A 0730hr rise this morning to be greeted by the sight of no rain and fairly clear skies. The temperature although not tropical was improving and had certainly increased from yesterday's sub zero (well very nearly) temperatures. The decision was made to go into Bar Harbor for breakfast then to do the 1000hrs 2.5hour tour of Arcadia National Park. I was looking to meet Yogi and Boo Boo and to have a chat with Ranger Smith but when I asked the driver/tour guide he just looked at me, shook his head and made some comment about it being no wonder the American War of Independence took place!! No sense of humour these colonials!

Anyway after a breakfast of cheese omelette, fried potato and toast we began the tour. Only fifteen of us on board, the majority being fine but why oh why is there always one. A little old guy by himself or at least I thought he was until he sat in front of me and carried on a conversation all the way round the tour with his 'invisible' friend. I kept looking for a large White rabbit but although I didn't see one I'm not convinced it wasn't there! I thought we Brits had the eccentrics but I'm now not so sure. The tour was good saw all sorts including the highest mountain in the area, Mount Cadillac, standing a whopping 1500 feet, I wanted to point out that my bed was actually higher but after the debacle with Yogi I thought better of it. The drive along the coast was very nice and we stopped for a short time at a place called 'Thunder Hole', I thought it was a rest stop and that was the name of the toilet facilities but apparently not it's actually a cave into which at certain tidal heights the sea water makes a thunderous noise as it collides with the sides etc of the cave. An honest mistake I thought but again, no sense of humour. I'm not sure it was such a bad thing 'losing' that war! Anyway after the man and his invisible friend returned with food, apparently he'd got hungry getting on and off the bus twice, we completed the tour and returned to Bar Harbor.

It was now 1230hrs and Anne was in need of food and drink so we headed into the centre of town ( not exactly the Metro Centre I can assure you). Eventually Anne decided that what she wanted was an ice cream, okay, simples you think. We asked for a small cone, clearly the meaning of this was lost in translation as sure enough we got a small cone but it was topped with the largest single scoop of ice cream ever. I exaggerate not when I say it was the size of a small planet, how the server managed to balance it on the cone was a wonder to behold, then she gave me one too. I expected having seen the size of the first that it was to share but oh no!! We made our way slowly, deliberately and not with some trepidation to a table and gratefully sat down and commenced to lick!! I'm actually thinking of entering Britain's Got Talent with an act based on the licking of these ice creams because as I see it, it has all the elements required, it's unique, dangerous, colourful and just a little crazy. Also with a bit of luck I could get Amanda Holden to give my cone a nibble!!

Having refreshed ourselves the decision was made to take a drive and have a look at a lighthouse, only a short drive away! Well it would have been if my navigator had got us on the right road, nevertheless with an hour we'd arrived. Now by lighthouse standards it was comparable to an igloo. What the thing lacked in height and candle power it made up with, well nothing! It was pretty and it was, well pretty but that's about the best you could say for it, I was to say the least left a little disappointed, probably how Amanda would feel having nibbled my cone!!

After touring the island a little more we returned to Bay Harbor to take a walk over the causeway to Bay Harbor Island, as you can see there is absolutely no effort put into naming locations in this area. Now I could go on about how far we had to walk from the car to even get to the causeway and the slight tiff we had over it but I'll not bother as suffice to say, walk we did, whinge I did, enjoyed the time there and got some good photo's we both did. Then back to the car and hotel to have a bit of a rest before venturing back into town for dinner.

When we got back to town we found a nice place to eat and actually had our meal al fresco as the weather was still mild and more than suitable for sitting out in. As a slight aside both Anne and I have caught the sun today, Anne more than me as it was her turn to wear the low cut top! Dinner was fine and the cheapest so far at $90. we then returned to the hotel and decided to go to the Great Lounge and have a drink while listening to the resident pianist. Now he was very good and managed to hit the majority of right notes in the right order, not something all pianists are capable of doing! Whilst enjoying our audio extravaganza we were joined (at least they entered the lounge and sat nearby) by two very gay 'men'. They reminded me of the gay couple in the James Bond film only this time instead of killing people, the obviously 'lady' of the couple removed from his/her knitted bag, which was slung very stylishly across the body, his/her knitting and proceeded to knit merrily away apparently in time with the pianists latest movement! Somehow this all just sounds wrong! It was such a lovely sight the pair of them sitting together on the sofa, the man listening dreamily to the music and the 'lady' knitting away. After a short time we decided to leave as I just found it so funny and kept wanting to giggle.

Back at the room now, Anne has put away the iron and ironing board, I've nearly finished this narration and it's about time for bed. Goodnight all, sleep well and dream the dreams of the good and righteous.