Gelkote

I am starting to forget everything I wanted to say so I’m going to make this quick and to the point! Aren’t you lucky?

Mount Desert Island in Maine is 100 square miles of diverseness which has to be experience over weeks and multiple visits to truly appreciate. Geographically it has mountains, lakes, islands, beaches and even the Atlantic Ocean. There is touristy Bar Harbor and sleepier villages like Northeast Harbor. This trip was my second to the island with the first being in the Summer of 2004. I spent less time running around like a first-time tourist and more time relaxing and reflecting.  One side note, because of how far East the island is, sunrise happens before 5:30 AM making for lonely streets and quiet sunrises.  Now, let’s get clumping!

Early Morning Bar Harbor, ME – July 17th, 2008

As noted in an earlier post, the trip to Maine is a haul by automobile but it offers interesting side trips and sights not seen when flying or traveling by train. Around Johnstown, PA we came within 10 Miles of the Flight 93 memorial, a pit stop at the Green Gable Restaurant (Too early for lunch) and a stop at Tops Dinner which has seen better days but had a waitress right out out Mel’s Dinner and old Trivia Pursuit cards on the tables. Interstates I-99/I-80/I-81 heading out of Johnstown had some great mountain scenery. We stayed around Boston for the night then back on the road for second day of travels. That’s when we traveled through New Hampshire.

New Hampshire will always stick in my mind for poorly designed toll plazas and cheap booze. They actually have a special exit on the 20 or so Miles of I-95 in their state for a special State Liquor Store which sells lotto tickets and cheap booze. The place is a circus. I spent $150 stocking up, won $3 on a Deal or No Deal lotto ticket and watched from a distance as a pickup full of freshly purchased booze backed into a car. Fun times in NH!

South Bound Toll Both on NH Turnpike – July 19th, 2008

Once in Maine we passed the A-1 Diner in Gardiner, ME heading East and finally stopped at the Olde Mill Diner around Searsmont, ME. I was half asleep listening to This American Life. The A Little Bit of Knowledge episode to be exact. The food was fresh and service excellent. I discovered a tasty salad of cucumber slaw and sweet potato fries for the first time.

Further up the road we checked out Fort Knox (No, not that one) and the Penobscot Narrows Observatory. The fort was huge with 2 hours of exploration only touching a fraction of the nooks and crannies. The observatory is over 400 feet tall and the only bridge observatory in North America. If that wasn’t enough, the park was having it’s Scottish Tattoo event with bagpipers playing the way!

Penobscot Narrows Observatory near Bucksport, ME – July 12th, 2008

Onward to the island. We spent time at the Seal Harbor beach one day. Other days were dotted looking for sea glass along the Shore Path, Hulls Cove and other shore areas. For those initiated, sea glass is shards of old bottles and other glass that have been beaten smooth by the sea. It’s like a rock tumbler but with with Mother Nature driving. I sure do love looking for sea glass.

I ventured into the park once this trip and it was for a first time Popover at the Jordan Pond House. Sorry, I just don’t get the fascination over these pastries. Took the Bar Harbor Whale Watch Company‘s Nature Cruise. Unlike the whale watch cruises, this cruise was on the smaller and less crowded Acadian. The trip goes around Frenchman’s bay, the Porcupine Islands and out to Egg Island. Our guide was an old science teacher. His name fails me but he was awesome with an entertaining grasp of the area’s history and sciences. The rest of the time was spent doing as little as possible and eating.

Nature Cruise off the Coast of Bar Harbor, ME  – July 18th, 2008

Only a few of the restaurants on the island are open year around, some return year after year for the season and others are fly-by-night. Here’s a few highlights. Had wonderful breakfasts at 2 Cats and Cafe This Way. I have never had a bad meal the few times I’ve ventured into a vegetarian restaurant and Eden Vegetarian Cafe is no exception. Being a carnivore, I do get cold sweats trying to decipher the menu but that’s ok as my sisters were on hand to translate. Had dinner at the Tan Turtle Tavern in quieter Northeast Harbor. The restaurant was loud and the menu was crazily huge in a bad way. They have everything on that thing. So much so that I’m hanging the menu up once I can find it. It’s a fun place to go once and only once. I had more fun at place called Cap’N Nemos playing cards, drinking beer and hanging out with the family. This place has a great vibe and friendly locals. Same with the Dog & Pony Tavern in Bar Harbor. It’s off the main drag next to one of the larger municipal parking lots which keeps the tourists at bay and makes for a nice atmosphere. I also recommend the Morning Glory Bakery next door for tasty treats. If you’re in the neighborhood over the next few months, tell my sister hi!

Wall of Art at Cap’N Nemo’s in Bass Harbor, ME – July 16th, 2008

Those are the highlights from Bar Harbor. Like I said, it was quiet and low-key. Coming back we drove past NY and over the George Washington Bridge. Traffic was mad but I wasn’t driving. Snuck a distant view of the Empire State Building as I thought of the Last Hope festivities occurring near by. I’ve never been this close to the City.

We ended up spending the night at a Best Western in Bethlehem complements of Priceline. It was interesting. They had a meat market going in the lounge complete with loud music, bouncers and folks looking for some quick love. Normally I’d be amused given the dumps most cons are held at but given the long hours stuffed in a car, no joy. Didn’t help either that the room was smoking and there were spiders partying in the corner.  On the neutral side, there were folks making out in the parking lot. Not quite sex but lots of groping.  Be sure to checkout the Best Western Lehigh Valley Hotel and Conference Center on a Saturday night if you’re into that thing or very lonely.  You might just score!

Next day we hit the road early. Stopped for lunch in Cumberland, MD at the Queen City Creamery. Followed that by a quick visit to Canal Place and Arts at Canal Place where I picked up some photographs by Bill Merlavage for my cube. Bill’s wonderful photographs and a recent trip to the Red Geranium consignment shop South of Cleveland have encouraged me to start collecting old B&W and sepia photographs for my cube. Unknown people and places that add photographic mystery to my otherwise mundane day.

Queen City Creamery in Cumberland, MD – July 20th, 2008

That’s it for my Clump O’ Nuggets Bar Harbor Style. The trip was more relaxing and enjoyable than this post could ever convey. It was a good time indeed!

Seal Harbor Beach, ME – July 13th, 2008