August 9, 2013

I woke this morning to the sound of thunder, how far off I sat and wondered. But instead of strumming a song from 1963 I laid in bed until 8 o'clock which is the latest we have slept the whole trip. Everyone else started waking up soon after and we made biscuits and eggs and grits for breakfast. 

Once we were sufficiently fed, we packed up and walked over to the bus stop to take the Island Explorer up to the YMCA for a swim.  Scott and the kids played while I did laps and afterward we were ready to explore Bar Harbor and Acadia. We stopped to eat and had lobster rolls and whoopie pies which are apparently Maine specialties. 

With full bellies, we walked around the shops in Bar Harbor and then took the bus up to the Acadia visitor center. It was quite possibly one of the most crowded ones we have ever been in. We grabbed our junior ranger books, watched a movie and made a plan for exploring the park. Next we took the bus back to the RV because we wanted to see a lighthouse on the other side of the island. We enjoyed the drive out and it was a good opportunity to be out of the rain which has been with us all day. The kids completed all of the written activities. It was nearly 7 o'clock after we saw the Bass Harbor Lighthouse so we stopped at a parking lot and cooked dinner of rice and chicken and salad. Then we hurried back to the campground for the 8:30 ranger talk on Acadia's rocks so that the kids could complete their junior ranger badges. There were only about 10 people at the program because it was still raining. We ended the night around 10 PM.