seeing the sights, hearing the sounds, smelling the aromas, the diversity of the people….I’d bet 99.9 percent of all we saw were visitors from ALL over. 

Feet and legs were beginning to feel it so we went back to the Sheraton and sat in the bar area with some $5 cokes and visited a bit, up to Brian’s room for a bathroom break, then Ronnie and I took off walking to Penn Station to find our train back “home”.  We elected to walk so we could see more sights but had forgotten we had to walk back through Times Square.  More people, more noises…thick with people, but it was okay.  Everyone was nice, polite and not pushy.

Train from SEC to Harriman NY

Empire State Bldg

We got back to the Penn Station area/Madison Square Gardens and looked to the left and there was the Empire State Building in all its old glory.  Found our train station, bought our tickets and sat to wait for 30-40 minutes on the train back.  None were crowded and it was a pleasant trip back.  Got to Harriman at 7:20 p.m.   Showered, had a BLT and many glasses of lemonade for dinner…almost ready to hit the bed and I’ve already warned that it’s a sleep in day tomorrow!!

 

The only other thing we had on the list was a Staten Island Ferry ride to see the Statue of Liberty and the Manhattan skyline.  But we were warned of long lines on weekends and we only had the one day.  So that means we have to come back.  I’d love to come back, stay a week and see more sights (Central Park, Upper East Side, Brooklyn, a Broadway show, etc)

 

It was a great day.  For two hillbillies from Arkansas, the sights of Manhattan were amazing.  The city is so ALIVE.