Life Rocks when your living room rolls
![]() I was very excited to get to Maine. We were going to see some old friends we hadn't seen in a while and meet up with some recent friends we just met. Our travel day was a test for my ability to sit for a long time while we drive. I did surprisingly well. We stopped once about 2.5 hours at an empty bank parking lot. It is the best thing about pulling your home with you. We were able to make lunch, use the bathroom and just stretch our legs before heading back to finish the remaining part of the drive. We pulled into our campground around 3 and were met by a worker. They take our name and call it into the office so they are ready for us. I walk in and get us all checked in. When we made our reservation back in March they didn't have a full hookup available for the week so we ended taking a water/electric for 2 nights then will move mid week to a full hookup site. We had been boondocking for the past 2 nights and our gray tank was full so we had to go dump at the dump station first. Once done the worker escorts us to our site. This was a first but I have heard from others that this is common in a lot of parks. I guess it just isn't a Vermont thing 😛. ![]() Once we are set up we decide to take a walk down to the ocean. It is about a 10 minute walk from the campground. It is low tide but all along the beach are people having fires, grilling or just hanging out. There is something about salt water that just makes me happy. We walk around for a bit then we head back to the camp ground to make dinner and a relaxing evening by the fire. ![]() Monday was Labor Day so Chris had the day off. We planned to head to Acadia National Park to walk the Ocean Trail and about halfway hike up Gorham Trail, then finish up the remainder of Ocean Trail. As the trail name speaks for itself "Ocean Trail" is a 4-mile trail that follows along the coastline. There are many stopping points that give you vistas of the ocean waves breaking along the rock walls. The fog had been lifting but still gave for a very magical look over the ocean. The hike up Gorham was pretty cool. There were views of the ocean and surrounding mountains depending on where you were on the trail. We didn't realize there were two different trails to get to the top but as we were heading down a couple was coming up it so we quickly detoured down that other way. It was definitely a bit more challenging but we were glad to have the switch up of trails. At the bottom we continued on Ocean Trail which ends at Otter Lookout. We sat for a while but unfortunately we didn't get to see any otters 😫. Chris did capture some photos of a Cormorant fishing in the water. I am not sure what he was getting but it looks like some type of eel. On our way back the tide was in so the waves were crashing and causing incredible splashes. We tried to catch them in a photo but I think they were shy because anytime we put the camera away the largest splash would happen. It was still very satisfying to just sit there and watch. I tend to take these times to appreciate all that is around me and all that I have. We finished the day with over 6.4 miles. We knew the day wasn't over yet and were looking forward to heading back to the campground to change up and head back down to Bar Harbor for an evening in town. ![]() There was a free bus that offered rides all around Bar Harbor that stopped right at our campground. We looked over the schedule and headed to catch the bus which brought us right into town. We decided on a place called Blaze and were very happy with our choice. The atmosphere was a vibe and the drinks & food were great. After dinner, we checked out a place called Barnacles that was recommended to us to have a round of drinks. We had just a little bit of time before the last bus will be leaving so we hit up Ben & Bills for some ice cream. They had every flavor imaginable. They even had one called Lobster, that is a hard NO! It was a lightly buttered ice cream with lightly buttered lobster meat 🤢. Chris didn't get ice cream but he did find a Rum fudge that was to die for. We made our way back to the bus and back to the camp ground we went. ![]() Tuesday was a quiet day and evening because we knew Wednesday was going to be busy and long. Chris worked until about 11:30 then we headed out for a 1.5-hour drive to Machias. When we started planning this trip, visiting Hailey and Kelly was a must. We had met them about 2 years ago when Chris and I were doing an overnight hike on the long trail. They stayed in the same shelter as us and the next day we kept passing each other over the 7 miles to the next shelter. We stopped for a break and have something to eat which they were there doing the same. While there we were chatting with them. They had been on the long trail for 13 days and over the past week they had some pretty chilly weather and some snow. Hailey knew she was at her limit and didn't have much left to keep pushing forward. We only had to hike back down to our car so we told them if they needed a ride to Burlington we could get them there and they could find a way back home to Maine. Kelly was not wanting to stop but knowing it was the safest thing they agreed to take the ride home. They couldn't have been happier when we got to the car and we had cold beers waiting for us. We dropped them off at a hotel and the next day they took a bus home. We have stayed in contact with them since. Hailey is such a well rounded badass. She has her own tattoo shop, is lead singer in her band, and also manages the band. Keeping up with social media, scheduling gigs and keeping the guys all in line. When we scheduled to come visit them we also asked if she would be willing to tattoo Chris and I. We have been talking about getting crown tats for a while and couldn't image anyone but Hailey giving us them. After our appointment we headed back to Hailey and Kelly's house. Hailey had picked up over 30 lobsters from her dad's boat earlier that day. They had the water boiling and began to cook them all. A few of the band members had also stopped by which was great to meet. We had such an awesome evening enjoying the freshest lobster 🦞 by a fire, having drinks with the most wonderful company. We knew we still had to drive back home so we said our goodbyes and headed back to Bar Harbor. ![]() Thursday was a pretty chill day with Chris working and I did my pre-travel day cleaning. That evening we had plans to meet up with another couple we met at one of our stays in Vermont. They also are full-time RVers and we realized we will be in Bar Harbor at the same time so we had to have dinner with them. We had a 5:30 time set and we all met at the restaurant. We enjoyed a nice meal then after went to another local restaurant to have a few more drinks. It was great talking RV life and exchanging stories with them. Until we meet up again, safe travels Susan & Tracy. Friday was our last day in Maine and we wanted to make the most of it. Chris got some work done then we headed back to Acadia National Park to hike Cadillac Mountain. The hike up the North Ridge trail was gradual but felt like it went on forever. As I tend to always say, the hike was worth the climb. The ocean views were gorgeous. The clouds were just lifting and as we sat on the summit for a bit, then the clouds came back in covering the islands like blankets. Chris had seen that there was a geo marker plaque so we found our way to it for our celebratory shoe photo. On the way down we lost trail and found ourself on the side of the mountain seeing views we wouldn't have got to seen. We soon saw a blue blaze and were back on track. ![]() We had tried to catch a sunset on Friday morning but the fog was too thick to see anything so that was a bust. Saturday morning we got up early again to see if the weather would be in our favor and it sure seemed like we would get to see it. We walked down to Hadley's Point and walked over slippery rocks, stirring up all the mosquitos so that anytime you stop you are eaten alive. I set my phone on a rock and walked away to be off the slippery rocks and be able to move around to keep the bugs away. As I'm watching the bright colors showing all of a sudden clouds start to come in minutes before the sun rising. I walk back over the rocks to get my phone and right before getting to it I fell so hard catching myself with my hands causing me to make a huge gash in my hand. I grabbed my phone and headed back down the beach upset the clouds came in but even more upset that I fell and have blood just dripping down my hand. ![]() On Monday when we came into Acadia, we had purchased a week pass but after talking with the ranger and how many national parks we will be going into, it made sense we exchanged the week pass and get the annual pass. We had hoped to do this while we were out but the park had closed by the time we were off the mountain so I had to run up in the morning. Thankfully there was a visitor center about 10 minutes from our campground so I went and got the annual pass, filled up the truck and back to finish packing up to head to our next state.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
Adventurers
|