We had tickets to drive to the top of Cadillac Mountain first thing in the morning (not at sunrise though because these tickets are very popular and almost impossible to get). It is good that timed tickets are now required because, given how the other area's parking situation is, Cadillac mountain would be a complete zoo without it. At 1530feet, Cadillac Mountain is the highest point of the eastern coast of the US. The 2.5miles road takes you from sea level to the top through a set of hair pin turns that provide nicer and nicer views as you go up.
At the top, a nicely graded 0.5mile trail, makes it accessible for almost everyone, and the views are almost a full 360. With this weather we are having, it was awesome!
The trail is not actually at the very top, so I searched for the geological marker, just a few hundred feet away, and mostly unnoticed by most.
The part around the lake was indeed very easy, but the part up Bubble rock was tougher than expected (which I should have guessed just looking at them from the lake - below, in the background are Bubble North and South - obviously a bit up hill.....).
Unlike yesterday, no cliff climbing, but the rocky trail was tricky too. The big "bubble rock" is cool and the view down Jordan pond from the top of Bubble mountain is worth the climb. I was feeling pretty good about myself when a family with 3 children, ages 2, 4 and 6 made it to the top.
The father had the 2 years old in a back pack (which is impressive by itself), but the 4 and 6 year old girls made it by themselves(they took an easier access trail than me, but its still up so a long way!!!). the 4 year old did not look too happy about it, but she made it, and the 6 year old was literally skipping around the rocks (and she is the one who took my picture)!
Back down to finish the other side of the Jordan pond loop and meet Joe in the parking lot. Since he had not been able to park, he went and explored other sides, including Otter cliffs.
By that time, it was lunch time, and we headed for NorthEast Harbor, which is quieter than Bar Harbor. Indeed, we found a sleepy, ritzy, artsy little village where one could park easily and get a sandwich without waiting - what a treat! (It is VERY ritzy- in that unique New England understated waspy way. Martha Steward has her estate there.....). Its little harbor is delightful and delightfully quiet - and had unusually tame loons willing to pose for pictures!
We decided to stay on the quieter side of the park and instead of re-entering the park, we went to some of the protected ponds just outside it, and explored some of the original Rockefeller carriage roads. The islands has 57 miles and miles of them. They are beautiful indeed! They were originally intended for the Rockefeller's estate, but were then donated to the park and are used for hiking, biking and horse back riding all around the park. The one we picked started at a little pond, and it was just beautiful, peaceful and bursting with fall colors.
Across the street from that park was one of the many typical cobblestone beaches of the island. In fact, there is only one sandy beach (hoping to go there tomorrow morning), all other have these cobble stones.We then continued on to the famous "sargeant drive", one of the pretties roads anywhere. We passed "petite plaisance", where Marguerite Yourcenar (the first woman to be elected to the Academy Francaise- google it) fled during WWII - decided she couldn't live anywhere else and stayed there for the rest of her live.
Sargent drive follow Some sound, which separates the east and west side of the island (so far, we have only explored the East side, going West tomorrow). Some sound may or may not be a true fjord - apparently it's banks are not quite steep enough, so geologist are arguing..... looks pretty fjordish to me.Before dinner, I took advantage of the low tide to explore the "bar" in Bar Harbor- that is the gravel and rock bar that links the town of Bar Harbor to the little island across the harbor. It is only walkable at low tides, and many people have been left stranded and required a water taxi to rescue them by not paying attention to the tides.
It is a lot of fun, with little tidal puddles full of marine animals and sea weed. I really enjoyed that. I even had time for a short walk on the island itself, getting a different view of Bar Harbor.
Tonight, we had made reservation at a fancy restaurant in town, which had come highly recommended by two separate friends (Luba and Sheri) - Havana. It was truly exceptional. That lobster in coconut sauce was just amazing!
Since we were going in that direction anyway, we then headed for Jordan pond. By the time we arrived there, at 10:00am, the parking area was completely full and it was just impossible to stop. Joe - who is extremely tolerant of my hiking needs, and very patient when it comes to driving around, or just changing his plans and doing something else- just dropped me off. I had planned what I thought was a nice and easy hike around Jordan pond, with a side loop up Bubble Mountain. I was half right about my plan - its was nice.....
The part around the lake was indeed very easy, but the part up Bubble rock was tougher than expected (which I should have guessed just looking at them from the lake - below, in the background are Bubble North and South - obviously a bit up hill.....).
Unlike yesterday, no cliff climbing, but the rocky trail was tricky too. The big "bubble rock" is cool and the view down Jordan pond from the top of Bubble mountain is worth the climb. I was feeling pretty good about myself when a family with 3 children, ages 2, 4 and 6 made it to the top.
The father had the 2 years old in a back pack (which is impressive by itself), but the 4 and 6 year old girls made it by themselves(they took an easier access trail than me, but its still up so a long way!!!). the 4 year old did not look too happy about it, but she made it, and the 6 year old was literally skipping around the rocks (and she is the one who took my picture)!
Back down to finish the other side of the Jordan pond loop and meet Joe in the parking lot. Since he had not been able to park, he went and explored other sides, including Otter cliffs.
By that time, it was lunch time, and we headed for NorthEast Harbor, which is quieter than Bar Harbor. Indeed, we found a sleepy, ritzy, artsy little village where one could park easily and get a sandwich without waiting - what a treat! (It is VERY ritzy- in that unique New England understated waspy way. Martha Steward has her estate there.....). Its little harbor is delightful and delightfully quiet - and had unusually tame loons willing to pose for pictures!
We decided to stay on the quieter side of the park and instead of re-entering the park, we went to some of the protected ponds just outside it, and explored some of the original Rockefeller carriage roads. The islands has 57 miles and miles of them. They are beautiful indeed! They were originally intended for the Rockefeller's estate, but were then donated to the park and are used for hiking, biking and horse back riding all around the park. The one we picked started at a little pond, and it was just beautiful, peaceful and bursting with fall colors.
Across the street from that park was one of the many typical cobblestone beaches of the island. In fact, there is only one sandy beach (hoping to go there tomorrow morning), all other have these cobble stones.We then continued on to the famous "sargeant drive", one of the pretties roads anywhere. We passed "petite plaisance", where Marguerite Yourcenar (the first woman to be elected to the Academy Francaise- google it) fled during WWII - decided she couldn't live anywhere else and stayed there for the rest of her live.
Sargent drive follow Some sound, which separates the east and west side of the island (so far, we have only explored the East side, going West tomorrow). Some sound may or may not be a true fjord - apparently it's banks are not quite steep enough, so geologist are arguing..... looks pretty fjordish to me.Before dinner, I took advantage of the low tide to explore the "bar" in Bar Harbor- that is the gravel and rock bar that links the town of Bar Harbor to the little island across the harbor. It is only walkable at low tides, and many people have been left stranded and required a water taxi to rescue them by not paying attention to the tides.
It is a lot of fun, with little tidal puddles full of marine animals and sea weed. I really enjoyed that. I even had time for a short walk on the island itself, getting a different view of Bar Harbor.
Tonight, we had made reservation at a fancy restaurant in town, which had come highly recommended by two separate friends (Luba and Sheri) - Havana. It was truly exceptional. That lobster in coconut sauce was just amazing!
Below are a few additional pictures of sights and flowers from the day.
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