Rockport, MA to Bar Harbor, Maine

You know you’re in the boonies when, at 7 o’clock at night on a Monday, you’re the only car on Interstate 95, you’re using your high beams, and every now and then you see signs like this one…

I hadn’t planned on being on an interstate highway again until it was time to drive home. Yesterday’s itinerary included a mere 328 miles. It was supposed to take 8 hours and 43 minutes. That estimate didn’t include stops apparently. By 5 PM, I’d only covered 128 of those planned miles. And I still had one major lighthouse to see.

At 5:30, with what looked like at least half an hour left to get to said major lighthouse, I had to change my plans. I knew I’d never make it to said lighthouse, which of course for me was THE lighthouse to see, before dark. And with 200 miles left to go, there was no way, driving the circuitous “coastal” route, I’d make it to Bar Harbor before midnight. So I took the quick route.

I’ll have to backtrack at some point, which is fine. Because I know it’ll be worth if it it means I get to experience sights like this lighthouse…

The Nubble light near Kittery, Maine.

Or this one…

That’s the Goat Island light just north of Kennebunkport, Maine.

Oh yeah, if it means I get to eat stuff like this, too.

I hadn’t even planned on eating. By the time I reached the spot where I’d get to see the Goat Island light, I had to pee. Bad. So I went into this little bar. It smelled like heaven. After doing my business, I couldn’t not ask what smelled so good. And I couldn’t not look at a menu.

Before I knew was what happening, I’d said, “I’ll have an order of fried clams.”

Those clams, pictured above, were oh-my-GOD good.

The fried clams I have eaten in the past were covered in a thick crust and rubbery. These clams melted in my mouth. And I am not exaggerating. I have never eaten fried seafood that was so surprisingly fabulous.

The delay was so worth it.

I was exhausted when I finally got to Bar Harbor just before 9:00. Did I mention I’d gotten up at 5:30 AM?

As a result, I slept in today. And now it’s getting late. So you’ll have to wait until later for more pictures. I have quite a few good ones to share. But daylight’s a-wastin‘. I mean, I’m in Bar Harbor, Maine. Finally. The culmination of a travel dream for me. So I need to explore.

If you’re wondering whether everything has lived up to my expectations, you’d know if you saw me driving along, all teary-eyed from the sheer beauty of it all.

It’s amazing. I’ll post more images later today. I promise.

UPDATE: see all the trip pictures on my Flickr page.