I stopped at the Post Office to buy some stamps and mail off a bill payment. Paying bills can be a problem with extended travel. I've automated most of them so I get my bills on-line and either have automatic withdrawals from my checking account or can make payment transfers. But I still have one with a company with a reluctant accounting system - or just reluctant policy makers. Believe it or not, this one is a bank!
After sorting that out, down to Main Street Bar Harbor -- a mile of kitschy down-home expensive shops selling all the usual Maine stuff plus stores selling hiking, biking, trekking, kayaking, canoeing and camping stuff. There are travel shops specializing on rock climbing trips, kayaking trips, hiking, etc. There's someone there to lead you wherever you want to go, however you want to go. There's also a hoard of art stores selling locally made glass, pottery, oils, etc.
I've noticed a high percentage of "sports" and "outdoor" type tourists around here. It appears that their status is conferred in direct relation to the number of bicycles and kayaks they carry on their mini-van or sport utility. I saw one mini-van with six bikes and three kayaks . . . Yikes!
Here I am parked on an island across the bay from Bar Harbor! How'd I do that? It seems when the tide goes out, a sandbar connecting the main island with this island is exposed - you've about a 6 hour window or you're trapped until the next tide! There's nothing on this island except a couple hiking trails.
Tuesday, 7/01/03, Day 13. I went back out to Prospect Point Lighthouse
for some shots in the early morning light. I made it there by 6:30 am and
back at the RV by 9:00 am. It really wasn't
worth the trip and I should have known it. The sun comes up behind the
buildings so the side I'm on is in shadow. You'd think I could figure
out a compass by now.
I did take some interesting shots of "Wilbur the Giant Lobster" on the way back - this bad boy is six feet tall! These people really do have a lot of time on their hands during the Maine winter. This example of "roadside art" sits in front of Ruth & Wimpy's Restaurant & Motel, the home of Wilbur the Lobster. Naturally, it sits on US Route 1, a highway noted as much for its roadside art as is Route 66.
I spent most of the afternoon sorting and packing to get ready to pull out Thursday morning. I won't have time to do this Wednesday because of the trip to Machais Seal Harbor and on to Quoddy Point. I washed the Jeep and cleaned the front of the RV - which turns out to be a very big, very effective bug collector.
Vernon Law
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