Day 2
Islesboro Maine to St. Stephen Canada

The day started off late, I ran to catch the 11:30 am ferry over to the mainland and settled in for the comfortable 30 minute ride. Today I decided to take it easy and see things that I hadn't had the time so see and do things I had skipped before. First stop was the Lobster Pound in Lincolnville for a big lobster roll and sides of corn on the cob and steamed clams. WOW were they good! After lunch I added another bottle of water to replace the one from yesterday (it is now a permanent part of my touring gear! ... ;-) and was off to Mount Desert Island, Acadia National Park and a National Parks Passport. It then started to rain, and rain hard! After about 30 minutes of this I stopped at a sandwich shop for a cup of coffee. When I came out 10 minutes later it had stopped raining and was clearing, just like that.

Well after passing 50 bazillion putt-putt golf and go-kart places I finally made it to the park only to find out they were out of passports!!! D&*@ you Greg Pink, you get me hooked on this great idea then you deny me my fix!!!! Well I don't give up that easy and WILL have one before this trip is over...;-)

After the park I decided to treat myself so I sprung for a $30 "see Mt. Cadillac from the air" plane ride. Although it was over before it began the trip was a blast, with incredible views and I even got to help steer (for all of 3 seconds ... ;-)

I wanted to visit Eastport, Maine, the first place in the US that sees sun every day (except for some US island off of Alaska that is in the Eastern Hemisphere, but that is just a technicality!) Well Eastport was a bit of a disappointment, I did however stop at the harbor to see the 20 foot tides, and at the clam beds on the way out of town to smoke my last cigar and take a picture of the *amazing* sunset. It could best be disguised a setting the clouds on fire, then a minute after the sun dipped under the horizon the clouds turned an iridescent pink and rose, finally finishing off with the deepest purple I have ever seen.

I cruised along the final 30 or so miles to Calais, Maine and the US/Canada border. I called the Canadian Embassy before I left and had gathered all the necessary papers, my drivers license, birth certificate, US/Canada insurance card and photocopies of the receipts for my laptop and camera. When I saw him in Connecticut, Don had also mentioned I should memorize my license plate number.

Canadian Customs Officer: Where do you live
Me: Washington DC
Him: License plate number
Me: (said it)
Him: Where are you going.
Me: Cabot Trail and Quebec
Him: Drugs, Tobacco, Weapons?
Me: No
Him: Have a good trip
Me: Bye.

That was it! Well I went all of 3 miles before the St. Stephen Motel lured me in with $39.00 Canadian rates and a bunch of bikes parked out in front of rooms. A big bed, a little bourbon and I am hitting the sack!

One State,
One Province,
Two Countries,
225 miles,
and one incredible sunset.

Next Day...

Intro -- Day  1 - 2 - 3 - 4 - 5 - 6 - 7 - 8 - 9 - 10 - Epilogue

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