DAY 14 JUNE 15, 2013 SATURDAY

Left the motel this morning and headed right to Route 1 north, the coast highway. We rode part of this in 2007 and today we repeated some while adding a whole lot more. Traffic was heavy, it is a Saturday in June, in Maine, but moving along at or near the posted limit all day. As we rode we came upon many small sea coast towns with the scenery changing from dollar stores and circle k to rows of homes built in the 17 to 1800's.

Stopped for lunch at a small local restaurant with an outside deck overlooking the bay, sat there having a lobster sandwich looking at the view. I think I could have stayed there all day just sipping a cup of coffee watching the fishing boats coming and going from port. The weather today was ideal with temps in the low 70's and just a few scattered clouds to break up the brilliant blue sky.

After lunch finished the ride to Acadia National Park our unofficial goal and reason to take a motorcycle ride two weeks ago. Acadia is the farthest National Park from my house and in my opinion that alone made it a worthy goal. To get there and see the absolute beauty of it was an added bonus. During our ride around the park we went to the parking area for Cadillac Mountain which is the highest point on the eastern seaboard, we took the .3 mile hike to the top and according to the signage the sunrise is first visible in the continental US from this point. At the top you also look down onto Bar Harbor or correctly pronounced Baa Ha Baa. We are stopped for the night in the capitol of Maine at the White House Best Western with an on site bar and a full size President Obama in the lobby.

 Well some say life will beat you down
Break your heart, steal your crown
So I've started out, for God knows where
I guess I'll know when I get there

I'm learning to fly, around the clouds,
But what goes up must come down

I'm learning to fly, but I ain't got wings
Coming down is the hardest thing
Tom Petty

Each morning you leave the motel and head down a new street, not getting beat down by life but embracing it, new locations, new roads, a new experience each and every day. Some days better than others but all to be cherished, man I love doing this. I know we turned west this afternoon, I know that's the direction home, I know I miss my family, I know we are taking the long way home, I don't know if I'm ready to turn home. Coming down is the hardest thing.