August 9, 2014 (110th Day)

Oh, what a beautiful morning!  Deep blue sky with not a single cloud in sight. 64˚.  The sun was already way up in the sky at 6 am, but we snoozed in a bit longer.  

We were walking toward the house when we smelled breakfast being cooked. Very generous breakfast consisted of waffles, eggs, bacon, toast and coffee.  We had a very good lengthy conversation over many subjects during and after breakfast.  Then it was time to get moving.

Wanda and Judith preparing breakfast

After breakfast we went out in the back to see the animals Vincent and Wanda are raising.  Edith was telling Vincent about wanting to find barn woods to make into picture frames for canvas. He led us to the pile where there are barn woods that he collected. He and Erwin went through the pile to find the right sized ones.  Also, Erwin mentioned about wanting to find birdseye maple wood and Vincent said Wanda's cousin may have some. 

Vincent calling goats over

Wanda petting her goats

Vincent and Erwin sorting through barn woods

Look what Vincent was trying to do! Love this picture!

Vincent, Wanda and Judith

Wanda and her daughter, Melissa

Vincent suggested that he contacted Wanda's cousin Eddie to see if he has some birdseye maple and if we could go over to look at them.  After Eddie replied back we followed Vincent and Wanda to Eddie's house.  We wanted to get cash from ATM and Vincent said there is a convenience store along the route.  While we were at Etna Village Variety getting cash from ATM Vincent showed us homemade whoopie pie he just bought and it looked fresh and good. Of course, we left the store with two whoopie pies in our hands!  Oh man, they were SO delicious!

At Eddie's house there is a nice barn and a unique shaped playhouse for kids.  Nice stocked pond for swimming and fishing.  Eddie showed us wood boards and Erwin found some nice looking birdseye maple boards, got seven boards. He was able to fit them in the storage bin in our camper van.  Erwin was a happy camper! We stayed and talked for a while before Wanda's daughter and friends arrived. It was time for us to get going, thanked Vincent and Wanda for their great hospitality. We hope to see them again before too long.

Eddie's pig behind the storage shed

Nice selection of wood boards

We went back to Vincent's house to pick up barn woods that were too damp to put in the van, so we left them out to dry.

Clouds started to develop, but nevertheless it was a good day for sightseeing and hiking.

We continued driving on 143 East going to 202/9 then to US 1 after entering Winterport, Maine (ME).  Continued for few miles then left on 174 to Fort Knox and Penobscot Narrows Observatory.

Fort Knox (not the same one as in KY) is located on the west bank of the Penobscot River in Prospect, ME. There is no admission fee to visit the fort, but if you want to go up inside the Observation tower the fee is $8.  We explored the fort first before going to the Observation. Inside the fort it was maze and dark.  It was a good thing that we saw a sign recommending that we bring flashlights with us.  It was very interesting, different from Castillo de Marcos Fort in St. Augustine, Florida.  

View of the town of Bucksport from the fort

Old Glory

After the fort we drove up to the Observatory parking lot.  There was a long line of people waiting to be taken up to the top and it was like 20 minutes before we got in the elevator. The elevator ride was smooth and fast. 

The new Penobscot Narrows Bridge replaced the old Waldo-Hancock Bridge that was built in 1931.  The old spans are not there, but the bridge pilings are left in the water. The current bridge has an observation tower that is 420' above sea level. It was open in May 2007. The view from the tower was breathtaking.  It is the only bridge observatory tower in the Western Hemisphere. 

Old Bridge Piling and the shadow of the Tower 

See the van? Look at how small it is!

What a view??

Stopped at Shaw's in Ellsworth. ME to pick up stuff needed for tonight's supper. After looking around to decide what we want to eat we picked up pork chops, acorn squash, tomatoes, cucumbers and a can of chick peas.

We continued driving until we arrived Acadia National Park. There were hundreds and hundreds of unique weather vanes along the way.  We stopped at one campground, but there was no vacancy.  Second stop - no vacancy. Third - KOA and it had vacancy, but it was further from Bar Harbor.  We had an ocean view campsite.  While in the office we had our KOA membership renewed for one year.

We settled down comfortably and had BBQ pork chops, creamed acorn squash and a tomato/cucumber/chick peas salad. All was good. It was a restful night.

Sweet dream!