Lovely Trike Riding on Acadia National Park’s Carriage Roads

We departed Prince Edward Island on Thursday, to drive 275 miles to Hidden Springs Winery in Hodgedon, Maine. The border crossing was easy, but we were surprised they wanted to look inside the trailer. They explained that when they ran our trailer plates, it came back as registered in New Jersey. Weird, but once they inspected the trailer we were on our way again.

The Hidden Springs Winery had lovely farm acreage at the top of a hill with wonderful views across the valleys below. Their wines were mostly made from local berries and fruits and they had what looked like a wonderful restaurant we could have taken advantage of if we had planned well. As it was, using the food we brought and relaxing was just the ticket. Plus we were well ensconced when the thundershower went through in the evening.

Then it was down to the Bar Harbor area where Acadia National Park is, 175 miles this day. We stayed for two days at Somes Soundview Campground. It’s a private campground on the side of a mountain, but beautiful, quiet and remote. 

Unfortunately their directions to our campsite weren’t very good, so we wound up overshooting the site, and traveling down the steep hill to the boat dock. Thankfully there was enough room for me to turn the rig around, and a camp worker showed us the site we were assigned. Of course the sun was too bright so the Ford Back-up Assist didn’t work, but at least I’d had enough experience to get it handled without it.

We got set up and headed out for some trike riding on Acadia’s Carriage Roads. We started from the Hulls Cove Visitor Center, and rode around Witch Hole Pond, and Eagle Lake. The surface is crushed stone, so slow going, but super pretty. We got lots of forest bathing in. Then today we started early, 7:30AM!, so we could get a convenient parking place at Parkman Mountain.  We rode  the ‘Around the Mountain Loop’, climbed ‘Day Mountain’, and ‘Jordon Pond Loop. Overall yesterday was 14 miles and today was 22 miles with 1768 feet of climbing. I feel sure we’ll sleep soundly tonight. Here are some photos…

We adored each of the bridges — crafted with concrete and faced with stone. The stone masons were amazing. Each was different, yet fit into the environment perfectly; built between 1922 and 1932.

Paula said I could play queen of the mountain.

See the rocks that form the road edge? They’re nicknamed Rockefeller’s Teeth. He designed the carriage paths to blend with the topography rather than destroying it to put in roads. He had the roads designed with drainage, high crowns, and these road edges so they would stand the test of time. Pretty wonderful, and well used by cyclists and hikers and horse & carriage.

Another tree with fortitude; roots are across a granite ledge.

Tomorrow it’s on to the KOA at Franconia Notch, NH so we can totally dump our tanks before arriving in Deerfield, Massachusetts on Monday to see my Mom. While we visit her we’ll be cycling around Franklin County and stay with her at her home. This will allow us to get both the truck and trailer serviced at their respective locations.

More news as we have it…