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FALL 2016 ISSUE 02 / VOL. 01
fishermen setting traps so riders can enjoy lobster again later. Heading back up the peninsula on Mud Creek Road takes us to State Route 1, which is sign-posted north and south but actually goes east and west in these parts. At State Route 185, we cut south to explore another peninsula with a view of Frenchman Bay. Finishing the loop again returns us to Route 1.
Sticking to this region’ s prettiest coastal roads is made easy by following signs for Maine’ s Scenic Byways. Schoodic Scenic Byway turns south off Route 1 onto State Route 186. In the town of Winter Harbor, a 10-foot tall lobster claw, carved with a chainsaw out of a half-dead pine tree, waves its welcome to all who pass by. The byway continues into a remote section of Acadia that many park visitors overlook. The road closely parallels the eastern shore of Frenchman Bay, providing gorgeous views of the islands and plenty of safe places to pull over. The turnoff to Schoodic Point leads to one of the best views of Cadillac Mountain in the park.
At Gouldsboro, Route 186 ends at Route 1. We join the Bold Coast Scenic Byway and later stop for a late lunch of lobster rolls in the town of Machias, which is home to the Maine Wild Blueberry Festival. Every August, the town celebrates the state’ s native wild lowbush blueberries. They’ re smaller than the commercially cultivated highbush variety found in supermarkets, and their flavor profile is more intense. Wild blueberries grow naturally in two-year cycles. Each summer they tinge the barrens blue and lend their tangy flavor to pies, buckles, pancakes and preserves. They’ re also great dried.
From the top of Cadillac Mountain, the highest point on the U. S. East Coast, we could see Frenchman Bay and the Porcupine Islands.