Day 8 Bar Harbor Maine

Today was immigration day as we entered US waters and had dropped anchor just off of Bar Harbor Maine. By 7:15 am, they started calling guests beginning with deck 1 to present themselves before the immigration officers. Non Americans were to report to midship deck 3 in the Half Moon Room. By 7:40 they had called deck 6 - our deck. Mom and I hustled out to join, what turned out to be a long line. We waited about 30 minutes to get processed. The ship swiped our cards, immigration checked our passports, and then the ship hole punched our ships card to indicate we had gone through the process. 

Later, talking to Americans, we learned their lineup was about 4 minutes long (they too, had 3 immigration officers). We had no need to claim purchases made in Canada. They ended up calling 5 people at the end of the process asking them to present themselves to immigration. Pretty slick. 

Then we tendered in to Bar Harbor. Another port where my brother in law, B, couldn’t join us, because he uses a wheelchair, and is not able to do two steps independently into the tender. 

Mom and I met two guests from Holland who both use wheelchairs. They were not told they had to make those two steps themselves (to board a tender) until they had boarded the ship. 

LC, Mom and I took a long tender ride over to the mainland - it took about 25 minutes. Once ashore, there was a beautiful view to enjoy!!

There were many shops to explore that reminded me of Banff. Bar Harbor is a town of about 5,000 that swells to about 30,000 in the summer months of July and August. Most of the shops will close by the last cruise on November 4th. 

Mom and I decided to take a bus tour for $32.50 that would last 2.5 hours in duration. We heard about the fire that moved through the town in 1946. Until that year, many of the rich and famous in the US had summer homes in Bar Harbor. After the fire, some chose not to rebuild, some set up summer homes in The more affluent Newport. 

Rob from Acadia National Park tours then took us to the top Cadillac Mountain. 

You can see the thin strip of a sandbar between the mainland and Bar Island. That sandbar is only visible and passable on foot when tide is low. It is this strip of sand bar that gave the town of“Bar Harbor” its namesake.   Our Holland America ship is the navy blue hulled ship on the right side behind the island. 

The wind was strong and cold at the top of Cadillac Mountain and we were happy to return to the warmth of the bus. 

We then visited Acadia National Park to see some autumn foliage. We learned that Rockafeller gave a considerable sum of money to allow this park to be built. Part of it was on the condition that the no motorized vehicles be allowed on the trails. That holds true today as cars are not allowed on the designated paths - but trails are used for hiking, cycling and occasionally horses! Normal admission for a vehicle to the park is $25 for the week. 

We then visited Thunder Falls. Pink granite, not unlike rock in Northern Ontario. 

Mom and I felt the bus tour was good value for the sights we saw. 

We were lucky enough to hop on a tender that immediately departed for the ship. Once aboard, I went up to the Crowsnest to order a chai latte!  I was chilled, thanks to the temp of 5 C today with high winds. 

I also paid a visit to the fitness centre to cycle and do leg press weights!

Roast turkey for supper was delicious!  LC and B even joined us for tonight’s comedian on the main stage, Jim Colliton. He actually provided a lot of laughs.   Mom and I enjoyed a bit of time with the quintet at the Lincoln Centre Stage. I am tuckered our and ready for bed!

Tomorrow - Boston!