Have Heart, Will Travel

sea life

One if by Carriage, Two if by Sea

Life lessons, Maine, National Parks, RV destinationsNancy Powell4 Comments

We continued our exploration of Acadia National Park on Day 30 of our Grand Adventure.  We decided to check out a small portion of the island's Carriage Roads, which were planned and financed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. between 1913 and 1940.

There are 57 miles of carriage roads in the park for the use of hikers, bikers, horse riders or even horse-drawn carriages. Motor vehicles are not allowed. This feature is just one aspect that shows the foresight and generosity that went into planning Acadia, making it one of the great national parks of the country.

There are also many beautiful bridges among the roads. We spent some time at this one.

There are also many beautiful bridges among the roads. We spent some time at this one.

Even with so, so many visitors to Bar Harbor and the park in August, there was peace during our walk along one of the carriage roads to Eagle Lake.

Even with so, so many visitors to Bar Harbor and the park in August, there was peace during our walk along one of the carriage roads to Eagle Lake.

Underneath the bridge we explored was a rocky stream.

Underneath the bridge we explored was a rocky stream.

Petunia found it a very enticing place to explore.

Petunia found it a very enticing place to explore.

After Petunia made her way to all the rocks she could easily reach, she paused to determine each time if she could make the jump to the next one, which was a little further than comfortable, while also wet and slippery.  I remember willing myself to be quiet and watch, neither encouraging her to go for it nor discouraging her from the risk.  I had the feeling even then that this was a parenting lesson with training wheels...a foreshadowing of many such, ever more consequential, moments to come.

We were blessed enough to still have Petunia's grandparents with us and they treated us to a wonderful cruise out of the harbor that afternoon. We saw animals, natural beauty, summer "cottages" of the uber wealthy, a lighthouse and all type of marine vessel!

The biggest treat was to come toward the end, however.

We set sail for our tour. We were threatened if anyone dared hum the tune to Gilligan's Island. ha!

We set sail for our tour. We were threatened if anyone dared hum the tune to Gilligan's Island. ha!

Well, isn't that something?

Well, isn't that something?

Egg Rock Lighthouse, with all sorts of sea birds and seals on the rocks around it.

Egg Rock Lighthouse, with all sorts of sea birds and seals on the rocks around it.

Look at the little guy in the bottom left corner. Is he posing for the camera?

Look at the little guy in the bottom left corner. Is he posing for the camera?

By this time, Petunia had been going around town for a couple days in her officers navy hat that was a gift from her grandfather. We were told that the female captain of the ship might welcome a little help, and sure enough...Petunia got to pilot the ship through Frenchman Bay.  She was honest-to-goodness steering the ship under the direction of the captain, following commands and in control of the wheel under the captain's watchful eye. What an opportunity!

Love our little sailor girl!

Love our little sailor girl!

What a brave mariner!

What a brave mariner!

Listening to some tricks of the trade!

Listening to some tricks of the trade!

Well done, officer!

Well done, officer!

When we got back to land, it was close enough to low tide that we could walk out on the bar again.  This time, though, Petunia spent some time trying to skip rocks and needed a little help.

So she got her next lesson of the day...this time a lesson on rock skipping from Gramps Fuzz!

So she got her next lesson of the day...this time a lesson on rock skipping from Gramps Fuzz!

Showing off the great skipping rock she found to put her new found knowledge to the test.

Showing off the great skipping rock she found to put her new found knowledge to the test.

There it goes!

There it goes!

Happy with her results!

Happy with her results!

We decided to end the full and wonderful day with a ride to the top of Cadillac Mountain for the sunset view.

What a way to end a fabulous day!

What a way to end a fabulous day!

Day 28: Exploring the Bar in Bar Harbor

Maine, RV destinationsNancy Powell4 Comments

One of the many things we have loved about our previous visits to Maine is our usual day trip to Bar Harbor, a beautiful coastal town that has much to offer.  In the past, we have come to see the boats, explored some of the natural wonders in nearby Acadia National Park, taken a whale-watching cruise, eaten delicious food, and shopped in the one-of-a-kind stores that line a few blocks near the water. There never seems to be enough time to hardly scratch the surface of all there is to do and see around here.

Having an RV this time meant we could stay in a campground very close to Bar Harbor for several days and experience many more things all in one visit.  After getting set up at camp, we took the Island Explorer, a free bus that operates all over Mt. Desert Island where Bar Harbor is located, into town.

Of course the first thing you have to do in Bar Harbor is come down to the waterfront and take in the scenery.  When we arrived, the gray overcast day was just giving way to the sun and we caught the transition as we looked out at the water.  While some rays of light were starting to shine through, the last of the fog was still burning off.

 

We realized that we were there shortly after low tide and that we would be able, for the first time, to walk out onto the bar that gives Bar Harbor its name.

What a fascinating experience to get to walk way out on what is normally the bottom of the sea!

Petunia and I are walking out at the beginning of the bar. Yes, this is normally covered in water high enough for ships to pass over. That land out there?  It's Bar Island. But a couple times a day, a little before and a little after low tide, …

Petunia and I are walking out at the beginning of the bar. Yes, this is normally covered in water high enough for ships to pass over. That land out there?  It's Bar Island. But a couple times a day, a little before and a little after low tide, you can walk (or drive your car) to the island.

Many interesting things await discovery out there!

Many interesting things await discovery out there!

When we went out, we were past low tide, so some water was starting to come back in. The little pools of water made the exploration even more exciting. We got to see a good bit of (very small) sea life in that water.

When we went out, we were past low tide, so some water was starting to come back in. The little pools of water made the exploration even more exciting. We got to see a good bit of (very small) sea life in that water.

All the while, higher water and large ships are not too far away.

All the while, higher water and large ships are not too far away.

The water comes back in so subtly, but so quickly, that you don't realize how fast it is rising.

The water comes back in so subtly, but so quickly, that you don't realize how fast it is rising.

We had a fabulous hour out there. If the water weren't coming back in rather quickly, we could have stayed longer.

We had a fabulous hour out there. If the water weren't coming back in rather quickly, we could have stayed longer.

By the time we got out on the bar, the weather was wonderful!

By the time we got out on the bar, the weather was wonderful!

This is what happens when the tide comes back in so unexpectedly fast.  Mark had a little dry path to walk out and look at some pools and two minutes later, his path was gone.  He had to balance on a rock and take off his shoes so they wou…

This is what happens when the tide comes back in so unexpectedly fast.  Mark had a little dry path to walk out and look at some pools and two minutes later, his path was gone.  He had to balance on a rock and take off his shoes so they wouldn't get soaked.

Petunia, a lover and respecter of all life forms, got carried for a lot of the visit because she couldn't stand the thought of possibly stepping on a shell or clam and injuring it.  She made certain we stepped as carefully as possible, too. Lov…

Petunia, a lover and respecter of all life forms, got carried for a lot of the visit because she couldn't stand the thought of possibly stepping on a shell or clam and injuring it.  She made certain we stepped as carefully as possible, too. Love her heart!

We sure did work up an appetite and were thrilled to get back "on land" and go eat a delicious dinner, followed by the first of many trips to an ice cream shop during our visit.  What a great day and our Bar Harbor adventure was just barely under way!