T minus1! Launch Tomorrow!

So today was my first day in Bar Harbor, Maine, one of the most charming tourist traps I have ever been to. Tourist trap might be a little inaccurate. None of them seemed to be trapped, but there sure are a LOT of them; all ambling down the sidewalks at about 1 mph ... unless they are dead stopped in front of a shop, in deep discussion whether they want to check out the same stuffed lobster they saw in the last ten shops or just move on. I have sometimes described Old Town in Albuquerque as the ten shops selling the same painted, howling coyote. Bar Harbor is more than ten shops selling the same stuffed lobster; major lobster theme in Bar Harbor. Dennie and I visited this area eight years ago for our twenty fifth wedding anniversary. But we stayed in Northeast Harbor, which is about 10 miles further out on the island. That was a good move eight years ago, but would not have worked for me on this adventure.

Apparently it is between tourist seasons right now in Bah Hahbuh, end of summer and just before fall colors. I landed at the airport at 7:45pm last night and I thought the shuttle into town ran until 8:15pm, per the schedule I had. Nope, that is the 'before Labor Day' schedule. The last shuttle to the airport was at 7:15pm. So instead of a $5 shuttle, I had the personal pleasure of my very own $35 cab. Darn! Just started and I am already over budget. I hope this is not a trend. I had booked the cheapest room in the Moseley Cottage Inn. With this room, I had to share a common bathroom and shower. Well, not exactly share. There was a lock on the door, so I could have the use of the facility by myself. And my own room was quaint and small. I think if I stood up in it and stretched my arms out, I could touch both walls at the same time. And last night it was cold. Too bad I found the little space heater this morning, next to the bed. I wish I would have found it before I went to bed. At least I had a warm room to return to after I finished my "shared" shower.

I spent most of the morning on the Moseley Cottage Inn front porch, assembling my bike. "Hmmm, I don't remember that bearing. Lets see, it sure looks like it goes to the headset on the front fork. Yeah, probably right there ... or should I turn it over?" Anyway, the bike is assembled, and I am pretty sure it is done correctly. I could have used my buddy Jim a few times. Lunch was spent mingling with tourists, finding a lobster roll, and shopping for a few little things I forgot, like a toothbrush and some ibuprofen. 

Then the afternoon was spent organizing, packing, and shipping some stuff to my brother in Philadelphia. I think I am ready to roll. T minus one day and counting!