The Maine coastal areas have been very special so far this summer. We love the small town New England charm and the beautiful, but rocky coastlines. The multitude of little fishing villages that all have some different vibes. On Tuesday, we moved northward one last time for this summer. From the Camden Maine area to the Bar Harbor/Acadia National Park area where we stay for one month!
While we are still in the middle of the summer, we have finally reached our end point destination for the summer. It was our goal to spend a month here and explore all of the Mount Desert Island (that includes the Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor, and 5-6 other villages.
I do hate to see the summer come to an end. I know that fall will be here soon after our month is over up here. I suppose the disliking of winter comes from all the years of living in the north and having to deal with snow, ice, sleet, etc., when having to make the commute to work. And during heavy snow having to climb up on the roof to clear off the added weight!
But now that I am retired, there is no more work commute. Also, since we are on wheels, there is no more winter as we just keep moving south as the weather starts to turn cold. So, why would I have this programmed dreaded feeling in the back of my mind. Not sure. I guess that I need a few more years living the winters in the deep south to get ‘re-programmed.’
But I have gotten sidetracked. Back to the topic. After our month is over here, we then make a transition to start moving back south again. We will see a new state, Connecticut, on the way back to Virginia.
The drive from our Megunticook Campground, near Camden Maine to the Narrows Too Camping Resort was a very scenic coastal tour along Hwy US-1, and then east on ME-3 to the small village of Trenton, just outside the Mt. Desert Island.
It was about 70 miles and took 3 hours due to some traffic and many slow speed zones, with one short stop . Not too bad though for a days work. Thankful to God for the safe travels.
The Narrows Too Camping Resort is a very nice facility that provides an awesome view of the Mt. Desert Narrows Bay. We actually have a nice view from our camper. More about the RV park and photos in another blog update.
About Mt. Desert Island/Acadia NP
Did you know that Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park were located on an island? From wikipedia: “Mt Desert Island (MDI) is the largest island off the coast of Maine. With an area of 108 square miles it is the 6th-largest island in the contiguous United States, and it is the second-largest island on the Eastern seaboard, behind Long Island and ahead of Martha’s Vineyard. According to the 2010 census, the island has a year-round population of 10,615, and it is estimated that two and a half million tourists a year visit Acadia National Park on the island.”
Here is a little map with some rough notations that I will explain:
The notation #1 is where we are located. Base camp.
#2 is called the Quiet Side of the island as most tourists focus on the other right-hand side. We want to spend a lot of time here, hiking and exploring the villages.
#3 is the town of Bar Harbor. It is very touristy. Lots of t-shirt shops, tons of restaurants, bars, and other places to spend your money. Spend less time here.
#4 is Acadia National Park. The park has many, many walking trails and add to this the famous carriage roads to hike. From easy to difficult, from Cadillac Mt to Sand Beach. Lot to do here.
Our Plans for the Month
We want to explore all of the small villages around the island. Check out the multitude of art galleries. Hike many of the 120 miles of trails in Acadia NP. Find the best seafood and lobster places. Visit a brewery or two. And finally, just spending some time relaxing and reading and a few hobbies.
I’m also going to try to have more frequent blog posts that will be shorter and more focused while we are here.
Happy Friday and God Bless!