Tuesday - September 25

Cloudy and chilly, but we had a fun day starting with a trip to Southwest Harbor on Mt. Desert Island (where Bar Harbor and Acadia National Park are located).     On Sunday, while waiting in line at Red Eats for our 1# lobster feast, Tracy from Tallahassee and I were chatting about places to eat (of course) and she said she was on the hunt for some warm popovers with strawberry jam?    They were a specialty in the Bar Harbor area and her friend said "You've got to have the popovers and bring back some of the mix to make at home".

Okay.....we googled popovers in Bar Harbor and came up with 3 choices - Jordan Pond House; Asticou Inn and the Common Ground Soup Kitchen.   The first 2 were further away and only served them at lunch time.    Common Ground got great reviews plus it was a unique experience....

We arrived in Southwest Harbor, found Common Ground, a man explained how it all worked.....get your coffee or tea first; then your warm popover, then juice, then choices of fresh strawberry and blueberry jams, cinnamon or maple walnut butter.   And oatmeal was the final station with maple syrup, raisins, walnuts, etc.   You could sit outside with  a mis-matched set of tables, chairs and umbrellas  (huge patio) or dine indoors which we chose as it was chilly.   Everything was delicious....hot and cold drinks, popovers and oatmeal - that's the menu.    And then you give a donation - whatever you want and that goes towards them feeding those less fortunate who come there for a meal.    What  a great concept and Trip Advisor gives this place 5*.    The popovers were wonderful!!!    Oatmeal good, too!   They are open 7:30-11:30 Tuesday-Sunday

 Warm popover with delicious accompaniments

AMEN!!!

Walked around Southwest Harbor - very laid back with much less traffic and people than Bar Harbor - some cute specialty shops and cafes/markets.   It was chilly walking around - I got a latte at "Sips".    Before leaving Southwest Harbor, we drove down to the harbor..

Southwest Harbor 

 Then we drove to the J and P Farm Market on outskirts of Trenton for some apple cider, raspberry jam and a pumpkin for Flo. 

Good stuff!

Ellsworth was out next stop - Mark got a coffee at the "Maine Grind" and I checked out a few shops, including Ruth Foster's Children's Shop - darling things and Ruth is an 85-year old lady who has had this shop for 35 years, still does all the ordering and comes in daily!

Back to Flo and spent the afternoon catching up on computer stuff, read, and cleaned out our closet putting summery things away and got out more warm woolies.

The rain started at 4...  at 5, we left for dinner at the Union River Lobster Pot per the recommendation of Bob and Martha.    It was wonderful (both of us had the cedar plank halibut with maple/bourbon glaze.)    Excellent!    Very popular place and glad we went early as many lined up out the door when we left.

While there, we met John.....he sat at a table next to us and is a bicyclist from Michigan
traveling all around the country raising funds for these great causes:   Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Make-a-Wish, Leader Dogs for the Blind, Team Breakthrough and Presbyterian Villages of Michigan.    He is currently  biking from Quebec City to Washington, DC.    He has quite an amazing story and showed us pics of his grandchildren (8 boys and 1 girl).    You can check him out at:   www.superherojohn.com.

The rain continues to gently fall and forecasted into tomorrow!