Happy Fourth of July!
Time to go kayaking.
Throughout much of the country, driving with two kayaks on top of our truck, we’d get strange stares and many questions, so they were always a good conversation starter. But here in Acadia National Park, about 20% of the vehicles have at least one kayak on top, so you feel kind of out of place without at least one. I like that.
We got ourselves together after our usual restful morning, and by 10am we were at Jordan Pond putting our kayaks into the water. There was a stiff breeze on this beautiful day, and we were the first people out on the water, but as we were heading out, another couple with their two kayaks put in as well.
We paddled toward what we thought were a flock of birds sitting on the water, but they ended up being some sort of science experiment.
I then paddled to the opposite side of the lake where the wind wasn’t blowing as hard, with Marianne following. We cruised from the south end of the lake near the restaurant toward the north end, near “The Bubbles.” The other kayak pair was about a quarter mile behind us and there were just a few people walking the path that goes once around the lake.
Heading back we did come upon a flock of gulls sitting on the water, and as I got too close, they all took flight, a dazzling sight.
As we headed back to the launch ramp, it was occupied by yet another pair of kayaks waiting to hit the water. And as I was walking to retrieve the truck from the parking lot to load up the kayaks again, I ran into another boater. By this time the parking lot was completely full, so I offered him my prime parking spot which he gladly accepted.
On the way back to the campground we stopped at the park’s visitor’s center which was totally packed. It seems that everyone in New England was taking advantage of the three-day weekend. The campground was full and all the hotels and motels had “no vacancy” signs out front.
I had hoped that the Canadians would still be here when we got back, since they said they’d be leaving at noon, when they would be heading home since tomorrow, Monday, July 5, would be a holiday for Americans, but it was only another working day for the Canadians. But they were all gone. Sad, I’ll miss them.
We retrieved the dogs, and took the entire one-way road through this part of the park. The road was actually two lanes, but because of the crush of tourists, one of lanes was almost entirely blocked with parked cars. If one wanted to see any of the marquee sites along the way, it wouldn’t have been unusual to have to hike two miles between the view and your car. It was hard enough just slowing down in order to grab a quick photo, but even that wasn’t worth it because of number of people in the way. A postcard would have to suffice.
Instead we decided to explore the “quiet” side of the island, where the rich and famous live and not that many tourists abound. We took the loop once around this part of the island, coming across several quaint villages some with harbors filled with lobster boats. There were flags and bunting everywhere but there weren’t that many tourists on the road on this part of the island. Heck we couldn’t even find a decent restaurant to have late lunch or an early dinner. I wonder where Martha Stewart, who lives in Seal Harbor, goes to grab a quick bite to eat? Probably at home, eh?
We totally circumnavigated the island and then headed back to our campground, stopping now and again to shoot photos of everything that piqued our interest.
Back at the campground it was emptier since most of the Canadians had gone.
We ate dinner and decided not to go anywhere to watch fireworks, but we did hear them in the distance.
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