Day 3 - The enchanting coast of Maine

At the time, one of the most important sources of income for Maine was the lobster industry. There was an extensive canning industry with factories located along the coast. Can you believe that a lobster just cost $cent 2 a piece at the time? Workers were even partially paid with lobster that they got for lunch. Nowadays lobster is a luxury product and my favorite festive meal. How times have changed ... Lobster catch is still an important part of the Maine economy, but lobster is now only caught year-round to supply local restaurants and shops. The canning industry  is now a thing of the past. 

Bar Harbor was and still is a refuge for the wealthy among us. Among others, author and television personality Martha Stewart, the millionaire families Astoria, Rockefeller, Carnegie and Morgan had or have here their pied-a-terre. Giant country houses on immeasurable pieces of land. And with the beautiful view of the bay that I enjoy from the central lawn, I can't blame them. Meanwhile mass tourism has also found its way to Bar Harbor to enjoy the lively center and the countless restaurants with delicious lobster dishes. In the bay of Bar Harbor lie several giant cruise ships and their passengers are flooding the town. Yes, I am not alone here ;-). 

Not only cruise ships, but also small sailing boats, yachts and three-masts are lying in the water in front of me. The first signs of the Indian Summer are a fact. Leaves begin to discolor in vibrant variations of orange and red. I could spend a whole day getting lost in the cozy streets and enjoying all that lobster deliciousness, but Bar Harbor has a much bigger asset. It is considered the gateway to Acadia National Park, New England's only national park. It is located just like Bar Harbor on Mount Desert Island. Via the 34 km Loop Route that runs up and down the granite mountains, once formed by volcanic activity, we explore the east coast of the island. At the highest point, the 465 meter high Cadillac Mountain, you have a wide view over the ocean, several lakes, Bar Harbor and the dense forests of the island. A small local walking path ensures that you can see all sides of the island. 

Pleasure boats lie in the coves of the island, pools, streams, rivers and puddles sparkle in the sunlight. After our descent, we relax at Sand Beach, an oddity in Maine because the bay has a real sandy beach in contrast to the rocky coast elsewhere. The water rolls onto the beach in waves, one larger than the other. At the end of the bay, the water crashes into the pink granite rocks. 

At Thunder Hole we have bad luck. During high tide and strong winds the water that continuously pounds on the cliffs of the island, is forced through a crack with great force and ejected with a huge bang. But today it remains calm. Back in Bar Harbor we only hear the rustling of the water and we feel a gentle breeze. With nightfall and the sun disappearing, it will soon become cooler. Time to get into one of the restaurants on the waterfront. The perfect backdrop for another festive lobster meal, with that delicious sweeter Maine lobster, sweeter through the colder waters. It's a partytime in Maine.