We began the day at 9:30, 72 degrees, and headed east. The drive took us through a number of small towns, all with a lot in common. We saw many woodshops where artisans make furniture from locally grown trees. And we saw gift shops and antique shops all calling out to the many tourists, but not to us. We even saw one sign that said "Antique Books and Wine". Did the owners really mean what it says? I hope not. And all along the way there was an American flag flying from every other telephone pole along the roadside. Added to the flags flying at many homes and businesses, one could come to the conclusion that Mainers are patriotic. It was a warming sight.

Acadia National Park. What can I say about this park? It is one of the Top 10 Most Visited Parks in the US. It is in Maine. And it feels like home to me. The last time we were in this park was the day before my graduation from college in 1969. Steve and I climbed to the top of Cadillac Mt. and sat on the edge of a cliff, drinking beer, eating pretzels and watching the sun set in the western sky. So we returned for another look, 45 years later. The beer would have been replaced by wine this time around, but the view was as grand as ever. We found the exact spot where we sat back then and it felt very nostalgic. It's a different time, a different world and we are different people than we were back then, but the mountain…it remains the same.

Even though there was a haze over the islands below, the air felt cool and crisp and clean. And at 75 degrees with a good breeze from the east, it felt invigorating. We climbed all around the top of the mountain, taking in the views from the east, the west and the south, and how grand they are. Cadillac Mt. is made of pink granite. And, although the park management has done an excellent job making it easy to get around and find your way, they have also allowed the mountain to define itself, not disturbing the ground in any way, while allowing visitors to climb around the rocks freely.

My only negative experience this morning happened in the parking lot. The car that pulled in beside our car, contained two middle-eastern families. I was sitting in the passenger seat waiting for Steve to return from the gift shop when they arrived. And they were very upset about the way our car was parked. So much so, that they complained to me, and they circled my car, staring at me, waving their hands and expecting me to move the car, because the front wheel was on the white line, a situation that was unavoidable when we drove in, given how the cars on both sides of us had defined our space quite clearly. They spent 10 minutes in this animated dance but left before Steve arrived and I was not too happy when the driver banged his car door into mine getting out of the car. Some people just have the arrogance of privilege that imposes on those around them. But I didn’t let it spoil my day.

We drove around the park for a couple of hours and found our way to Bar Harbor. Interestingly, I had never been there, at lease not in my mind’s memory. It is a charming town with old and new coexisting in harmony. Surrounded by blue water and pink rocks and grey muddy clam flats, it is decorated with piers, boat launches, restaurants, hotels and the ever-present gift shops. And signs advertising lobster (pronounced by Mainers as “lobsta”) were displayed on many of the restaurants. So, what else would you eat in Baa Haabah???

And on our way out of town we saw many stately mansions all with harbor views but encroached upon by lines of cars parked along the street, everywhere. It’s that time of year. I doubt that there was ever this much traffic when these homes were built, otherwise, why would anyone ever build a million dollar home there?

After a brief tour around downtown Bangor (also pronounced “Banger” in song, but not by Mainers), we headed back to our hotel for more work on reservations, wine, dinner and finally, rest.