We arrived at Schoodic Woods Campground in Winter Harbor on Saturday and set up camp. This morning had us setting off for the 11 a.m. Mass at St. Joseph's in Ellsworth about 40 minutes away. It wasn't the gong show but it was depressing: almost all elderly with a handful of children, a wandering priest walking up and down the aisle during the homily who wore no chasuble and changed words in both the proper and common of the Mass. The church has an organ but mostly the "organist" played the piano and a keyboard and, oh the insipid music. Why, O Lord? The Mass wasn't exactly irreverent -- just -- what can I say -- as dismal as the rainy day. Ah well, I prayed for the priest throughout the service. A parish with few children is a dying parish. I always pray we will find wonderful vibrant churches when we travel, and I can't say this is isn't one from a single visit, but it was a depressing start to our day. Jesus deserves better.
It was still raining after Mass so we went for brunch at a local restaurant and then headed in the mist to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Acadia has two portions. Bar Harbor is on one side of Frenchman Bay and Winter Harbor is on the other. The main portion of the park is on Mount Desert Island, the rest on the Schoodic Peninsula. Bar Harbor is a busy tourist town with numerous shops and restaurants, hotels, lodges, and B&Bs. Winter Harbor, on the other hand, is about two blocks long with a handful of eating establishment and a five and dime. We are on the quiet side and I'm thankful. The park campground is brand spanking new and the sites are large and mostly pull-through.
Acadia is a glorious park! Today, since we were already halfway there (The portion of the park near Bar Harbor is an hour away by car from our campground.), we explored the eastern side of Mount Desert Island, a loop that encompasses Cadillac Mountain, the highest peak in the park. The mountain is pink granite and what a ride up to the peak looping around past one stunning site of the bay or ocean after another. Well, see for yourself:
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| The weather was clearing with lingering low lying clouds. |
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| View from the peak of Cadillac Mountain, an obliging man took our picture |
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| One of the Porcupine Islands: at low tide there's a land bridge to walk out on |
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| Beautiful pink granite lined the road all the way to the top. |
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This cruise ship seemed to be anchored offshore near Bar Harbor.
TO BE CONTINUED...
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It was still raining after Mass so we went for brunch at a local restaurant and then headed in the mist to Acadia National Park and Bar Harbor. Acadia has two portions. Bar Harbor is on one side of Frenchman Bay and Winter Harbor is on the other. The main portion of the park is on Mount Desert Island, the rest on the Schoodic Peninsula. Bar Harbor is a busy tourist town with numerous shops and restaurants, hotels, lodges, and B&Bs. Winter Harbor, on the other hand, is about two blocks long with a handful of eating establishment and a five and dime. We are on the quiet side and I'm thankful. The park campground is brand spanking new and the sites are large and mostly pull-through.
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