OK, first things first, let’s go find a level campsite. After a slow drive through the campground, we found a site adjacent to a small frog pond in a wooded area. With no immediate neighbors, there is little traffic, no noise and we feel a bit secluded. We moved, we leveled, we ate breakfast and it was time to explore.
Our first stop was the visitors’ center at Arcadia National Park. The first thing we noticed was the large number of vehicles in the parking lot. After three weeks in Canada, with no crowds, we suddenly became aware that most of civilization had suddenly elected to join with us. We had decided to buy a National Park Pass on the basis that we would be visiting numerous parks on this trip and it would pay for itself in the long run. A lot of visitors were coming and going as we climbed the 52 steps to the center. Then it was up a slight ramp, turn the corner and get in line with the thirty people ahead of you. Of all my years of visiting national parks, I have never seen a line that went out the door like this one. Of sure, I’ve waited for two or three people ahead of me, but this was like a game day ticket booth. While I held place in line, Carol grabbed a map of the park and got some information from the lady in the gift shop. Then, like all impatient Californians, we split and headed to town. It’s a big park; it won’t go anywhere.
On the way into the harbor the day prior, we saw a Princess Cruise ship. It was one of the largest that I have ever seen and that may have contributed to the congestion in town that evening. This morning, it just seemed touristy with a lot of people roaming the downtown. Carol made a quick stop at the P.O. to drop off some snail mail while Spice and I waited. Then we toured town. Carol did the looky-loo in the shops and Spice and I people watched. Our friend Karen had suggested a couple of non-tourists spots we might try. One of the spots is the Atlantic Brewing Company in Townhill, about four miles to the east. Associated with the brewery is a BBQ spot, which is almost entirely outdoor seating. They have installed a banquet tent to provide some shade and a wind break. We enjoyed a great BBQ lunch; pulled pork for Carol and spicy sausage for me. Carol ordered blueberry ale and found it quite tasty. I was a bit skeptical, but found it enjoyable. It had just a very light overtone of blueberry, more as an aroma then as a taste.
After lunch, we visited their gift shop and discovered they had an ale tasting session. Well, you have to try them all, right? So I participated and enjoyed several of the ales. The last was a honey ale that you could enjoy as an after dinner beverage in a snifter. It was creamy smooth, rich and a tad sweet with the honey. I just knew that Carol would enjoy it. She took a taste and immediately gagged; so much for what I know. In the end, we bought some ale, some root beer and some blueberry soda, and then headed back to the visitors’ center at the park.
The crowd we had experienced earlier at the visitors’ center had dissipated. We walked straight up to the ranger’s desk and bought a season pass for all of the national parks. After a quick stop in the gift shop for a copy of a “Fall Color Guide”, we were off to meet Karen for a quick three mile walk around one of the many ponds in the park. Afterward, we picked up Hamish at his soccer practice and headed off to the “Thirsty Whale” for an evening of pub food and conversation.
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