Down East

Leaving Bangor and driving toward the coast is known as "going Down East".

We took off this morning to investigate Mount Desert Island, where Bar Harbor is located.

The island has 6,000 year round residents, but in tourist season the day population can raise to 1,000,000.

We found out earlier this week that the traffic is horrible here, so we opted for an easier way to look around.

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There are several flight seeing companies, so it was easy to find one ready to go.

We were tempted by the bi-plane but decided on a more traditional carrier.

Our pilot, Randy.

This is definitely the way to go.

Cadillac Mountain is the highest point on the island, and if you climb to the top at dawn you'll be one of the first people in America to see the sun rise.

This is Bar Harbor. It is currently mid-tide.

See the pale line between the bay and the island at right? At low tide it's possible to walk or drive to the island. At high tide the water is 8 ft deep.

This is Rock Island.

The lighthouse, managed by the Coast Guard.

A beach on the south side of the island.

This is Seal Harbor, THE high rent district.

If you want waterfront property you buy an existing home and tear it down.

An island you can lease.

Bass Harbor Lighthouse

Lobster boats.

See the white dots?

They're the buoys attached to the lobster traps, and there's thousands of them.

This island is owned by the Rockefeller family.

They raised cattle here until a few years ago.

Have I mentioned the flowers in New England?

I never thought about putting vining plants in a hanging basket, but I will from now on.

A BBQ and lobster pound (restaurant).

Buoys for lobster traps at a souvenir shop.

Bu your own trap for $30

A Down East native.

These people really are kind of wooden.