We started the day with 38 degree temperatures but prospects for a bright sunny day. Acadia National Park has a main road for vehicles that circles the park with parking at many of the most visited locations. The roads are OK but to get a closer look, we decided to take advantage of the Carriage Roads specifically designed for horses, bicycles, and pedestrian traffic.
MG on Carriage Trail
There are 45 miles of carriage roads in the park that were a gift from John D. Rockefeller Jr. and family. The roads were originally designed as a way for people to see the natural beauty of the park without having to be concerned with the automobiles. Riding their horses or riding in horse-drawn carriages was the vehicle of choice for which they were built. Most of the grades up and down are gradual to accommodate the carriages. The only problem is, to keep them gradual, they must extend a long way. Each hill we rode on had to be a minimum of a half mile long. The first hill we encountered was a little bit of a shock to me because just when it looked like you have reached the top of the hill, it would turn and there would be more hill. I found myself huffing and puffing like a train, all the while saying, “I think I can. I think I can.” These endless hills were a real challenge and I wanted to talk to the people who had said they weren’t that bad. The roads are actually made of three layers of rock covered with sand and gravel. I read in one of the brochures that most of the accidents in Acadia happen on bicycles and decided that was probably why. It was hard to look around at the scenery because I wanted to keep my eyes on the road. Besides, punctuating the road were these fresh little “packages”recently left by horses. You don’t want to run into one of those either! Since there were only “fresh” piles and none appeared more than one day old, I can only surmise they actually hire someone to clean that up each day. I’d hate to have to write that job description.
We parked at Bubble Pond which is actually two round hills they call the “bubbles” and rode to Jordan Pond where there is a restaurant.
View of Jordan’s Pond from our table at restaurant
The restaurant was originally opened in the late 1800s which Rockefeller bought from the owners around 1945 and gave to the park. Their noted for their homemade popovers and homemade ice cream. We opted for a table outside and found a lovely area filled with tables looking over Bubble Pond and the twin peaks.
The food was really good and the homemade strawberry jam made the popovers.
After lunch we got back on the bikes to ride to Eagle Lake.
Eagle Lake from Carriage Road
Again dealing with the long torturous hills. Suddenly I looked down and realized my gear on the left side was at the highest level and I was killing myself going up these hills for no reason. Oh well! Another Advil day.
While we were riding I noticed something else. Although some of the roads we drove on yesterday looked like the Blue Ridge Parkway in North Carolina, I don’t believe the color in the fall could ever be as dramatic because there is a high percentage of evergreen trees on these mountains. Much more than I ever saw in North Carolina.
By the end of the day, we had ridden over 11 miles and seen a lot of beautiful lakes, ponds and mountains. Although 11 miles doesn’t sound like a lot, you have to remember I did more then half the HARD way.
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