Day 15 - last day in USA!

We spent some time at the hotel and mid afternoon headed to the airport hotel, our final stop before an 8am flight back to the UK.

Ethan enjoyed his last day because he got to swim in an indoor and an outdoor pool at the hotel. Priorities!

Here's our luggage, once again demonstrating our ability to travel light!

Day 14 - Driving South

Today we had the longest drive of the trip, 230miles from Bar Harbor down to Portsmouth, New Hampshire where we're staying for one night. 

We're now closer to Boston where we fly home from on Tuesday. We didn't want the day before we flew to be consumed by driving so the plan is to let them have some fun in the pool tomorrow before being restricted on the plane on Tuesday.

Was a surprisingly pleasant drive. Joshua napped for 2 hours (unheard of). Wes stopped at Starbucks for lunch and then got to hotel around 3 where we went for a swim before getting ready for dinner.

No photos today. Looking forward to a day of relaxing tomorrow!

Day 14 - Acadia by car

Today we drove the 27mile park loop at Acadia National Park stopping at a few popular sights on the way round.

The first was Sand beach. A beautiful cove where the boys played and then Matt and Ethan went and explored further while Joshua and I went back to the car for snacks (Joshua was up at 5.05 today so a little less up for activities he didn't want to do!).

Then we drove further around and stopped at Otter Creek. I sat in the car with a napping Joshua while Matt and Ethan went and played games throwing stones in the water and at targets.

Then we all went to Jordan's pond and sat by a beautiful lake and had lunch.

Finally we drove to the top of Cadilac Mountain (which we hiked up yesterday). It's fair to say driving was much easier!

We got home around mid afternoon after six hours out. Matt took the boys swimming while I did some packing. We then went for an early dinner at the Side street cafe and got two very tired boys home for an on-time (much needed) bedtime.

So many great photos today. Here's some favourites.

Sand beach

Otter creek

Jordan's pond

Cadilac mountain

When we arrived at the top of the mountain I needed to take a screaming Joshua back to the car three times to try and ascertain what it was he wanted to take on the walk. We finally got there... His headphones.

Finishing dinner on Daddy's shoulders

Day 13 - Hiking in Acadia National Park

Today after breakfast we set off to Acadia National Park. We stopped at the visitor center to pay our parking fee and get a map. Matt came back to the car explaining how he'd been told of a great route up Cadilac Mountain m, a 2 mile hike, if we could get one of the parking spots near the foot.

As 'luck' would have it we got a parking spot. Although given 30 seconds into the hike I said 'and you did tell the lady we'd both have a kid on our back didn't you' I'm not sure it was good or back luck! It's fair to say it was a strenuous hike, probably teetering right along my comfort zone line of challenges with a child on my back. But it was totally worth it! It took us 50mins to do just over a mile. It was pretty hot and we decided to stop and have lunch before climbing back down as we didn't think the boys patience would last all the way to the top and back again. We're going to drive right to the top tomorrow!

After the hike we drove round to the nature centre and also explored the gardens. Then we set off home and Matt took the boys to the pool. We went to dinner at a restaurant called Blaze and had delicious pizzas. Joshua, again, was pretty restless at diner. Thankfully it was next to a chocolate and wine shop called the chocolate moose and the large moose replica kept him entertained. I'm now (sitting on balcony watching sunset) drinking red wine made from Blueberries as I write this having eating the sales caramels we purchased there after dinner!

Day 12 - Seals and lobsters

We had a slow start to the day with Matt working and me entertaining the boys/going to supermarket. But at 1.45 we boarded the Miss Samantha for 1.75hrs of lobster 'fishing' and seal spotting -http://www.barharborwhales.com/whale-watching-tours/lobster-whale-watching-tours/

They took us first to see some bald eagles. We were also fortunate to see some porpoises in the sea. Then we went to the lobster traps and saw them bring the lobsters in. Finally we went spotting seals. Ethan amazed us by holding a lobster.

It was a fun afternoon although made us really pleased we hadn't done a 3.5hour whale watching expedition earlier in the trip as 1.75hrs was more than enough with the boys.

Afterwards we came back and went for a dinner at a fun restaurant called Side street cafe.

Day 11 - Bar Harbor arrival

Today we arrived atour furthest point north of our trip and our final big stay. We set off mid morning after breakfast and a swim at the hotel for the boys. We drove for about 3 hours with a break for lunch at Starbucks (where Joshua consumed only cake!) and arrived at The Bar Harbor Inn at mid afternoon. We saw some beautiful scenery on the way in. After a brief walk for the boys we enjoyed a casual dinner in the hotel.

Here's the view from our hotel room...

Day 10 - Starbucks, Macdonalds, Starbucks

Today we drove from Plymouth to Freeport in Maine which is serving as a night stop over to break the drive to Bar Harbor.

When I planned this road trip the maximum driving time I allowed was 4hrs a day. Today we had just under 3 but with traffic we left at 845am arrived at 1 with a break and it was painful. It reminded me I was pleased with my prudent planning of how much patience the boys had!

We stopped at Starbucks halfway through a drive and all got a hit of sugar (chocolate for the boys and I) and caffeine for Matt. Matt had An important client call to partake in at 2 so our aim was to be there for 1 so he could prepare. We arrived at 1 and went straight to Macdonalds for lunch. Matt quickly ate and went to the hotel to work. I dragged out the lunch for as long as possible before then taking the boys for their second Starbucks of the day (Frapucinos had been promised) and then into a couple of shops to kill time before Matt was free.

Matt then took the boys swimming at hotel while I went for a run then it was dinner in the hotel and bed.

As you can imagine from today there are few photos to provide. But here's one of the boys in Starbucks.