On the road in the USA – northern Maine

We had a three-hour drive ahead of us from Bar Harbor, ME to Sussex in New Brunswick, Canada.

Along the way, we did not pass much, except for trees, trees, and a car or two occasionally.

Somewhere in northern Maine

Somewhere in northern Maine

We had lukewarm water bottles on us and when we saw this general store, we decided to get some cold drinks on this hot day. Stretching your legs once in a while is a good idea anyway. This store sat in the middle of nowhere and the lady behind the counter told me she enjoyed this extreme heat as they don’t get it very often.

General Store

The store was a bit of everything – it sold groceries, cold drink, handmade items, and had a workshop in the corner as well.

Should have bought these wind chimes, but in the name of traveling light, I decided to take a photo instead.

wind chimes for rednecks

wind chimes for rednecks

As it is summer break, there is an abundance of school buses parked around the U.S.A.

school bus

This one seems to be parked only during the break. If it were completely retired, then the display “School Bus” and signal lamps would have to be removed.

Retired school buses are often bought by churches, resorts, or camps. Some private enthusiasts (a.k.a Skoolies) like to convert them into recreational vehicles (RVs).

Some old buses are used as farming vehicles as well.

On the road in the USA – Bar Harbor, ME

After an almost six-hour drive from Boston, we arrived in Bar Harbor. Again, it was very hot and humid, unlike any weather I had expected from northern Maine. By the time we arrived, I was actually hoping for some fog.

We arrived rather late in the day and headed straight to a restaurant on the wharf. Again, the biggest selection was deep-fried food. No further comment on that.

Deep-fried food galore!

Deep-fried food galore!

By that time, even our kids rolled their eyes. I had the usual clam chowder and ended up once more eating everyone’s cole slaw, which none of them like anyway.

Bar Harbor is a good town for people who like to shop and eat out. There are plenty of shops and restaurants. I prefer quieter places such as the one below.

We took an early morning stroll around the shore. This town has a very nice path around the shore lines for joggers and simple walkers like us. I did admire the joggers in the early morning humidity. But that’s all I did.

Bar Harbor in the early morning

Bar Harbor in the early morning

Before heading out to Acadia National Park, we stopped at the Lighthouse Inn and Restaurant in Seal Harbor (only 10 minutes from Bar Harbor) for lunch.

Here I was fortunate enough to find the Reuben Sandwich on the menu once more. Wish I could say, my food orders rotated between seafood chowder and Reuben sandwiches, but this was not the case. Reuben sandwiches were hard to find.

Reuben sandwich

Reuben sandwich

For the readers unfamiliar with this type of sandwich: This is corned beef on a bed of sauerkraut with melted cheese and 1000-Island dressing.

My travel companions ordered soft shell crab sandwiches and seemed pleased.

soft shell crab sandwiches

soft shell crab sandwiches

After this wonderful lunch, we went to Acadia National Park, the oldest national park west of the Mississippi. More on that in my next post.

On the Road in the USA – Addison, ME

We came to Addison, ME to visit a friend for few days. He was a kind host for letting us use his converted and refurbished boat house for three days.

boat house

This is the view from the porch. As an early riser, I got to observe koons and seaguls during their morning business of hunting for food.

porch

We also went to buy hard and soft lobster for an evening meal to be cooked at my friend’s home. Well, I am no friend of boiling and eating lobster, but I had to give it a try. Lobster sold for US$ 5,75/lb (hard) and US$ 3,50/lb (soft).

lobster

I read on a restaurant’s menu somewhere, quoting this now:

“Concerned about the lobster? There is no need to worry. Lobsters are believed by many scientists not to feel pain, due to their primitive nervous system.” I still find it hard to believe.

These are the gloves which fetch them.

gloves

What I like much better is observing animals in their natural environment, such as this little squirrel which knew when to come around at feeding time.

squirrel

Another shot taken from the porch on a very foggy morning. Staying at this boat house, we got to experience a heavy dose of Maine life. Quiet and soothing, tranquil and in tune with nature. High and low tide, the wind, the smell of the sea, looking for sea glass, and getting in tune with the wilderness. Including many mosquito bites.

foggy morning

Thanks to my friends D and P for their hospitality!

For fun reading: Lobsters Scream When You Boil Them: And 100 Other Myths About Food and Cooking . . . Plus 25 Recipes to Get It Right Every Time from Amazon.com

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