Maine Motorcycle Adventure Day 4

On the fourth day of our adventure we planned to go on a Whale Watch.    The boat left the port around 8:30 so Owen and I got up and ran out in to Bar Harbor and got muffins and juice before we walked to the boat....from our hotel!   Mitch kept telling me how no one ever actually sees whales on these trips......so prepare myself to be disappointed.

But the best thing and so stereotypical Maine was this photo shot!   A blueberry pie and muffins on a window sill!

We got on the boat to head out to see the whales and the boys just fell asleep!  We sat next to a family with young kids and the 8 year oldish daughter finally had to tell Owen when he woke up "you missed ALOT of whales"!    This made us laugh all day! 

So since we would not see any whales according to Mitch all I can do is share some of the photos.  

Mother and baby whale.

After the whale watch Owen was in the mood for some traditional Maine Mexican food.  He found a place on the map that he wanted to go to so we took off on our bikes and ended up on the other side of the island.   We looked, and looked but did not find it......we found a fabulous lobster pound....but pressed on to find the Mexican place.     We drove past road side lobster stands and pressed on to find the Mexican place.   After about two hours we found it!    And it was closed AND required reservations.    So we drove to the next little town and settled for a quick sandwich......except that the waitress was not quick.   It was a lovely day and not so bad to sit in the sidewalk cafe and have lunch.

We ended our day by heading to Echo lake and taking a quick swim.....after drying off in the sun since we did not have any towels we headed off to find a hotel for the night and since it was our last night in town we enjoyed some more lobster.....Oh that was just me!

Maine Motorcycle Adventure Day 3

On the third day we arrived at our ultimate destination of Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor,Maine.  Joe and I were up early and waiting on the boys....Owen was up first and then we work Mitch up since we were anxious to get on the road (well I was).  Before we left Joe and I walked around downtown and found this guy!  Paul Bunyan, larger than life.....

We only had about an hour drive to get to the park so not a long day of riding at all, which was nice after the day before when we drove close to five hours.  And the drive was through beautiful Maine so there was nothing to complain about especially since the weather was gorgeous!  We got to Acadia by 11 am and went to the visitor center and paid our park admission.  Then we headed straight up Cadillac Mountain.  I've been up here 4 or 5 times before but you absolutely see things differently from a bike than a car.  And that perspective makes it a new experience!

 Before we could go anywhere Joe, Mitch and Owen.....checking out the map.   

Constant Theme of the trip!

 Our bikes....at one of our many stops.

 View from the top of Cadillac Mountain

After playing around at the top of Cadillac Mountain we went to check in at our hotel.   As we checked in the main at the counter asked if we would like to be upgraded to their hotel in the middle of Bar Harbor on the water - At no extra cost.   ABSOLUTELY.    So we were moved downtown strategically placed between two of the activities that I had planned for this trip.    And can I say the room was absolutely lovely and the view was amazing!

More Maps....

More beautiful views!

The next activity that I had planned was a hike across the land bridge to Bar Island.   When the tide goes out you can hike across the bay to Bar Island and walk to the top of the island which gives you view of Bar Harbor --- and our hotel!    So Mitch, Owen, and myself took off for a little hike as the tide went out.

 Joe and Mitch in the parking lot of the hotel.

This is the BAR and you can see folks walking to the island.

We tried our hand and building some cairns

 For those that follow us!

The last and best part of the day was dinner on the harbor.   We went for a New England lobster bake at the lobster pound right next to the hotel.

And that is the end of Day Three!

Maine Motorcycle Adventure Day 2

Our plan for day two was to drive through the White Mountains and spend the night in Bangor, Maine.   Since we had already experienced the fun of driving in the rain we stopped and got a rain suit for Owen and also rain pants for Mitch.   Not part of our original plan -- but hey -- you have to be flexable!  So then everyone was outfitted with rain gear...which unfortunately, we would need again before the end of our trip.

We started out the day with a breakfast in North Conway.   The morning was amazingly beautiful and we had a wonderful pancakes at a sidewalk cafe in the sunshine of the day.    After breakfast we headed out on our journey into Northern Maine.  

We were on the road most of the day....and it got pretty cold going through the mountains......Mitch looked like he just might stop and rob a bank with his handkerchief tied around his face.   Here is a photo of when we got to the Maine border.  (notice Mitch)

We drove through small towns and stopped periodically along the way to determine directions.  It was always it or miss if our phones could pick up a data signal to determine where we actually were!   I must have 100 shots of the "guys" gathered around a map trying to determine where to go next!

I felt fine knowing that if cellular service did not work we could just use a pay phone.....I think this might be the last payphone in Maine.....but just for the record IT DID NOT WORK.   So between bad cellular service and out of order pay phones....(and does that look like the Bates Motel in the background).   Well -- just pray you don't break down.

We got to our hotel in Bangor by about 5pm and found out we were right next to a casino.   So how is that for planning.   We were there on a Monday night so there really was no one there but we did take advantage of the buffet and enjoyed dinner there.    Owen won about $100 and Mitch his money....we could have probably short cut the process but what is the fun in that!

And this is the end of Day two!

Maine Motorcycle Adventure Day 1

Several years ago Joe and I started riding motorcycles....then our boys started riding and now we have more motorcycles in our garage than most motorcycle gangs.   Well our boys suggested that we do a "real bike trip" this summer for vacation.    So we started planning an adventure.    I started looking at routes that would be full of scenery and not alot of highway driving....and ended up with a trip with a destination of Acadia National Park....one of the most beautiful parks.   So in order to make the adventure fun I started looking for things that we could do along the way and planned out a pretty fun trip for the four of us that went.   Nephi and Anne Marie just bought a house and with a five year old we excused them from the adventure!


So our itinerary was as follows....

1.   Breakfast at Pollys Pancake Parlor in Sugar Hill, NH  - We had fabulous Corn and coconut pancakes....delicious.   I would like friends to visit so we have an excuse to go up there again!  While we were there a crazy hail storm hit!   We were extremely grateful to be inside since the between the rain and the hail we would have been totally soaked (we got soaked later.....but I'll fill you in on that in a minute)

The building which houses "Polly's Pancake Parlor" was built about 1830. It was originally used as a carriage shed and was later used for storage of firewood. During the depression of the thirties Polly and Wilfred (Sugar Bill) Dexter converted the building to a small, quaint tea room (capacity - 24 people). When they started serving in 1938 they offered pancakes, waffles and French toast - "All you can eat for 50¢." The idea was to stimulate sales of their maple products.   

 View of the White Mountains from the driveway of Pollys.....

 View looking tword Polly's....such a cute place.

Owen, Mitch and Joe......look at that storm in the background......it was crazy!

2.   After brunch we headed to Lincoln, NH with a goal of heading to Clarks Trading Post to see a bear show.    Unfortunately, we caught up with the dark clouds in the back ground above and ended up pulling off into the woods to try to avoid some of the rain and hail and thunder and lightning.  AFTER getting totally soaked we dug out dry clothes and a couple of us stripped down at the side of the road and changed.   The more modest of our group drove on with wet pants......but at least Owen and I were dry!

 Owen borrowed Joe's pants.....which were more than big enough....and my jacket.

 Mitch had a dry rain jacket and very wet jeans......but his new Polly's Pancake hoodie made him warm!

 All of us at Clarks Trading post where we found we missed the last bear show by about 30 minutes......so sad.    But LOOK ---- Mitch is almost dry!

At least we got to see a bear at Clarks trading post!

3.   From Clarks we drove on to our motel in North Conway.    Because we were wet we drove straight through but thankfully the rain broke and we drove on in the sunshine.   Our motel was fairly close to a laundry mat so Owen and I went out an washed and dried all our gear so we were ready to hit the road in the morning.   The motel we stayed at was a small family run place that was pretty fun.   Nothing fancy but the place was clean - not modern, but clean.    We ordered pizza which was delivered and relaxed in 1950's comfort!    In the morning the boys made up for the missed bear show by finding a live bear wandering past our room and about 50 feet to look around at a nearby picnic table.    

This is the end of the adventures of Day 1