Another fine day, Thurs, 7/28/22

Hello, Bar Harbor, Maine.  Such a pretty morning to anchor offshore.  We had no excursion or tour planned today, and we were in no hurry to tender ashore.  We're still learning where everything is on this ship, and our primary focus right now is relaxing.  After all, isn't that what being on board a ship is about?  We'll tender ashore later in the morning.

Look what followed us in the harbor!  Brightly colored, this Norwegian Pearl anchored up next to us. She carries close to 2400 passengers, which means she's much bigger than Insignia.  That's some nasty-looking smoke escaping the stack!

With no set plan in place, the four of us wandered along the waterfront a bit and then started up Main Street.  Did you know that the Town of Bar Harbor is actually on an island?  Mount Desert Island to be exact, and Bar Harbor serves as the gateway to Acadia National Park.  We'd all been to the park, so had no need to visit again today.

The things you see when you're Out and About!  The Hydrangeas along the way were in full bloom and very beautiful.  One of these flowers was wearing sunglasses!  

The day was warm, bordering hot (especially in the sun).  Our stomachs are already getting used to being fed three times a day, and ours were crying for lunch.  We stopped at a cafe called Peekytoe Provisions for a seafood lunch, sitting outside on their deck.  Afterward, by gum, it was too danged warm to keep on walking, and we had no need for tourist trinkets -- time to make for the ship, although when Nannie and I spotted this ancient graveyard, we wanted to give it an inspection.  We saw a number of interesting tombstones, like the one below.

Capt Stephen ....

Then it was time to return to our ship, and perhaps a dip in the pool?

The water wasn't warm enough for Jimmy, but it felt refreshing to Nannie and me.  I didn't know it was a saltwater pool till she splashed water at me (she'll pay).  We romped in the water and had a great good time.  In case you don't recognize us, Nannie is in blue and I'm in pink.  And we both have pretty painted toes for this trip.

Another sail away -- this one from Bar Harbor, Maine.  Our next POC is Halifax, tomorrow, arriving at Noon.  Here the ship is passing Egg Rock Lighthouse out in the middle of "the road" -- actually in Frenchman's Bay.  Cute, with a square tower projecting through the keeper's house, built in 1875.

Oh, man -- another delicious dinner outside at Terrace Cafe.  There's a man who looks contented with life.  We are just enjoying ourselves so much, as you can see, as you can imagine!

Clouds were moving in, obscuring the sun as we sailed away.  I had 10,000 steps on the ol' fitbit by bedtime.  Good to be on our feet, on land (the food is delicious, need to walk off those calories!).  Tomorrow is another country.  Tonight we cruise.  Goodnight.

8/14/10 kayaking the Androscoggin River

The Sea Eagle is ready to put in the Androscoggin.

"Dog" paddling?

Swift and choppy water in parts!

As we toodled along the road and were looking for a place to camp for the night, Bethel Outdoor Adventure and Campground popped into view. And they’re on the lively Androscoggin River. For a few bucks they’d take us ten miles upriver the next morning, drop us and our tandem inflatable kayak off, and leave us to our day! Bingo! We spent four hours paddling, floating and goofing off down the river, thru rips and rapids, around islands, and into shallow channels back to our campsite. Perfect weather for a day on the river. Met a red squirrel paddling like mad to get to the other side, a gaggle of common mergansers, and a family of river otters (who popped their heads up like periscopes to inquire about our business on their river!). Fun day!

Lunch break on a sandbar.

Playful river otters.

Isn't this a pretty sight?

Ohmygosh -- The Bridge!!!! 8/12/10

The 8-mile long (oh, soooo long!) Confederation Bridge that connects Prince Edward Island with New Brunswick, Canada, cost us money. The ride (bridge or ferry) to PEI is free, but you have to pay to leave! Our crossing today was smooth, thank goodness (unlike three years ago!). We drove straight thru New Brunswick and entered Maine at Houlton. What a delightful time we had for six-and-a-half weeks in the Atlantic Maritime Provinces of Canada.

Welcome back to the Land of the Free,  Home of the Brave: Hello America!  Go Red Sox!

One of my favorite moose signs!

Quoddy Head St Pk & West Quoddy L/H Maine 6/27/10

Diverse landscape: quiet forest and the unparalleled rocky coast.

A stop at High Ledge. Looking DOWN into clear, cold water! Enlarge to see Lighthouse.

After our picnic, Jimmy points to mama eider ducks with lots of babies. Another beautiful cluster of Beach-head iris.

Quirky ladder! Light built in 1858. Been to Westernmost, Southernmost & now Easternmost US points.

Ah, lucky us, another fine day for hiking - today it's to Quoddy Head State Park in Lubec, Maine on the eastern-most point of land in the entire USA, and its unique candy-striped lighthouse. We tramped the 2-mile coastal trail, a balsam-scented, flower-bedecked, up-and-down path with sweeping views of the coast and Grand Manan Island across the channel. The cool morning gave way to warm temps and we got hot. Nevertheless, this trail ranks way up in our Top 10 or maybe Top 5 favorites! We returned to Smartie by way of Thompson Trail, a somewhat boggy, shaded and fern-lined wide track, and then went on to the Bog Trail - followed by a walk to the Lighthouse (tower is closed). Put a few miles on the ol' feet today, but we came home raving about the day.

East Quoddy Head Lighthouse, June 26th

We had to climb up and down and all over to get to the picturesque lighthouse in the distance.

And finally, to round out this day, we drove to the east end of Campobello Island to check out the lighthouse. We had to wait for low tide at 6pm/ish - the lighthouse is only accessible at low tide. High and low water level differentials today were over 21' -- pay attention! We watched porpoises caper in the water as loons and eider ducks dipped underwater for their supper. A terrific ending to a very full day....

Roosevelt Campobello Internat'l Park, June 26th

From our Cobscook Bay St Pk campground, we drove a few miles to the town of Lubec, Maine, where we crossed a bridge to Campobello Island and, just like that, we were in New Brunswick, Canada and in the Atlantic time zone!

The Roosevelt Cottage on FDR's "Beloved Island."

Above and below.

 FDR's pipe and hat!

We wanted to tour The Roosevelt Cottage, FDR's magnificent 34-room summer home, open to the public free of charge. Franklin D. Roosevelt, 1882-1945 and America's 32nd President, spent many enjoyable vacations on Campobello Island in New Brunswick's Bay of Fundy. Roosevelt Campobello International Park was created on Jan 22, 1964 by a treaty between Canada and America as a memorial to President Roosevelt. It's Canadian soil that has become part of America's heritage.

The Cottage, built in 1897, has nearly 100% original furnishings from FDR's time, quite amazing. The entire tour was very moving. Outside, scenic vistas overlook the islands and shores of Passamaquoddy and Cobscook Bays in NB and Maine. The International Park is 1,134 hectares - woods, bogs and beaches where FDR tramped as a child, a young man, and as President. Google it to read more about it!

Down East, Maine - June 25

Established in 1937, Moosehorn NWR was named for Moosehorn Stream, a waterway within its boundaries. This is obviously a misnomer: Moose have antlers, not horns! While camping in Cobscook Bay St Pk, which is within the NWR, we hiked the north fork footpath for a couple of miles, hopscotching over rock-strewn streams, skirting the lake above, but we saw no mooses. We know they're around and about tho, 'cause we saw their droppings, smack in the middle of the footpath!!

Camden Hills St Pk ME 6/23-24

Across Highway 1, is a trail to the ocean and we set off shortly after we set up camp. We knew thundershowers were predicted and the sky was cloudy, but off we went nevertheless, sans umbrella. Yup, when we were as far away from shelter as we could get, we heard thunder and rain fell, but not much and we didn't melt or evaporate - and we had a very nice walk along this rocky coast, listening to the surf and loons offshore.

After dinner in the cool evening air, we drove to the top of Mt Battie enjoying spectacular views of Camden and its harbor, watching pleasure craft return from sea and a schooner sailing south. As I milled around up top, I stumbled upon wild Maine lowbush blueberries - oh joy! Jimmy retrieved a container from the car and we picked enuf little berries to liven up our breakfast cereal for two days! Happy days!

Spent part of the next day walking around in Camden. Bought three more Robert McCloskey children's books... all dealing with delightful Maine. Nice stay in Camden Hills St Pk!