July 15-17, 2024 – Downeast Acadia, ME

July 15, 2024 – Downeast Acadia, ME

It’s not as hot Downeast as it is back home but we’re certainly sharing the wealth. Another day forecast to be in the low 90s! We headed to the local McDonalds where Bill could write and work on photos. Terri then picked up Sandy so they could do some much needed shopping.

Bill later headed to the Visitor Center to pick up a map of the Acadia NP carriage roads, returned to campsite to clean up and then rejoined Sandy, Terri & Gregg at their house. We drove together to have dinner in Bar Harbor at The Parrilla, a Mexican themed restaurant. Back at the house Gregg treated us to a dessert of blueberry laced coffee cake.

Nice View of Somes Sound from Gregg’s Office

Nice View of Somes Sound from Gregg’s Office

Or You can Relax on One of the Scotts’ Guest House’s Verandas

Or You can Relax on One of the Scotts’ Guest House’s Verandas

July 16, 2024 – Downeast Acadia, ME

Yet another hot, humid day!

We headed in to Acadia and rode our bikes around Eagle Lake on the carriage roads. It is amazing how the world of bicycles has changed over the last few years. Fully ninety percent of the bikes we met on the ride were ebikes. And, riding up and over the hill on the west side of the lake, we wished that’s what we were riding, too!

Taking a Break on a Hot Muggy Ride

Taking a Break on a Hot Muggy Ride

Lilies Bloom on Lake

Lilies Bloom on Lake

Water Plants in Bloom in Still Water

Water Plants in Bloom in Still Water

After the ride we stopped for some groceries on our way back to our campsite. After much needed showers we prepared dinner for the Scotts and Ray & Paula from New Jersey whom we’d befriended a couple of days earlier at our campground. As we got ready we questioned our decision to host the affair on such a hot and muggy day! But it cooled down as the sun got lower in the sky and it was actually quite comfortable.

The menu was burgers, Italian chicken sausage, “baked” potato salad and caprice salad ala Sandy. It was a very pleasant evening.

July 17, 2024 – Downeast Acadia, ME

An easy day. Sandy headed down to the beach while Bill sat in the breeze and shade on the hill above the beach to read. Afterwards we headed, once again, to McDonalds where Bill posted a couple of blog episodes to our website while Sandy shopped. Later in the afternoon we headed in to Terri & Gregg’s for dinner. Terri conjured up a one-pot delicious seafood dinner with cod and fresh corn.

Afterwards, we drove to Cadillac Mountain where we had tickets for the drive to the top, hoping to see a great sunset. Up on top it was certainly beautiful. But it was windy as all get out and threatening weather was filling in from the west. Therefore, there was no pretty sunset to see.

Weather Blow in on Cadillac Mountain

Weather Blow in on Cadillac Mountain

Peak of Sunset on Cadillac

Peak of Sunset on Cadillac

On our drive up we passed a few bicyclists. One guy, in particular, was really going strong even near the top. We spoke with him when he reached the parking area. He was 25 years old from Slovakia, working at a Southwest Harbor restaurant for the summer. As this was his third trip to the US his English was quite good and we had a fun discussion. On our way back down the mountain we both pulled off at the same overlook, talked some more, took a couple of pictures and wished him well. He rode faster than we drove and we only caught a few glimpses of him as he headed back to Southwest Harbor.

Slovakian Cyclist on Way Down Mountain

Slovakian Cyclist on Way Down Mountain