We drove along Highway 3 to Acadia National Park and onto Mount Desert Island. The island was quite lush and green so I'm not sure why European explorer,Samuel Chaplain, called it Mount Desert Island.
Our visit to this national park started with a drive down the middle of the island past Eagle Lake to Jordan's Pond. A cooperative and photogenic Herring Gull seemed to be welcoming us to the Atlantic coast.
Herring Gull
Eagle Lake
Jordan's Pond was a beautiful little lake. As it was time for our morning promenade we enjoyed a short walk along the scenic shoreline of Jordan's Pond.
Jordan's Pond
Emma and Sonaa by Jordan Stream
Jordan Stream
Continuing toward the Atlantic we saw a lovely public garden and decided to take a quiet walk through its tranquil pathways.
Asticou Azalea Garden
The Azalea Garden was styled after a Japanese stroll garden with many traditional Japanese design features adapted for the natural setting and vegetation of coastal Maine. A meandering circular path led visitors through a succession of garden vistas that inspired serenity and reflection.
Sand Garden
The blending of the traditional Japanese garden style with Maine vegetation was quite wonderful.
Emma with a restorative smile
We also came to this garden it the hope of seeing some birds but the only obvious residents were frogs.
Bull Frog
Green Frog
Rested and restored we drove the short distance to Northeast Harbour.
Northeast Harbor
We walked around the town from the harbour pier to the main drag.
Main Street in Northeast Harbor
To celebrate our arrive on the Atlantic coast, we had a lobster dinner at this cozy little restaurant with the red door. I tucked right into my lobster with relish while Emma had issues as she thought the boiled lobster looked too cute to eat.
Finding our campground on Magellan was a challenge and we sailed by the entrance twice before finally arriving at the Hadley Point Campground.
July 8
It was a misty morning as we skirted Somes Sound.
Somes Sound
Sailing Ship in the Mist
Common Eider and ducklings
The misty view from the shores of Somes Sound was surprisingly beautiful.
A great Black-backed Gull and several Herring Gulls were foraging among the rocks.
Great Black-backed Gull
Rocky Beach by Somes Sound
The rocks were covered with colourful seaweed and algea which nicely framed the misty blues of the water and sky.
Moving on we continued up Highway 102 toward Ship Harbour
Wild Rose and Bee
Ship Harbour
We had barely parked the RV when Sonaa leapt out and sprinted for the water.
Sonaa having a swim at Ship Harbour
For Sonaa, it was always a good day when she got to swim.
For Emma, it was always a good day when she got to go on a long hike. So...
We took the two kilometre Ship Harbour Nature Trail.
As we walked through the shoreline pine forest we saw White-throated Sparrows and Red-breasted Nuthatches.
White-throated Sparrow
For Jim, it was always a good day when he got to see birds. Now all three of us were happy.
Red-breasted Nuthatch
The highlight of the trail was the point where it burst out of the pine forest and onto the rocky headland of Ship Harbour
We found a cozy spot to rest and enjoy the panoramic view of the Atlantic shoreline.
With places to go and things to see, we headed back to the RV.
Circling west along the shoreline we traversed around Mount Desert Island and arrived at Pretty Marsh in the afternoon.
A short walk and a steep stairway brought us to the rocky beach at Pretty Marsh Harbour.
Emma and Sonaa rarely missed a swimming opportunity and quickly went splashing into the ocean.
Rocky beaches can be tricky and Emma had to trod carefully as she waded about.
Back in the RV we completed our circumnavigation of the island and arrived back at Bar Harbour
Bar Harbour
We made a walking tour of the town to locate our whale watching tour which was planned for the next day.
Boardwalk at Bar Harbour
After a late lunch, we left Bar Harbour and headed up to the summit of Cadillac Mountain.
Cadillac Mountain Summit Trail
Arriving shortly before sunset we wandered around the summit trail at Cadillac Mountain. This was the highest point on the island with a gorgeous 360 degree panoramic view.
Cadillac Mountain Overlook
The golden light from the setting sun added a magical quality. The blues of the ocean blended into the misty blues of the sky. It was beautiful.
July 9
Bar Harbour
It is always a challenging rush when we have to get up early, fire up the RV, find a parking spot in a strange town and hustle down to the harbour for our pre-booked tour.
Whale Watching
On this occasion, everything when pretty smoothly and Emma and I were still talking to each other as the whale watching boat cast off from the pier.
We passed by several small islands and a few picturesque lighthouses.
Although whales were the primary focus of this tour it also included Atlantic Puffins and other pelagic birds.
Atlantic Puffins
Unfortunately, we didn't get as close as I would like to the birds. Still, I added several pelagic species to my life list:
121) *Atlantic Puffin - many 125) *Northern Fulmor - two
122) *Black Guillemot - a few 126) *Wilson's Storm Petrel - a few
123) * Razorbill - one 127) *Sooty Shearwater - one flying above the whales
124) * Great Shearwater - one
Atlantic Puffin and Razorbill
I was a lone birding voice in a sea of whale watchers. We carried on toward the whaling grounds in the open ocean.
Lighthouse at Petit Manan Island
Petit Manan Lighthouse was the last vestige of terra firma before we were surrounded by sea and sky.
Atlantic Ocean
A lone Sooty Shearwater was circling in the middle of nowhere.
Humpback Whale
Suddenly, two Humpback Whales rose from the depths. This explained the Shearwater's interest in the area.
As if to get a good look at us one whale rose totally out of the water.
Breaching
Seeing breaching whales was a great way to end our visit to Acadia National Park. By the afternoon, we were back in the RV and headed north toward Canada.
What a nice are to visit!
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