Travel by Ferry

Tuesday 9/23 was a short travel day - 110 miles from Mt. Desert to Lubec ME, over more BAD Maine roads. But the day was beautiful. We passed many blueberry fields - very low bushes with lovely reddish fall foliage. We were headed to Grand Manan Island, recommended by another Aliner owner, but decided to camp in Lubec since we were unsure of ferry times and routes. We left the camper at Sunset View RV Park and crossed the FDR bridge to Campobello. After lunch at Lupine Lodge, we toured the FDR "cottage" and walked down to the shore. We got information on ferry schedules and drove out to the West Quoddy Light, easternmost point in the U.S. We also passed the eastermost gift shop in the U.S. where Forrest reluctantly stopped for a photo op. When we got back to the campground, it was cold and breezy, so we ate inside.

Wednesday was "ferry day" - we drove only 40 miles. First was the ferry (toll) from Campobello to Deer Island. There was no slip - only a gravel road that went directly into the water. While we waited, we watched a pair of bald eagles. We drove across Deer Island to catch a free government ferry to the NB mainland at Latete. There was a short drive from Latete to Black's Harbor, where we took a 90-minute toll ferry to Grand Manan Island and another favorite destination of our trip. During the crossing, we saw pilot whales, porpoises, and a finback whale. We also chatted with a woman who was going to visit her sister on White Head Island, a ferry ride from Grand Manan. Her brother-in-law was a White Head native and gathered dulse (seaweed) to supplement their income.

By 4:00, we had set up camp at the Hole-in-the-Wall Campground and met Basil, the owner. Quite a place, and quite a guy! We opted for a site with hookups, but found later that we could have pulled our Aliner to a cliff-side site with with a spectacular view of the Bay of Fundy. Before fixing supper, we drove to the other end of the island for groceries and a visit to "the biggest hardware store in the Maritimes", according to Basil. That was no joke! The Grand Manan Home Hardware store is an amazing place that sells everything except clothing .... and they used to sell that!

After a sloppy joe supper, we walked to the Swallowtail Light to look for whales, but saw nothing except a spectacular view and the end of a beautiful day.