Acadia or Bust

Well, hello, USA. Hard day of driving got us to Bar Harbor, ME. Next on the itinerary was Acadia

National Park. The website said that while the visitor center was closed, the loop road was open; it was not. We arrived on the evening of the 14th to signs that said it would open for the season on April 15. Fine. Slept in the Ferry Terminal parking lot. When the police helicopter landed a couple of hundred yards away we wondered if we were in trouble, but they never knocked. Looked for popovers—not in this town, this time of year. It was another cool, grey day threatening rain, but we traversed the east side of Mount Desert Island enjoying the stark, rugged beauty. Stretched our legs at Sand Beach. RV was too big to make the turns on Cadillac Summit Road. Called it good.

Next stop was for me. Frances Perkins was the first woman cabinet member, FDR’s Labor Secretary, and significantly influential in the implementation of Social Security, unemployment insurance, child labor laws, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and the minimum wage. Last year Biden designated her home place as a National Monument. I wanted to pay homage to this remarkable woman. Stopped in Portland, ME for some seafood and a hotel. That’s our third and probably last hotel for the trip. We should be back to year round campgrounds (& adjoining showers) in the next couple of days. In Kennebunkport we saw the Bush compound and wandered in town. Popovers on the Square in Portsmouth, NH finally scratched that itch for a truly New England treat. Salem Witch Museum was hokey and dated, but we did it,too. On to Boston.

For the record, I found a parking spot for this traveling apartment a block from Boston Common in 5:00 o’clock traffic. Whoo-hoo! Started the Freedom Trail and forged on until we lost daylight…got to the USS Constitution so we are going to call that good. Met up with Ephraim for a drink. Gosh it’s inspiring  to hear a millennial talking about how he is changing the world (that’s my take on his telling us about the nuclear fusion generator he’s creating). 

Roamed around Woods Hole on Cape Cod. Took in the aquarium. Did a drive through Hyannis. On to Newport, RI to see the summer mansions built in the last Guilded Age by the wealthy industrialists, financiers—1%ers in the late 1800s. Who needs that much house? Especially when it’s not even a primary residence?

Mystic, CT is a fun town. Julia Robert’s first movie was Mystic Pizza and we enjoyed our pies at the same. Overnighted in a nearby KOA before hitting the best bakery (Sift) we’ve found on the trip, trolling the shops and reveling in all things maritime at the Seaport Museum. Not my first time here…and I could come again. Don’t say that too often!

On to Madison, NJ where we had a great visit with my second cousin, Linda. She graciously allowed us to wash mounds of laundry, feted us with a pesto pasta feast and listened as we regaled her with tales of our travels. She’s a neat woman and I wish our paths crossed more than once a decade.

One more week coming down the coast. Let’s see what else we can find to enjoy and appreciate in this beautiful country. 

Pics.