Birthday in Bar Harbor

A wooden carving en route to Bar Harbor.

This will definitely become one of my more memorable birthdays.  I would never have guessed we'd be in Maine even six months ago.  I am delighted. 

The last two days have been foggy or misty depending on how close to the water we were, but the locals tell us that helps to reduce the flies and mosquitoes and it has proven to be true.  We passed the four masted schooner anchored in the Harbor late today and it was hard to see its flags at the top of each mast.  The ship has become a fascinating subject for our photography it seems.

Birch bark was used for making canoes and baskets.

Intricate designs are carved on this canoe.

Headdress and moccasins made by native peoples.

Actual artifacts excavated on the island are displayed at the museum.

We visited the Robert Abbe Museum today to explore the history of the early island residents.  American native peoples made their home here on Mount Desert Island long before European explorers arrived on its shores.  Stone tools, pottery, fishing implements and large refuse piles of shells (the equivalent of today's landfills) made by the native peoples known as the Wabanaki between 3,000 and 5,000 years ago archeologists estimate.  Traveling here by birch-bark canoes from their winter homes near the Penobscot River's headwaters, they would hunt, fish and gather berries on the island during the summer.  The displays are extremely interesting and of note were sponsored by the Smithsonian Institute as well.

Out for a summer ride.

After visiting the museum, we had a delicious dinner at Testa's which was the highlight of our visits to downtown Bar Harbor.  Lobster, wild blue berry pie and their specialty of strawberry pie were irresistible.  Window shopping and people watching (including folks driving around in an antique car) finished off the evening as we walked back to our car.  Driving back to the RV, I could not have imagined a better spot to celebrate becoming a 62 year old "senior" than here in Bar Harbor.  I am now officially eligible for Social Security!

Window shopping temptations were everywhere.  Jim loves carousels.

Happy campers!

The main course of course!

Wild blue berry pie.

Strawberry pie.