GNRT DAY 47 ACADIA BRAND NEW

 

What has astounded us most this road trip…what amazes us more and more

Is how every day we’ve been surprised by something we’ve never seen before.

It could come from any place…any what, when, where or who…

but every day we’ve been blessed to see something brand new. 

 

Today we journeyed to the Jordan Pond Restaurant in Acadia National Park .

We were told their popovers are some of the best in all he nation

What we weren’t told, however, was…we needed a reservation.

No reservations meant no popovers…so how did we respond

we took a walk enjoying the beauty that surrounded Jordan Pond.

The beauty of the crystal clear pond, paired with a village of mushrooms  

and the greenest, softest moss beneath our feet

helped us quickly to forget the popovers we didn’t eat. 

We visited Sand Beach where on the sand surrounded by cliffs

we allowed the Atlantic Ocean to caress our feet….

just as we did on Rialto Beach with the Pacific Ocean

making this coast to coast circle complete.

Since we didn’t get to eat our popovers and we walked 4 miles

around the pond and on the Ocean Path along the shore 

we treated ourselves to another Whoopoie Pie…this time the flavor was s’more.

We were in Acadia 12 years ago…so some of these things we’ve done before

but we’ve never touched two oceans in 47 days, or ate a Whoopie Pie S’more.

We never saw a mushroom village or moss so abundant and green beneath our feet

and we never thought losing out on a popover wold ever be so sweet.

I guess when you stop and think about it…every day we’re alive is like a prize

filled with chances to be amazed…filled with moments of surprise… 

Because every day we walk along the shore or eat a Whoopie Pie s’more

we’re not the exact same person we were the day before.

How wonderful would it be if we were all astonished more and more?

If every day we were surprised by something we’ve never seen before?

It could come from any place…any what, when, where or who..

If everyday we were blessed to feel…as well as see something brand new.

COMPARISON

 

May answering the question which sunset is your favorite 

be something you never do….

because you decrease the beauty and they joy of each 

when you begin to compare the two

GNRT DAY 46 NEW ENGLAND SUNRISE

 

Today we observed the sunrise in New England and once again we were agog

as we watched that bright orange dot finds it’s pathway through the fog.

Next, we walked the Shore Path in Bar Harbor where under a cloud-filled cerulean sky

we enjoyed the boats out in the harbor while eating a Red Velvet Whoopie Pie. 

We took some time to sit in the park 

where we met a man in a yellow hat, a colorful shirt and an engaging smile

and after complimenting each other on our hats and shirts we talked together for a while.

We ate lobster at the Trenton Bridge Lobster Pound and what made this moment glow

It was the same place we ate lobster when we were here 12 years ago.

Since we had such a big lunch and knowing a big dinner would not fly 

We ate some peanut butter crackers with a peanut butter whoopee pie.

When we arrived in Maine we initially decided we were on a quest

to find the Whoopie Pie that in this state we considered best.

But after giving it some thought…the two of us decided

looking for the best of anything is a little bit misguided.

We’ve decided it would be a mistake…

That trying to find the best tasting Whoopie Pie

is like trying to decide what was the most beautiful sunset or the prettiest sky. 

Like deciding what was our favorite hike, our favorite city, town or street

or who was our favorite person on this trip we happened to meet.

For each of these possess their own beauty…their own joy

and we felt blessed and happy just to share them…

besides, wouldn’t each lose some of their beauty…some of their joy…

the moment we compare them.

It’s a lesson the sun teaches us each day as it lights up the morning sky

a lesson that applies, to people, to hikes, to lobster, as well as Whoopie Pies.

A lesson she taught again this morning in New England….

A lesson that has traveled with us…near and far…

how every sunrise is beautiful…no matter where we are.

EVEN WHEN WE'RE LOST

 

One thing you learn on a road trip…

as road after road is crossed…

is 

there is so much beauty to be discovered

even those times we are lost.

GNRT DAY 45 COREA OUR LAST STOP

 

 The final leg of this journey…the last 50 miles that remained

took us from the city Bangor to the town of Corea, Maine.

On the way we stopped at Pat’s for pizza and Helen’s for blueberry pie…

(our first two stops today along the road)

where the pizza was delicious…and the pie was a-la-mode.

As always we stopped so Deborah could take pictures…

(one her favorite times of day is dawn). 

We even paused at an old barn where there was an art show going on.

We lingered there a while…because some of these artists really rock!

but what kept us there the longest is how New Englanders love to talk.

Everyone we met was happy to talk about their vacations 

once they heard about ours.

Why I even had a conversation with man who parked the cars.

After all our stopping to eat…to take pictures, to visit…to see the sights

we reached our cottage in Corea…where we’ll spend the next 4 nights. 

This is the 26th different place we’ve stayed…with 26 different hosts…

and we thought what better way to end our trip 

than in a fishing village on the coast.

When one of the ladies in the Art Barn heard we were going to Corea

she told us to be forewarned…

She said the legend is that Corea is the place where fog is born.

And sure enough as our last stay in an Air B & B was about to begin 

once we entered Corea…the fog was rolling in

So it seems we’ll have 4 nights to enjoy the fog…

4 nights to relax…

4 nights to be lost in thought..

4 nights to sit back and try to remember parts of this trip 

at our age…we’ve already forgot.

MAY ADVENTURE BE YOUR GOAL

 

When it comes to your ambition in life

may adventure be your goal…

because each adventure strengthens your heart

at the same time it caresses your soul.

GNRT DAY 44 STEPHEN, PAUL AND WHOOPIE

 

 We needed one more day in Bangor for three simple reasons why…

to see Stephen King’s House, take a photo with Paul Bunyan 

and to eat the first of many a Whoopie Pie.

At Stephen King’s house our photo was taken by Molly a three year old girl

because it is our objective…

as we grow ever older never to lose sight of a child’s perspective.

Next it was on to the a 31 foot high statue of Paul Bunyan

where he stands taller than some trees 

Bangor claims to be his birthplace…

(although Akeley, Minnesota disagrees.) 

Our photo was taken by a man a little older than us…

because it is our objective…

As we grow ever older…to see the world from both perspectives.

Last but definitely not least…is the one reason that remains…

why we’ve driven from Washington and chose to end our trip Maine.

 

It’s because we’re on a quest…we’ve decided we will try

to search the state of Maine for the perfect Whoopie Pie.

Tomorrow we head even farther east…

after driving our rental car from the farthest west….

which means we have 5 days before heading home

to complete our Whoopie Pie quest.

Our plan is a simple one…without Stephen King here to guide us

on this quest…this journey…this climb…

we’ll face this challenge as Paul Bunyan did his trees…

one Whoopie Pie at at time.