Day four the exploring begins. Our first day in Arcadia National Park is about 10 miles from our KOA Oceanside on Mount Desert Island where Arcadia and Bar Harbor are located. We stopped in the visitor center to get our bearings. We met with a park ranger to give us some areas with easy to moderate hiking difficulty. We chose a few easy paths to get our feet wet. Jessop Path and Hemlock Path. They were very beautiful and serene. When we got to a crossroads, we were met by an elderly gentleman who ended up being a trail angel (someone who walks these trails regularly and guides the miss guided such as us, in our defense the paths weren’t clearly marked they were marked in something called plain English) he gave us some off the beaten path directions to a beaver dam not on the map. It was well worth the change in our path. As good as he was in knowledge of where we were and what other sites to be see. He was definitely distance challenged. His go 200 yards this way ended up being close to 600’. Wow what an estimator. We ended up in Bar Harbor after our first day in the park for a delicious late lunch at Fish House Grill I had the Seafood Grille lobster scallops shrimp red potatoes and corn. As for the lobster I can live without it not my cup of tea. As for my clean shirt I sat down with, when I left it looked like it was in a paint ball battle with butter used as ammo. You can dress them up but cant take them out, I was embarrassed and it takes a-lot. For instance, when I got tired on our first hike and Mrs. G.O.M. put me on her shoulders, I thought everyone was asking to have their picture taken with us because they had never met people from Pennsylvania before. Man was I wrong. Nuff said trust me. My wife had the crab-cakes and thought they were especially tasty with a spicy remoulade sauce. Back to the camp site for some cocktails and a late dinner. Day five back to the park for some more hiking or as we like to call it watch your step you might break a hip. We chose Jordan's Pond a 3-1/2 mile path around the pond that is used in conjunction with other water ways for Mount Desert Islands water consumption, which is where Arcadia National Park resides. The highlight of our short trip to the area (truthfully a week or more would do it more justice) was Cadillac Mountain the highest point on the eastern seaboard the first area to receive the sunrise in the continental USA 4:51 AM, keep in mind to have access to the mountain a reservation needs to be placed if you want to be there for sunrise there is a special reservation box to check on the web site. When we finally got to the top it was spectacular it seemed as you were above the clouds looking out at the various bays and islands. As I said well worth the trip we will definitely do it again. Only next time a longer trip which is necessary once we found out all the many many other areas to explore. After a few other stops thru out park another late lunch in Bar Harbor at Paddy’s Irish Pub then back to camp for cocktails and dinner. Day 6 on our way home was pretty uneventful we spent overnight at the KOA in Newburg NY, about 7 miles from the interstate but worth a stop. Day 7 one more overnight before home the following day. With our reservation confirmed at the KOA Williamsport South/Nittany Mtn. this would be our last stop before home. Directions locked and loaded in my onboard handy dandy RV certified GPS gizmo guaranteed to get you into tighter places than a shoehorned size 12 tootsie in a size 9 pump and my wife’s trusty google map app on her phone guaranteed to find every under 13’ underpass or gas station with the pumps being the wrong way in the islands. If they were giving out the gas free I couldn’t get in those spots no how no way. We were off. So as I said we are on our way to our last campground. Finally arrived at our KOA Belafonte/State College. I go to check in and to my dismay they had no reservation for me I don’t even show up in their computer. I thought huh that’s strange. Amy the checker inner girl can’t spell GOM? I know what you’re thinking. You guys are getting smart. Don’t get ahead of me. Well, it ends up when G.O.M. reads Nittany Mountain his sharp as a pin brain assumes State College. Get it State College Nittany Lions. So obvious. Yep I drove over an hour further than I needed to. Genius. Anyway all is well they had a spot for us for the night and the other campground refunded our money 100% on account of me not being smarter than the average bear. What a Boo Boo I made. This installment is getting a little long to hold my attention or yours. The point is no matter the bad roads the getting lost the having to maneuver badly designed fuel stations the slide that is a pain in my dupa that’s butt for you younger folks. It was fun, it was beautiful and already planning the next adventure.
GOM
QTL
Comments