From sea to shining sea

When we left North Conway, we said goodbye to Bob and JoAnn and traveled to Acadia National Park in Maine for a hike to Hadley's Point, sightseeing, a visit to Southwest Harbor, Bass Harbor, Bass Light, a drive up Cadillac Mountain and lunch at Thurston’s Lobster Pound before retiring for happy hour in William and Judy’s camper in Camden Hills State Park. 

neighborhood on wheels

the Cannery (smells like cat food here)

a lot of work goes on here!

we've ALL had breakfast with Grumpy!

Bob dreaming ...

oh yum

a bit chilly up here

but you can't beat the view

the washing machine

Mayberry bar and grill

Sadly, the Hunts headed south the next day, so we consoled ourselves by wandering around Bar Harbor (Bah Hahbah) admiring the town, the piers, the boats, the businesses, and the general campiness of the coastal town.

the boy does love mussels

After lobster lunches (mussels for Jay), the girls shopped while the guys pub-hopped searching for a place to watch the UT-FL game.  It appears the folks in Maine don't give a rat's behind about football, especially TN and FL, but they did find a sports bar with the game on.  Within seconds of the girls' arrival, the cable channel died....what to do?  Another couple in the bar (decked out in FL game gear) and the four of us were sad, but the owner of the restaurant/sports bar invited us upstairs to his office/great room to watch the game (he was a FL fan).  So, with lots of room, a big-screen view of the game, and pumpkin beers in BIG cups, we watched UT get stomped.  Again.  But it was loads of fun, we made some new best friends, and we loved the hospitality.  Some of these people are almost nice enough to be from Tennessee.

not everyone knew the words to "Rocky Top"

Sunday we drove to the Penobscot Observatory at Fort Knox (which is named after Rusty and Nancy's beautiful Maine Coon cat Penobscot who is now an angel) in Camden Hills State Park.  It was a breathtaking view, and even the floors of the Observatory were glass so you could see the view and the height (420 feet, 42 stories) from every angle (much to Judy's chagrin).

we need big parking lots

Penobscot Bay

long way down

close your eyes, Judy

beautiful view of the village below

On Sunday we drove the 27-mile Park Loop Road in the Acadia National Park, then stopped at Cappy's restaurant in Camden for a brief whistle-wetting session after some sightseeing in town.  There was a Shipyard Brewery distributor there for a promo.  We answered a few trivia questions for t-shirts and coozies (he really had to dumb it down for me, because I'm pretty ignorant of obscure facts about the Civil War....sorry, Lee, I meant the War of Northern Aggression).  He invited us to visit the brewery in Portland when we got there.  We visited the Rockland lighthouse and lunched at Booth Bay Harbor on Monday.  We couldn't get enough of the harbors (and lobster).

holding up yet another wall

trivia time in the pub with the Shipyard rep

Judy has a big tail

walkway to the Rockland lighthouse

ships of all sizes in the bay

the Rockland lighthouse

yard art

Tuesday we went to Portland, where we visited the brewery (of course) and had great chowder (chowdah) at Gilbert's and saw the Headlight. We were staying at Blueberry Pond campground (very remote), and called the ranger to see where we should buy lobster to cook for dinner (and also where to buy a pot large enough to steam it).  He suggested a market for the lobster, but said we didn't need a pot because the campground provided that (we were in Maine after all).  So we browsed through the huge L.L. Bean complex in Freeport before heading back for lobster. Not only did he have the pot, he set up the cooker and did the cooking!  YUM will we ever miss having lobster for breakfast, lunch and dinner!!

the brewery outside

the brewery inside

our friendly rep serving samples

the Headlight - gorgeous structure

 need just one size smaller

the BFI (no, no, it stands for FREEPORT)

what an accommodating guy

oh yes, oh yes

piggin out in the RV

the closest I got to seeing a moose

Wednesday we visited the Eastern Point Light and Ten Mile Island Light, as well as the Gloucester House before saying goodbye to William and Judy, who were heading to Cape Cod.  Gloucester has the famous statue of the seaman at the wheel, plaques memorializing those who perished at sea, and a very moving tribute and poem.  The movie Perfect Storm depicts events that occurred off the coast of Gloucester.

where are we?

don't forget to put the Captain in the trunk