We Did It Again!

After waiting years for the opportunity to experience a sailboat ride, we experience it twice within one week. The magic of New England! Today, it is the Friendship V, a much larger type of sailboat, a catamaran. Sails are not used on this boat. It has two hulls instead of one, which allows it to skim the water without a propeller. Kinda like a large yacht. The ship’s crew assured me this is a type of sailboat. 

The location is Bar Harbor, Maine in some of the most scenic coastal landscape we've ever seen. For a blissful three-hours, we're aboard this spectacular vessel taking in iconic lighthouses and views of Arcadia National Park from the ocean. Pinch me! We learned about lobstering, Maine’s biggest industry along with tourism. We saw from a distance huge, opulent homes. Summer homes of the rich, like in Newport. Martha Stewart has one here. Walter Cronkite had a yacht anchored in the harbor. It was named Assignment. Yup. You’ve heard it too. “Walter Cronkite is off tonight. He’s on Assignment.”

Every television show or movie watched does not hold a candle to the extravaganza of sights, sounds, and smells. I truly cannot explain why this area is so spellbinding. I'm in a trance. Of course, the chill in the air and the pending cold and snow in the weeks ahead is enough not to hold me here forever, but the moments now are priceless.

We saw four lighthouses from the ocean. Top left clockwise: (1) Bear Island Lighthouse, 

(2) Mark Island Lighthouse which is currently for sale for only $2.3M, 

(3) Bass Harbor Head Light Station, probably the most photographed of all lighthouses, 

(4) Safety House #5, described by Gene, our tour guide, as additional houses in the ocean where personnel could physically reach ships in distress and rescue sailors, saving lives. 

(5) And the final, Egg Rock Lighthouse. This lighthouse is still manned and gave us a fog horn salute as we passed by. Watch and listen to the short clip 

SOURCE: https://youtu.be/QDJ4TxgFSXA?feature=shared

That was just the start of the day. When in Maine, must have lobster. Sitting high on a deck overlooking the harbor and boat we just sailed, we were surrounded by lobster decor. Papa and I had our first lobster roll. Delightful. 

Time to explore Arcadia National Park and do a little hiking. Papa and I did three short hikes, one per row of pictures:

Carroll Homestead: and they had an Open House so we were able to go into the house and even the cellar

Wonderland Trail and Ship Harbor Trail. 

Just driving around the park was fascinating. It isn’t like other national parks. People live here. There are small villages or towns. Schools. It is stunningly beautiful and charming. 

And so were our accommodations for two-nights along the coast in Maine. We had the view of beautiful suspension bridge from our window, both day and night.  Plus we could open the windows and practically feel the fog roll in. It is hard to leave this place. There is so much more to explore. As Papa and I often say, a marathon road trip is the Cliff Notes of travel. We get just a taste of areas and want to come back.