Maritimes & New England - 2015
Boston to Maine
Day 1 - September 18
Salem, Massachusetts - Only old folks buried here
Salem Witch Memorial. So understated
Famous craft brewery in Portland, Maine
Oysters on the half shell. Eventide in Portland. Very crowded, even at 2 pm
The view from our hotel room in Belfast, Maine. A little walkway to the beach is to the left of the two trees.
The beach - dipped our toes in the Atlantic
Yo matey!
Young’s Lobster Pound. That one’s mine
The finished product
Day 1 - September 18
Southern California - Boston - Portland ME - Belfast ME
Red-eye from Los Angeles to Boston, and landed at 6 am Friday September 18. Jordan’s flight landed about 5 minutes after ours and we met at baggage claim. We rented two cars - Jordan is staying one week, so has an accelerated itinerary into Canada.
We ate breakfast at Red’s Sandwich Shop in Salem, MA and visited the Witches’ Memorial down the street. Drove to Portland Maine for a visit to well-known Allagash Brewery, then lunch at Eventide for oysters, lobster stew, lobster roll and scallops.
We took the coastal scenic route from Portland to Belfast, where we are staying for the wedding (which is at French’s Point). Didn’t see much coast - an occasional inlet along the way - too many trees. But a beautiful drive!
To finish the night, Kathy, Jordan and I went to Young’s Lobster Pound for dinner. Can’t have too much lobster - so fresh!!
Belfast, Maine
Day 2 - September 19
Played a round on Wedding Day Eve. At Northport Golf Course, Northport, Maine. Our nephew Drew, the groom, is the man in front, white shirt. Best man Jeremy to his left, dad Andy and father-in-law Larry behind him.
Cellardoor Winery in Lincolnville, Maine
Rehearsal dinner at Young’s Lobster Pound. Jeremy (best man) and his wife Angela
Rehearsal dinner - Groom’s mom (& Ric’s sister) Sheila and the bride, Shelby
Rehearsal dinner - groom’s grandmother Louse. 94 and going strong!
Rehearsal dinner - our son Jordan and Liam, the groom’s nutty nephew. What does that make Jordan and Liam - first cousins once removed?
Rehearsal dinner - Kathy, Jordan and Ric getting ready for lobster!
Rehearsal dinner. Bride and groom, Shelby and Drew
Rehearsal dinner - Aubrey, Jordan, Kathy, Sheila, Delane (Sheila’s daughter, and these are her kids) and Kayleigh. Sorry for the blur…
Rehearsal dinner - other than the bride and groom, Maine lobster was the guest of honor
Rehearsal dinner - Sheila and Ric
Day 2 - September 19
Belfast ME - Wedding Day Eve
Busy day! Jordan and Ric played golf with many of the wedding party and guests at Northport Golf Club, a beautiful course tucked away in the woods of the Maine coast. A 9-hole course we played twice. Jordan played well, Ric didn’t. Kathy went into Belfast with a bunch of the girls for lunch.
After the round, Jordan and Ric visited a little Maine winery called Cellardoor. They get most of their grapes from California. Since we were from California, they thought we were experts. Hah!
Rehearsal dinner that night. Although we were not in the wedding party, our brother-in-law Andy and Ric’s sister Sheila graciously invited us. Young’s Lobster Pound. Fresh lobster, picked from the tank and cooked before your eyes. How fresh is that!
Wedding day tomorrow! It is really special to see how many family and friends have made the cross-coast trip…
French's Point, Maine
Day 3 - September 20
Drew & Shelby’s Wedding - French’s Point.Maine. Beautiful!!
View just beyond the wedding gazebo
Liam (groom Drew’s nephew) is ready to do his part!
Kathy and Kayleigh (groom’s niece)
Jordan escorting Andy & Sheila
Mr. & Mrs. Drew and Shelby Osbrink!
And at the reception
Our little cottage in Trenton, Maine, just minutes from Acadia National Park
Day 3 - September 20
French's Point, ME - Wedding Day
Today is wedding day!!
Our nephew Drew Osbrink marries Shelby Churchill in the most beautiful of settings. French’s Point is a retreat & conference center located just north of Belfast, and about an hour south of Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. The wedding ceremony was officiated by Mitch Butler, Drew’s cousin. It was Mitch’s first wedding, and he did great!
Wedding and reception were attended by about 100 people. So many family and friends came from Southern California and New Hampshire. The reception was a hoot, and a good time was had by all!
We had relocated to Trenton (minutes from Acadia National Park) earlier in the day, so after the reception made our way there. On to the rest of our vacation!
Acadia National Park, Maine
Day 4 - September 21
First re-enactment - Kathy and Jordan at the entrance sign, 1992 and 2015
Sand Beach
Sand Beach panorama
View of Sand Beach from Beehive Trail. Ric took the trail up to this point - Jordan took it to the top. The last part of the trail is steep and requires you to pull up hand rails they have nailed into the rocks.
Walk along Ocean Trail, a 3-mile hike from Sand Beach to Otter Point.
Thunder Hole. Calm seas today, so not much thunder.
Sat here for lunch - salami, cheese and crackers. Sand Beach in the background.
Our first color!
2nd re-enactment. Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond
Jordan at Jordan Pond
Jordan Pond panorama with Jordan
Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the Atlantic coast. A whopping 1,530 elevation, but what views!
Bar Harbor from Cadillac Mountain
3rd re-enactment. Cadillac Mountain
Bass Harbor LIghthouse
Kathy at Bass Harbor Lighthouse
Pretty Marsh
Day 4 - September 21
Acadia National Park, ME
I heard recently that there are 3 trillion trees on earth. Well, I have counted 2.1 trillion trees in Maine so far, so I think they have their number wrong…
Kathy, Jordan and I spent all day (10 hours) visiting Mt. Desert Island, which is a combination of Acadia National Park and private land. We took the park loop, starting at Sand Beach. It is the only beach in the park. Jordan and I hiked Beehive Trail, which starts at the beach. It is a fairly treacherous climb - I went halfway, Jordan went to the top.
From the beach all of us walked the Ocean Trail, a 3-mile round trip that takes you along the coast from Sand Beach to Otter Point, past Thunder Hole.
From there to Jordan Pond, the most popular stop on the loop. A beautiful “oligotrophic tarn” formed by a glacier. There is a restaurant and tea house there. Pretty crowded, so we moved along to more serene locations.
On to Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the island, It was a perfectly sunny day, so the 360 degree views were gorgeous.
Next to Bass Harbor Lighthouse, set on a cliff side a the southernmost part of the island. Then to Pretty Marsh on the way back to our motel.
For dinner, Jordan treated us to pulled pork at the only non-fish restaurant in the area, Mainely Meat. Fabulous day! Tomorrow morning, Jordan takes off on his own road trip, so it’s just Kathy and me for awhile!
Acadia National Park, Maine
Day 5 - September 22
Starting the day off right. Pancakes stuffed with fresh blueberries, topped with real maple syrup
The Bar Harbor land bridge, for which Bar Harbor was named. It's exposed for 4 hours at each low tide, allowing access to Bar Island
Kathy walking the half mile trail to the top of Bar Island
View of Bar Harbor from Bar Island
Later that day, high tide. Bar gone!
Fish Grill House in Bar Harbor, where we had dinner
Bring on the lobsters!
A surprise sunset on the drive from Bar Harbor to our cottage
Day 5 - September 22
Acadia National Park, ME
Today was pretty kick-back. Jordan has departed to the northern regions on his own. Kathy and I had decided to take it pretty easy, hang around Bar Harbor. Fortuitous, as it was a cloudy day. We had a mid-morning blueberry pancake breakfast.
We then walked across the Bar Harbor land bridge to Bar Island. About a half mile long, it is only exposed for about 4 hours each low tide. There is a 1 mile round trip trail to the top of Bar Island, where you are rewarded with a nice view of the town of Bar Harbor.
We window-shopped for a while after that. It is not a favorite for either of us, so after a few blocks (and no purchases), we returned to the motel for naps. Like those much better.
Lobster dinner at the Fish House Grill - I had 3 lobster tails, Kathy 2. Chowder and blueberry pie/crisp as well. FULL.
On the way back to the motel, we were treated to a wonderful sunset. Early to bed!
Acadia National Park, Maine
Day 5 - September 22
The hat says it all…
Jordan Pond, Acadia National Park
At the far end of Jordan Pond Path
The Jordan Pond Path is a 3.5 mile loop, About 1 ½ miles of it is a skinny boardwalk
A little color peeking out from among the green
Schoodic Peninsula, Acadia National Park. That’s Cadillac Mountain across Frenchman Bay, on Mt. Desert Island, the main part of the Park
Schoodic Peninsula
Schoodic Point
Schoodic Point. Little pools of water everywhere, of different colors. Rust…
…and green
Saw a couple of big waves crash here. Neither time did I have my camera ready.
This little inlet was a wave-crashing show
No, I didn’t get wet…
Skinny inlet, skinny wave crashlet…
Schoodic Point Panorama
Day 6 - September 23
Acadia National Park, ME
Our last day in Acadia National Park. In the morning, Kathy and I took the 3.5 mile loop path around Jordan Pond. The first half was a dirt path and very flat. The second half had some pretty rocky sections, and about a mile and a half was a narrow boardwalk.
We had a late lunch at Sweet Pea Farm in Bar Harbor. We had eaten there on Sunday and liked it, so returned again. Good the second time, too!
After speaking with a couple of acquaintances, we drove one hour to Schoodic Peninsula. It is part of the Park, but not on Mt. Desert Island. At first, we were a bit disappointed. Schoodic Head is the highest point on the peninsula, and supposedly there were incredible views. But the trees blocked the picture.
We drove down to Schoodic Point — wow! This was a highlight in Acadia. A huge rock plateau forms the point, made up of different types and colors of stone. Small pools of water rest in the rocks, of different colors - red, green, blue. And the waves crash constantly against the stone cliffs. One of Schoodic’s best features - a LOT less people!!
We truly enjoyed Acadia, but are looking forward to heading into Canada tomorrow morning!