DAY 21:

At this point, we were really surprised at ourselves, that we'd already been gone for 3 weeks and still have things to see and do! The sightseeing has only a few more stops, though, before we spend time with our daughter, her husband and new granddaughter.

The day's agenda was ACADIA and Mount Desert Island. We learned years ago that you get out into a national park in the early morning hours. It increases your chances of seeing wildlife and the crowds are minimal. Therefore we practically opened the Hulls Cove Visitor Center. I enquired about a cassette tape version of their audio tour (since our older model pickup does not have a CD player in it). They had one, but then I saw the book version and decided to buy that. It's less expensive and a nicer keepsake than a cassette tape!

We followed the book's suggested stops along the Park Loop Drive. So many beautiful seacoast views, lots of pretty forests, some beautiful flowers, and the weather just couldn't have been much nicer! At Sand Beach, we walked down to the water -- something that I had not done back when I was here as a kid (because it was cold and rainy that day). I took off my sandals and waded a little in the water .... BRRRRRRR!!!! COLD!!!!!!!! I had to giggle because there was a small child who evidently felt comfortable enough to run around the beach stark-naked, and absolutely NO ONE told the child to put clothes on! (I could see the nude fanny but the child was far enough away not to see boy vs girl, and the child was wearing a neutral colored hat.)

Thunder Hole was another favorite. Years ago, it was better because a storm was blowing in, the tide was high, so that blow hole made more noise and splashed a lot higher. The public fence was wooden back then. This year, it was low tide, beautiful weather, and we only got a few loud "thunder-y" noises. They have put better public fences in.

We got in line for Jordan Pond Restaurant before they opened for lunch. What a good meal hubby had ... more lobster! (He's going to start swimming if he eats any more lobster.) I had a roast beef sandwich and desperately wished it had been a HOT one.

Cadillac Mountain -- well, once again we had to laugh. At home, 1530' elevation is a HILL! But the views were stupendous -- we could see Mount Katahdin in the distance, because it was so clear.

Our next drive was down the non-NP portion of the island. We stopped at Echo Lake, parked in the shade, and just took a rest break. Then headed for the Bass Harbor Head Light -- lighthouse. It was smaller than I would have thought. The caretaker and his family live there so the lighthouse is not open for tours, or the caretaker's home. That's fine, but I'm sure they are rather relieved when winter rolls around and there aren't 36 cars in their backyard for hours at a time!

We absolutely loved Maine and hated to leave it. It is definitely on our consideration list for places to retire! It would have to be coastal Maine, though, as there isn't so much snow here as in the interior. The only negatives we've heard about are nor'easters and mosquitoes (which a few bit us last night).

Donna