#41 Carriage Roads - Acadia National Park, Bar Harbor ME

 Along with lighthouses and covered bridges, the carriage roads make up the trifecta of ultimate romance in Maine's history. The carriage roads and stone bridges in Acadia National Park were financed and directed by John D. Rockefeller, Jr. between 1913 and 1940. Their use was limited to hikers, bikers, horseback riders and carriages. He owned a summer home there and did not like the intrusion of the motorcars.

Upon entering Acadia Park we had our choice of going toward Witch Hole or Bubble Pond. We walked north toward Witch Hole.

We began our walk at Eagle Lake Bridge, now being shored up for vehicular traffic above. It was built in 1928 and widened in 1974. This was an engineering feat where the north wall was separated, placed on ball bearings and moved 13 feet. The space created was then filled using the same type of granite as in the original Eagle Lake Bridge. It was referred to as "the tunnel" by the park superintendent, as it is 118 feet long and 24 feet wide.

It was a perfect time of day as the fading light cast wonderful shadows upon the roads and forest.

Lacking bread crumbs to find our way back, we walked a mile or two, then backtracked. It was just as peaceful and beautiful with the opposite lighting.

The forest consists mainly of birch, beech, aspen and oak. "Beaver activity may slow the succession of plant communities, but in time the cycle of life will come full circle, the the pine will once again reign as kings of Acadia's forest." (Robert A. Thayer).

At every turn we were met with a surprise, often color or a small body of water or creek.

Pictured left are some of the beautiful pines. Granite blocks mark the boundaries of the roads.

An inlet of Eagle Lake.

Don must be lost in thought.

Fallen leaves turn the carriage road into a colorful mosaic.