Maine Vacation 2022, Part 13
In part 12, I shared our first full day in Acadia National Park. Today’s photos and reflections that I’m sharing with you is from September 16th. We ventured off the island heading south to avoid the weekend congestion that’s sure to fill the park and downtown Bar Harbor.
We’re off for another day’s adventure in Maine!
We’re fixing to cross the Penobscot Narrows Bridge. I think it’s really neat looking. In case you’re curious, the body of water we’re over is the Penobscot River. It’s really pretty.
The last time we were in Maine, we visited Camden. It’s a beautiful little harbor town but in particular I remember Camden Hills State Park. The view from there is absolutely amazing. This was a place I definitely wanted to go to. The first time we visited they didn’t have an entrance fee or maybe we entered after hours and they didn’t collect any money but they got us this time around.
Despite the entrance cost for the short time we spent inside Camden Hills State Park at Mt Battie, I am glad that we did it. At least I don’t have regrets and it made our vacation more enjoyable.
Camden is a pretty little New England town. DH found a couple of ice cream shops to check out. We got ice cream on our trip in 2004 here. We think it was Round Top brand and we really wanted to try it again. Camden Cone on Bay View Street claimed to have, so this would be our first stop.
Entering downtown Camden 
Turning around while looking for parking I spied this picturesque view through the trees 
The Harbor Yacht Club 
View from Camden Town Landing 
Sail boat docking at Camden Town Landing 
A bagpipe and fiddle street musicians at Camden Town Landing 
Near intersection of Elm St & Bay View St
Camden Cone didn’t have Round Top ice cream but they did have Gifford’s so we got some while there. We hardly ever pass the opportunity to have ice cream, especially if we like it. At this point, I don’t think we’d had Gifford’s yet. River Duck is another place in Camden we wanted to try but it was closed. I’m not sure if it was closed for the season or our timing was off now. Too much time has passed for my memories to get muddied. I want to spend more time in Camden. Maybe on our next trip, we’ll have more chance to do just that.
Google maps indicated another ice cream shop in nearby Rockport which was a little further south. We were headed that way since we…I wanted to see Andre the harbor seal not the real Andre but the statue near Rockport Marine Park. There was a book written about Andre which became a movie. It’s a fun family film. DH happily obliged in taking me to visit this spot again. We did this with the children last time.
It turned out Google maps directed us to a gelato shop. No matter how good gelato is, we prefer the full body fat of ice cream. We passed on getting anything there but I snapped a few nice photos. The first five pix in the gallery above is what I got, then beginning with the first photo of Andrea the Seal statue was taken in the park.
It occurred to us that Walderboro was less than half an hour away. We couldn’t let the opportunity to slip by us to go to Moody’s Dinner. The iconic restaurant opened in 1927 serving simple New England cuisine. It was hard to choose between breakfast as they serve it all day and lunch/dinner plates but in the end we settled on sharing blueberry pancakes, sausage, and a slice of blueberry pie. Why not have breakfast twice in one day? There’s no law that says we can’t. 🙂
We looked at the souvenirs but I didn’t see anything I wanted. Since our last time, Moody’s added a separate gift shop and their own ice cream shop. Yes, they make their own ice cream and we did try it! It’s was too chilly and windy to eat our ice cream outdoors so we sought refugee inside the gift shop but not without asking permission from the sales clerk. She was really nice and said it was ok. We kept planted while we ate it all gone. I couldn’t eat all of mine but DH had no problem finishing it. It was good stuff, though. DH got me a Moody’s hoodie sweatshirt. I just love that I have these little mementos from our trip. Every time I wear one of my tees or sweatshirts or use an oven mitt I smile thinking about our wonderful vacation. After we got done shopping we just stood around talking to the shop keeper for a long while. She was such a nice lady. Once we were on the road again, it was time to head toward Bar Harbor. We drove through Rockland this time since we took the quickest route to get to Moody’s from Rockport. I didn’t take note of where we were when stopped to photograph the sunset but thankfully I was able to find it easily on Google Maps. The below pictures are from Buoy Park.
Walking on the wharf made me super nervous. The gaps between the slates seemed too wide to me and there was a place or two where the boards were actually broken away. In low light it was really hard to see. We were fortunate to not have any mishaps. The colors were so gorgeous on this evening and the water so tranquil. What a beautiful place!
Darkness was falling and we were concerned that a deer would cause an accident which is a bad problem for Mainers. Being a good distance from our room, I feared I would grow sleepy and couldn’t help DH to keep watch for deer that might surprise us. Wouldn’t you know it about an hour from our room, I spotted something in the middle of the road. I said do you see something. At first DH didn’t see anything. After saying that two or three times, we were close enough to tell it was a big buck standing in the middle of the road. You know the old saying “deer in the headlight” definitely applied because that thing didn’t move quickly and when he did we weren’t sure which way he would go. It was too close for comfort. I was paranoid the rest of the way. The good news is we made back to our room in one piece minus a few nerves.
That concludes another day in Maine. I appreciate your visit and your time to journey with me as I enjoy our vacation all over again. Watch my Monday’s Music Moves Me post each week for announcements when to expect the next installment in this series. Speaking of which, if you have music to share you’re invited to link up hit the dance floor with the 4M crew. You’ll find me boogieing to the weekly theme inspired song picks but remember themes aren’t required to gain access to this party! X💋X💋, Cathy
I’m joining the Wordless Wednesday community hosted by Sandee at Comedy Plus!
18 Comments
Marie Moody
hahahahaha Did ya see it? Did ya see it? I own a resturant in Maine!!!! It’s called Moody’s Diner!!!!! bwahahahahahahaha Gotta love ya my friend. Hope you & hubby had a great time!!!!
Cathy Kennedy
I thought of you when we ate here. I wish I had sent one of these pictures to you while we were on vacation. I know you would’ve gotten a kick out of that! lol
Debbie D.
Thanks for sharing more of your Maine vacation, Cathy. Your photos are all lovely and the food looks delicious. You obviously enjoyed your holiday! 🙂
Cathy Kennedy
I’m glad you enjoyed the views from our vacation. Part of me would love to do that again this year but I’m not feeling like I absolutely have to return this soon and we probably won’t. That’ll give us something extra special when we do go back! Have a good day, Debbie!
Iris Flavia
Funny we were just (despite it´s still winter) discussing ice cream 🙂
And deers … uh. Or hogs… ewww I am glad I work from home now.
And!!! I am so sorry. I heard nothing from my Brother.
I fear he did not even check if your book would be something to help my Niece.
In fact I heard nothing at all and am tired of being the “big Sister” and always ask.
And I feel bad and sorry towards you.
She´s not my kid. If my Brother “ruins” her chances…. I did my best, right.
I would also rally love to visit your country, but… there are too many buts (work, COVID, did I mention work, oh, and I really do miss Perth!).
15andmeowing
You are killing me with these breakfast photos. I want blueberry pancakes and waffles with whipped cream. 🙂 XO
Cathy Kennedy
Ellen,
Okay, if you don’t have a waffle iron then make some blueberry pancakes served with maple syrup and whipped cream. 🙂
Eugenia
Thank you for sharing more your Maine vacation, Cathy. Now, I am yearning for waffles and ice cream.
Cathy Kennedy
Eugenia,
What you need is a waffle cone with ice cream, right? Some of the ice cream shops made waffle cones. I didn’t try any but now I wish that I had, maybe next time!
Eugenia
I love ice cream in a waffle cone and haven’t had one in years! Yum!
messymimi's meanderings
You got to see and do so much, i am enjoying every installment, especially the ice cream adventures.
Cathy Kennedy
Mimi,
The ice cream sampling is my favorite part, too. 🙂
Brian
Such a pretty place and oh my goodness, I could sure go for one of those waffles about now!
Cathy Kennedy
Brian,
Yeah, I’d love to have one of these waffle now, too. Mmm, good!
Sandee
What a beautiful place to explore. A place I would love to explore.
Oh the food. Delicious and that waffle is huge.
Thank you for joining the Wordless Wednesday Blog Hop.
Have a fabulous Wordless Wednesday. Love and hugs, my friend. ♥
Cathy Kennedy
Sandee,
The waffle is huge but my eyes were pretty big on vacation, too. Between the two of us, we never could eat everything when we ordered two plates. It works out quite well when we share a meal.
Thomas Anderson
Hi, Cathy!
I carved out a block of time to visit you today, dear friend. Thanks for inviting me along as you and DH continue to the next series of scenic locations on your dream trip to New England!
As much as I love pancakes, at Jordan’s I might have ordered what you got, the Belgian waffles with strawberry and whipped cream topping. Yummy! Maybe I would have ordered what BOTH of you got! 🙂
Years ago, long before we met, Mrs. Shady got stuck on a bridge in a blizzard. Ever since, she has had a fear of bridges. She raises a fuss whenever we need to travel over a long bridge. I might need to twist her arm to get her to cross Penobscot Narrows Bridge. You had a lovely view from there, though. Fee or no fee, I can see why you and DH wanted to return to Camden Hills State Park. The view is spectacular. Looks like your weather that day was absolutely perfect for sightseeing.
How about that photo op while turning the car around in Camden? From that precise vantage point, it was a delightful scene you could easily have missed. You took great pics of the yachts and sailboat in the harbor. The piper and fiddler buskers no doubt added a festive mood to the area by filling it with music. Camden looks like a fun little town.
Rockport Marine Park offers yet another stunning view. (There have been many on this N.E. adventure of yours.) Yessum, I see the statue of Andre the harbor seal standing watch over Rockport Harbor. His is an inspiring story. Born in the spring of 1961, abandoned, found by humans, raised and trained, and today his statue serves as honorary harbormaster of Rockport Harbor. Bless his heart and soul!
Wow, pancakes for breakfast and lunch/dinner the same day, plus blueberry pie, plus ice cream! Now you’re talkin’ my language! 🙂 I’m glad you remembered Moody’s Diner and were willing to made the half hour drive over there. You even got yourself another hoodie sweatshirt, a souvenir that will remind you of these good times the rest of your life.
Buoy Park is another gorgeous setting. I love how you composed a shot with the large chunks of rock in the foreground and the boats and water beyond. Yessum, I’m glad you didn’t fall through the cracks on that wharf. Luckily you collected those marvelous memory making pictures without any mishaps. If you were drowsy before that near miss with the buck on the road, you were probably wide awake to complete the drive back to the hotel, so there’s that…
I thoroughly enjoyed tagging along with you and DH on this leg of your pancake and ice cream tour of New England. 🙂 Enjoy the rest of your week and I’ll be back to see you Monday for your 4M feature. Take care, dear friend Cathy!
Cathy Kennedy
Tom,
The waffles were incredibly delicious more so than I imagined. I got these again another time or two while there. I don’t like bridges. I get really nervous, especially when we cross long ones. Penobscot Narrow Bridge wasn’t too bad. We crossed several last September that were considerably longer and when we went through NYC in the early hours on our way to Maine, we crossed the George Washington Bridge in heavy traffic that frequently stopped. I would’ve loved to seen the view in the daylight but was happy that it was night so that I didn’t freak out. The harbor towns found in Maine are quaint and never disappoint. We really loved our time spent in each one. I had hoped we could return in late spring so we can do more of the small towns but that’s not going to work out this year. Perhaps in 2024 our schedule will allow it. We never get tired of breakfast and had no problem placing a second one on this day. We were both tired when we came upon that deer. September is mating season for deer and this is the reason why deer-related accidents are so high in Maine. I worried about us driving on unfamiliar road in an area with such a reputation and although I was drowsy I kept a vigilant look for glowing eyes. I believe our daughter said since she’s moved to Maine has hit 3 or 4 deer. She came out of the accidents okay. The deer not so much. She even totaled one of her cars. Thanks for visiting!