Cadillac Mountain, Thunder Hole

Cadillac Mountain is the highest mountain in Acadia NP, and its views are exemplary. We had never done the Cadillac Mountain drive before, since RVs are not permitted. With our new rig, however, that was not a problem, and on October 2nd we drove to the summit. Later in the day, our last in Acadia, we drove also to Thunder Hole, a popular site on the Park's coast.

Autumn is coming

Usual excellent NPS interpretive signage

Granite; lots of granite

And the sea

Porcupine Island and its sea break

Bah Haba

Now walking toward Thunder Hole

Granite, and a beach, but no one's going in...

Skerries, all over (is that what they call them here?)

Thunder Hole, merely a whimper this day

The trees reminding us of the California coast

Carriage Ride!

Acadia National Park is criss-crossed in early 20th century carriage trails--the Rockefellers* abhorred motor vehicles (!)--and one of the things one does here, in addition to appreciating the great alternating eastern mountain and coastal scenes, is to go for an extended horse-drawn** carriage ride. We did so on October 1st and benefitted from one of the best guides, Melinda, we have had in our many years of travel. Ours was the longer "Bridges" ride.

Typical terrain; note rock cliff

Excellent signage; bicycles and pedestrians are allowed too

Going ever on, trees beginning to change

Three other couples on the ride, Melinda offering insights
on the history of the place, environmental notes, and way more

The stonework is incredible...bridges, and every inch of the way curbed
in dressed stone

Varied landscape

Entrance to remaining Rockefeller-related private property, barred

Overlooking Jordan Pond

Note curb stones

Us, there

Stars of the show, Melinda, Julia and Josie

"No rain, no rainbow," as they say in Hawaii

At one of several old gate stations

Old gate keeper's residence 

Incredible brick and stone work...

Where all the stone work comes from

Color really coming on...

Passing through a birch forest

Debarquement

Later that afternoon, my seafood repas at Colonel's in Northeast Harbor

*former owners who donated the land to the Nation; also the Grand Tetons, Great Smokies, and others..."For the Permanent Enjoyment of the People"

**"When, exactly, did horses lose their ability to draw?" --Philomena Cunk

In Maine

We got into Maine in short order--it's just a short drive from Boston, really--and spent a bit of time in Portland and then Bangor, where Vicki had booked us a hotel room to wait out the Nor'easter. We drove into Acadia NP on September 29th.

Best treehouse ever, so far...with Erika, Graham, and Fiona,
outside Portland; Ken and Susan's daughter and family...it was
via Erika and Graham that we first heard of the W

Best, I mean worst, junk store ever, so far, in the US (they're much 
better in Europe)

No treasures, just junk

In gritty Bangor, the Stephen King house

So perfectly done...

Cujo welcomes you

At a bookstore in Bah Haba

At

At last, the weather now clear and crisp, we have arrived in the Park;
IYKYK...(hails of derisive laughter)

Bah Haba itself; cruise ships park out of sight beyond the skerries

Not quite as obnoxiously touristy as Pigeon Forge or Sevierville,
and with some interesting architecture

The Village Green (the Village Idiot had the day off)

The seasonal planting was extraordinary in places

On a walk part way around Jordan Pond

Mussels are not the featured shellfish hereabouts, but they
do make an interesting sculpture outside the Maritime Museum
in pretty and not very touristy Northeast Harbor

Our campsite at Blackwoods Campground, Acadia NP

Best camping of the trip