Belfast, Maine Part 2

Sunday, October 15, was a mostly cloudy, chilly day but we went into Belfast to look around.  Belfast is a small coastal town with a population of just under 7,000.  It is located at the mouth of the Passagassawakeag River (Passy) on Penobscot Bay.  Sailing draws tourists to Belfast in the summer. Downtown Belfast is two blocks of three story brick buildings which house restaurants, shops, a restored 1912 movie theater, art galleries, and a food co-op.  Main Street runs right into Belfast Harbor.  There is a Harborwalk which is 1 1/2 miles long and runs from Belfast Boathouse at one end along the length of the downtown waterfront to Armistice Bridge.  Armistice Bridge is a pedestrian footbridge across the river that serves as a memorial to local men who lost their lives in World War I.  It is used by locals and tourists alike.

Downtown Belfast...

Harborwalk and Armistice Bridge...

We got to see these travel lifts in action moving boats from the water to the dry docks...

We were fortunate to have been on the waterfront during the Pie and Story Festival.  There was music, storytelling and pies! Anyone could enter a pie--fruit or savory, pizza, or whoopee (a Maine tradition), as long as they were homemade.  Halfway through the fest, attendees could buy slices of pie for $1 each then vote for Best Pie, Most Beautiful Pie, Most Unusual Pie and Yummy Mess.  There was also a pie auction.  The auctioneer was very entertaining and got the price up to $90 for one pie.  I joined in the fun by bidding on a salted caramel cheesecake.  My last bid was $50 (!) but fortunately someone else saved me from myself and bid $55.  It was such a fun event.  It really had a small town feel. In fact, I'm ready to move to Belfast just for the pie contest!

Pie auction

Next to the Armistice Bridge is a 5 mile round trip rail trail walking/biking path that runs along the Passy, in the bed of the old Belfast and Moosehead Lake Railroad.  The leaves are still colorful which made for a scenic ride.

On the bike path...

Belfast is a lovely small coastal town that is wonderful for walking and biking.  Next up we spend a day driving to other coastal towns south of Belfast.

Belfast, Maine

On Saturday, October 14, we left Trenton, Maine and headed down the road to Belfast, Maine.  It was only a 1-hour drive but there was plenty to see along the way. 

We drove through the downtown area of one small town on our way to a bridge...

Very modern bridge

There's the town we just drove through

Before we knew it we were at our new home--Moorings Oceanfront RV Park.  The park is not very large, only about 50 sites, and the roads are bumpy and unpaved.  When we made our reservation last April, we selected one of the 8 sites that back up to the water.  Our site is not paved but it is level.  The view from our site more than makes up for the primitive conditions of the RV park.  We are on a cliff that backs up to Penobscot Bay.  There is a walkway a few sites over for access to the beach.  After setting up we went for a walk on the beach.

View from our site.  Grassy area is a sitting area for the RV park.

Walked down to the beach before high tide...

An hour after we walked on the beach all this area was covered by the high tide.

One of many interesting rocks that look like car radiator fins.

The sun was setting when we stopped walking...

View from sitting area

Sunday morning it was foggy.  Hopefully it will clear up later--there's a Pie Festival we want to go to!

Can hardly see the water through the fog

The Quiet Side and Jasper Beach

The Quiet Side is simply the other side of the island from Bar Harbor.  Its on the other side of Somes Sound.  We followed the road all the way around the east side of the island.  It took us through small fishing villages and rocky beaches.

Snowplows ready for winter action!

We had read that Jasper Beach in Machias Port is a mile-long beach "consisting entirely of polished reddish jasper stones.  It's one of two such beaches in the world (the other is in Japan)."  We probably aren't ever going to visit Japan, so we decided that we had to go see this red stone beach.  It was a 90-minute drive north from Trenton.  Well, the beach was interesting but it didn't take my breath away as the travel book promised.  However, as the waves wash in, the rocks slide against one another, making a "haunting" sound.  Briefly the waves would stop completely and the quiet was eerie.

Here's a short video of the waves washing over the rocks...

The drive back to the RV park was on a small road that had beautiful foliage.  Enjoy the fall colors...

One final leaf picture...

We easily could have spent another week exploring Acadia National Park and the surrounding area.  The time we spent there was filled with wonderful weather, spectacular foliage, and beautiful scenery.

Next stop is just 1 hour down the road in Belfast, Maine.