NE, Continued

The second day in Camden, our terrific innkeeper Mike suggested we take a sail around the harbor. He knew the husband and wife tour captains, and we took Mike's advice.

We boarded the "Surprise" and were taken around the harbor in Camden. The best part was hearing Captain Jack's life story. He's a Boston Irish guy who went to Tufts, became a corporate sales type, and then took his wife and 5 kids to a Carribbean island to live aboard a sailboat. The kids were "boat schooled" as the family lived a most alternative lifestyle.

They eventually came to Maine, where Mike has owned his sailboat for the past 25 years.

He told about having no safety net, no health coverage --just working to live with his family.

It was exactly the type of great tale to hear while on vacation, when one's thoughts expand to the possibilities in life.

After the sail, our foursome left Camden, headed for Bar Harbor. Much of the conversatin is that none of us could have done what Mike did, especially with kids. We're too "responsible" and "level headed."

Then again, now my kids are grown...Nah! I'm not that big a fan of sailing...

Bar Harbor was packed with cruise passengers walking through the streets. It reminded me of Key West, but I KNOW Key West, and how to avoid their cruise passengers...

We checked into the Bass Inn, and loved it. It was a gorgeous old place, and some of the most delicious rocky road bars were waiting for us.

We had reservations at Havana, a restaurant in town. It's owned by a Jewish guy from Philly, who has LAtin themed food. We met the owner, and he was affable. I;m pretty sure none of his staff spoke Spanish.

President Obama had eaten there in July, and they showed us his table. Eric and I reennacted a scene we imagined including him as Obama and me as a Secret Service agent...

The next day we went into Arcadia National Park, which was breathtakingly beautiful. There were classic rocky beaches, and paths through forests. We went to the top of Cadillac Mountain, which gets the US's first sunrise each morning.

Eric and Dana hiked a trail near Jordan Pond, while Wifey and I napped in the SUV. Afterwards we had lunch at the lodge there. A lovely day in the park...

The next am we had an amazing breakfast at the Inn. We debated which was better --Hartstone in Camden, or Bass in Bar Harbor... Both were terrific.

We headed out to our final Maine town --Kennebunkport. It was raining...