A little getaway

A few weeks ago, Amanda surprised me with a short little getaway up to Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park. Its our favorite place in the world, but with everything going on lately, I never got around to posting pictures of our little adventure. Amanda has been having some trouble sitting for long periods of time, and she was experiencing swelling in her feet and ankles, so she thought a weekend away at a luxurious bed and breakfast, combined with some short walks around the park would do the trick. We stayed at the Collier House, in the Town Hill section of Bar Harbor, and we will most definitely be yearly regulars--perhaps with some kranthonies and melathans. Because of the off season, we got a super duper deal with the "early spring special," which got us an antique laden room in a refurbished carriage house that sported amenities like a private porch overlooking a pond, a fireplace, and a hot tub. Not to mention, George Clemens and his wife (the innkeepers) concoct a mouthwatering and completely homemade gourmet breakfast each morning. Below is a picture of the bathroom with the hot tub and the fireplace right across from it. The midwife told us Amanda could take a tub for 20 minutes at a time, so we did just that. I drank a delicious imported German Heff, and Amanda sipped on a "Stewarts" grape soda. Also, I rubbed her swollen feet. TMI.
The view from standing in the living room and looking out at the cute little pond. Unlike the busy downtown of Bar Harbor (which dont get me wrong, is very nice) the Collier House was off in the woods . . ..
Ahh . . .a day in the park. We pretty much had it to ourselves. We took a walk on the "Shore Path," which is a relatively flat trail skirting around the coast off the park loop road. Usually, we do some cool hikes like the Precipice, Dorr Mountain, or Uncle Touchy's tantalizing cupcake revue trail, but since Amanda was 8 months pregnant, we stuck to the basics. She walked four miles, however. I think it did her legs and feet good. Below is the approach to Otter Rocks, which is the MIL's favorite place in the park. She likes to go there with her folding chair, 13 or 14 junkie mysteries, and just read by the surf while George picks up the latest Clive Cussler book at the Dorcas Library in Winter Harbor . . .

Isnt it beautiful? CT and MASS people would love it here . . .
Yummy Faces! BBQ time. To make a long story short, the Atlantic Brewing Company (purveyors of Bar Harbor Blueberry Ale and Island Ginger) has a terrific BBQ establishment (albeit possessing the cliche moniker of "Mainley Meat"). However, they are closed until May 22. This barbecue is legendary is Winslow High School lore, as a few years ago, on our camping trip during a monsoon, 13 or 14 weary English, Social Studies, and Spanish instructors found solace in Mr. Meat's 16 foot smoker (thats what she . . .). I knew I HAD to eat at this place. Well, lo and behold, due to its popularity, Mr. Meat opened up a year round little stand in downtown Bar Harbor. The wife and I indulged, of course, consuming mass quantities of ribs, chicken, pulled pork, and frozen egg rolls from Sam's Club. Its worth the hour and a half drive for the food!
Lastly, here is "Seawall," named such for the unique beach where, over time, the angry tide has thrown up hundreds of thousands of cold, smooth, Atlantic stones onto the coast, creating a large, enduring "seawall" of rocks. Its a pretty neat geological feature, Johnny C. As a point of interest, Amanda and I sat on these very rocks and wrote our wedding vows to each other. Its a beautiful, quiet, and not-often-visited place . . .perfect for a picnic, a beer, or wedding vows. Oh, and I forgot to mention--the bed and breakfast was only 79 bucks a night! You cant even stay at the Crapaday Inn for that little coin! A great weekend. An AWESOME weekend, in fact. Our last little getaway as a married couple well, until, probably ever. Things are going to start to get interesting in the next few weeks . . ..