Day 10 - Friday in Acadia NP

Our handy NOAA forecaster said that it would rain again Friday morning, so we planned to spend the morning out of the rain and in the laundomat. It was about the halfway point in our trip and we were running short on dry, warm clothing. Of course we spent hours in the laundromat and it never did rain, but our legs enjoyed the rest after Perpendicular trail the day before, so we drove into Bar Harbor as we had planned to score a lobster roll.

Megan had never heard of a lobster roll and while she doesn't do seafood normally, Brett was going to get one. After looking up reviews, we headed to one of the best rated places in Bar Harbor, Side Street Cafe, and sat down for a bite. Megan ordered a Philly Cheesesteak. She loves cheesesteak and was a little heartbroken after the disappointing one in Philly. This one was great! Brett got a lobster roll, so here's the tasting note since neither of us had ever tried one and we both had some as well as Megan's drink with lunch (Brett unknowingly ordered a Shipyard Blue Fin Stout which happens to be the exact same stout from Sea Dog Brewing!  Really guys?  We're trying to get 1000 new tastes here - help us out!).

146. Side Street Cafe's Lobster Roll. It boasted the meat of one and a half lobsters. The meat was fresh and well seasoned, but in the end this isn't our cup of tea. It's a mayo and spice mixed concoction on a buttered and grilled piece of toast. Chicken salad (Megan) or tuna salad (Brett) does it better, not because SSC did a bad job, just because neither of us really care about lobster.  

147. Baxter Brewing Company - Pamola Xtra Pale Ale

After killing a little time in Bar Harbor we set off to try the tastings at Atlantic Brewing Company.  The employees seemed less than excited to be at work that day and wouldn't pour us tasters until after a tour finished - 15 minutes later.  This put us too late in the day to try to the winery and coffee roasters, Bar Harbor Cellars after we left.  So that was a bummer.  Fortunately the beer wasn't as bad as the service.

148. Atlantic Brewing - Mount Desert Island Ginger Beer
149. Atlantic Brewing - Bar Harbor Real Ale
150. Atlantic Brewing - Manly Men Beer Club New Guy IPA
151. Atlantic Brewing - Coal Porter
152. Atlantic Brewing - Old Soaker Root Beer:  Pretty good root beer, but just like their blueberry soda it's too sweet.  This is less offensive than the blueberry soda, but there are better root beers out there for the same price as a bottle of this.

Quick summary - the Baxter Brewing Xtra Pale Ale was the best of the lot, although the Real Ale from Atlantic Brewing wasn't bad either, but there was nothing truly exceptional.

After that we needed to re-up our perishables, so we stopped off at Little Notch Bakery (the Southwest Harbor location - website is apparently under construction) for bread and dessert before going back to camp for dinner and a new beer.

153. Little Notch Bakery Blueberry Tart - shaped more like a fried pie, but less greasy, light and fluffy, great crust, filling was a little tart (Megan says very tart, but Brett thought barely tart so we'll compromise - Brett's taste buds don't think hardly anything is too sour or too tart) - super yummy.
154. Little Notch Bakery Honey Oatmeal Bread - after the great tart, this was disappointing.  The bread appeared to be a fresh loaf when purchased.   We had it sliced and made sandwiches the next day and the bread was very dry - disappointing to say the least.  It made us wish we'd had more yeast rolls from the When Pigs Fly bakery.
155. Baxter Brewing - Amber Road 

After dinner we let the fire die down a little and go back out to Bass Harbor Light.  This time we get the picture!  From the parking lot of the lighthouse there is a path on the left as you pull in.  It's not particularly well marked and it was pouring when we were there the first time, so we didn't even see it.  This time we followed the crowds down the path away from the light house so we could climb out on the rocks and look back at the lighthouse as the sun set.  Of course being almost the solstice we didn't get to see the sun very well, but the colors were indeed quite beautiful.

We only have 4 good photos from today, so no link to the album or slideshow since all 4 pictures are on this entry.