Magnet #43
It's been my mantra, when opportunity knocks, it's usually best to open the door, or at least take a peek!
When childhood friend Carol and her husband John asked Pete and me to join them for a week of sailing aboard their gunboat Chim Chim, it didn't take but a second to accept. I've known Carol since we were very small girls. With their racing /cruising gun boat temporarily stationed off the coast of Maine for the summer of 2019, catching up with the couple for a few days on their racing yacht sounded like an incredible experience.
Chim Chim (in the center)
And it was! John and Carol, and their captain and first mate, Owen and Bri, treated us to an over the top sailing adventure despite Mother Nature providing very little wind during the week. Our Maine coast itinerary included visiting marinas in Belfast, Camden, and a overnight moored off of the uninhabited conservation McGlathery Island.
Dinner aboard Chim Chim before --
First Mate Bri won an epic game of monopoly lasting all evening
A memorable highlight (hence the magnet) was our athletic day spent at Acadia National Park outside Bar Harbor, Maine. Bucolic, sublime, surreal, — all understatements.
Pulling into the slip in Bar Harbour, Maine gave me goosebumps. Beauty makes me spellbound. Taking in the sights and sounds of the busy harbor made me pinch myself. Lucky me had been whisked off to a nirvana like waterscape
Nearby Acadia National Park is incredible, with something to offer for everyone of all ages. Be forewarned, Acadia may not be the Rocky Mountains but the paths are steeper than they appear. Our hike ‘up” soon became decidedly more than I anticipated. When I asked our captain (who grew up in the area), “How much further?", he responded at least three times “ Not far, 50 more feet”. Hmmm, his idea of “50 feet” differed just a bit from mine. And just when I felt we were actually on a death march to Bhataan, our path opened up to the glorious summit.
How much further???
The view is definitely worth the effort!
Speechless, I spun around slowly, taking in what I feel may be the most beautiful scenery in the U.S. Northeast corridor.
The coast of Maine is raw, rugged, and simply breathtaking (especially after a good hike). Kidding aside, views from Acadia National Park offer a multitude of varied scenery to be slowly savored any time of the day.
After our hikes, we unanimously voted to explore more on bicycle. Rentals are easy to find in Bar Harbor.
Cycling on the Acadia's carriage roads
Eagerly, we tore out of town to cycle a portion of the 45 miles of carriage roads John D. Rockefeller created between 1913 and 1940.
Travelers Tip: To access Acadia National Park’s carriage roads, you must first ascend an extremely steep hill from Bar Harbor. For most bike riders, in relatively good shape, the incline is a mild challenge. For folks in moderate shape, such as myself, I recommend renting an e-bike or allow time to stop for breaks. Regardless, have plenty of water on hand.
We enjoyed Acadia so much that after returning our bikes from an exhilarating work out, we jumped into our rented Suburban and entered the park in comfort on four wheels.
Travelers Tip: Acadia is quite large. Research the grounds before your arrival. I highly recommend stopping at Jordon Pond House for lunch in the Adirondack style lodge. Our meal was fantastic and the ambiance is a unique find.
Overall, If you appreciate charming, old school simpler times, Acadia National Park fits the bill.
Maine is super popular these days, making the state’s nickname The Vacationland, more relevant than ever. This is no Disneyland. It’s better!
This is on our bucket list! Taking the camper!