Acadia National Park ~ The Park Loop Rd

     Today (September 26) we drove the Park Loop Road in Acadia National Park on the eastern side of Mt Desert Island.  This side of the park is DEFINITELY BUSIER.  We got a late start this morning because I was trying to upload Sunday's blog post and having technical difficulties.  When we finally got on the road we headed for Cadillac Mountain, the highest point in the park.  We drove up the twisting, turning paved access road and then wandered around the summit enjoying spectacular views (with a WHOLE LOT of other people:)  Of course the photographs fail to capture the stunning panorama.  The parking lot was full and there was a long line of cars and tour buses waiting to find a spot to park.  I'm glad we came in September.  I'd hate to see what its like in the summer.     

Overlooking Bar Harbor

Notice the cruise ship in Bar Harbor

 

      Jordan Pond was next.  We stopped at the Jordan Pond House (restaurant) to try their famous popovers & jam, but there was a long wait and you couldn't order any food "to go".  We walked the 3.4 mile trail around the pond instead.  Most of the trail is level gravel or a boardwalk of narrow wooden planks, but a couple parts required traversing rocky areas.  It was a quiet and peaceful couple of hours with only a few other people on the trail.  The water was clean and very pretty.    

Jordan Pond

 

 

 

 

 

 

A rocky part of the path

 

 

       We stopped at a couple of overlooks along the Park Loop Road as well as Sand Beach, Thunder Hole (which was quiet today) and Otter Point.  At Otter Point, I fell and painfully twisted my knee.  At that point we were done for the day.  It was late afternoon and we had driven most of the loop anyway.  My knee was much better today. 😊

See the lighthouse on that tiny strip of land?

Lighthouse (magnified)

 

Magnified to see the cool sailboat.

 

Sand Beach

 

 

Thunder Hole

 

 

 

 

 

 

Otter Point

       Although we can see why the eastern side of the park is so popular with easier access by car to the sights, we found our day on the "quietside" more enjoyable, away from the crowds.