New England Acadia Run
August 20-27, 2006
August 24, 2006
104 miles
Acadia National Park
We stopped for breakfast in Bar Harbor before heading into Acadia National Park.
See my new L.L. Bean reflector bands I velcro-attached to the back of the bike? My way of showing support of the local economy.
After breakfast, we drove through downtown Bar Harbor and by the waterfront. Cool ship pulling in to unload.
Stewman's Lobster, Bar Harbor, Maine. See the lobster tracks leading down to the restaurant?
Looking down on Bar Harbor from Acadia Park.
Bug break. This little guy was hanging out on the sign.
Time to tour Acadia National Park.
I'm going to say it now. Then I won't repeat myself except for those times that I may not be able to help myself.... Acadia is home to some of the most beautiful views I have ever seen.
Of course I took pictures, but nothing you will see in the Fleeter Log will come close to what it was like to actually ride through the park and experience the views first hand.
Looking down on Bar Harbor from Acadia Park.
Bug break. This little guy was hanging out on the sign. 
Looking down where we were. With our binoculars we could see the cool ship still at the pier. Egg Island is not visible in my photo.
This is me calling Barb, my IBA-NPT connection...
(I'll explain that in a later Fleeter Log for those that don't comprende IBA-NPT.)
This is about the time I decide that I might be visiting a lot more of the national parks.
We decided to fore go the full face helmets while in the park. It was just too cumbersome to don the helmet, drive 1/3 mile to the next overlook and take it off again.
Still heading up...
On the way to the top of Cadillac Mountain.
Notice the dramatic clouds? They were with us all day. 
It doesn't get much better than this if you like to take pictures from mountains...
Notice the trail marker rocks past me?
Still on our way up... the views only get better.
There it is, the top of Cadillac Mountain. This the highest point on the Eastern Coast.
Those of you that know Enchanted Rock in Texas might have something for comparison. But this is higher. A lot higher. The road goes up to near the top. Then you hike up the rest of the way and around the peak.
If you are the first to see the sun rise while atop Cadillac Mountain, you will be the first person in all the United States to see the sun that day.
Me in action on top of Cadillac Mountain.
Interesting little water puddle on Cadillac Mountain.
The little kid thought so too.
There's Bar Harbor again. This time from the back side.
The little kid thought so too.
There's Bar Harbor again. This time from the back side.
See the clouds' shadows behind me as they move across toward Bar Harbor.
On our way back down and into the rest of the park.
The CAT is the ferry that goes from Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia.
"Carrying up to 775 passengers and 240 cars across the Gulf of Maine at highway speeds from mid May to mid October. The CAT is the best way between Maine and Nova Scotia."
The fares are rather complicated, but for example:
Peak season, one way, with motorcycle $85.
But I hear it's a great place to visit and it is on the list of things to do.
More lighthouse info...
There's Egg Island with it's Lighthouse.
Still winding our way down.
See? One hand on the handle bar and one hand taking pictures...it's all under control.
Think this looks like fun?! You have NO IDEA!
This is the best fun I can think of...
Sunny, upper 60s, and fleetering in Acadia National Park.
One of the best views...
Even a sandy beach can be found in the part.
But the water's cold ... 50s even on a warm summer day.
Regretfully, we must leave the Acadia. One last picture from atop Fleeter on the road as we are leaving the park.
This from the "Perils of Biking" files:
At a final stop on our way to Bangor for the night, I felt a stinging sensation on my abdomen. I opened my jacked and pulled up my shirts, but saw nothing. I went back to writing notes in my notebook and the stinging got worse. I thought there has to be something causing that. So I pulled them up again. Ouch! There it goes again...and a bee flies out! It got one more sting in on my thumb as it headed for freedom with me swatting it away. Apparently, it was somehow between my two close fitting shirts...inside my jacket. How that happened...I have no idea. But if I were allergic to bees, I'd be in trouble. Those stings were swelling up and causing a bit of discomfort.
Treatment: Stay on schedule...go take my restroom break, wash face with cool water, gear up, get back on Fleeter and get back on the road. Forgot all about that lousy sting bee! But had the welts as a reminder for the next few days.
The ordeal was too much for the bee. I don't think he survived to tell about it.
"Bee safe" is my motto!
Tomorrow we ride the Kancamagus Highway through the White Mountains in New Hampshire.
Copyright 2006 Fleeter Logs
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