Acadia National Park, ME

@advodna_ann and I have always considered 9/6 to be our "dativersary," but I didn't realize that was today until we'd finally pulled into camp at dusk after a looooong drive that ended with a tense exchange concerning directions followed by several minutes of stewing silence. I couldn't help but feel ashamed at how things had broken down on this important day for us.
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But taking a slightly broader look... Today, we woke up in a foreign country after pulling into camp at dark following a two hour ferry ride last night with our two awesome children with whom we've been traveling and experiencing North America for the past two years while sharing a living space of under 200 sq ft 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. In the past 12 hours, we've gotten them fed and clothed, stopped for more art supplies, donated a big bag of extra clothes, driven 2 hrs across an international border, stocked up on groceries for the week, driven 2 hrs along Highway 1 on the northern Maine coast, stopped at a home improvement store to check out kitchen countertop samples for the remodel we're managing from the road and gotten our tiny house setup at one of America's most beautiful National Parks.
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For certain, we're due for a debrief this evening once the kids are asleep to figure out what that little "fightlet" in the car was *really* about, but all told, I think it was a pretty exceptional 10 year "dativersary," and I can't wait to see what the next year brings. Thanks @13roads for the pic.

This dome of granite formed when magma cooled deep within a volcano. Now it provides a 360 degree view of Mt. Desert Island and Acadia National Park. #roadschool #cadilacmountain #acadianationalpark #findyourpark

When in Rome. Lobster Rolls followed by blueberry pie. #barharbor #bahhahbah #maine

The sun and fog somehow coexisted happily this afternoon at Sand Beach. The light on this coast really is unique. "I'm going to return this to the sea." #sandbeach #acadianationalpark #findyourpark #childhoodunplugged

Our attempts to find a bit of solar power in a campground that is descriptively named "Blackwoods" required some aggressive positioning (and leveling) within our site! #airstream #liveriveted #myrivetedlife #acadianationalpark #solar #rvsolar #offgrid

I'd like to take this opportunity to apologize to the citizens of Bar Harbor. Had we known the lobster tanks at the experimental laboratory were not locked, we would have never fiddled with the latches and inadvertently unleashed the mutant lobster children on the unsuspecting town. #lobster #lobstah #barharbor #bahhahbah #toddlermutantninjalobsters

Wynne: "Is this our new campsite?"
Me: "No, we're just here visiting some new friends ."
Wynne: "Do all our friends live in campsites?"
Me: "... well..."
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Great to finally meet @mo_matthew and @wandering_nation_co at their workamping gig at the beautiful Mt. Desert Campground. With one more year on the road than us, @mo_matthew was relentless at vetting our full-timer legitimacy: comparing destinations, talking about poop and seeing if I could keep my balance on this super long dock after chugging a Heady Topper. Two out of three ain't bad.
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Actually, the kids caught crabs and played, we were treated to delicious homemade burgers and hot dogs (both on "circle buns"), had a few beers and made s'mores by the fire. Thanks so much for having us out! #airstreamfriends #nomadiccommunity #maine

We'd just assumed that all the waterfront shacks calling themselves "lobster pounds" had something to do with selling lobster by the pound. Turns out a "pound" refers to a tank into which fresh seawater is pumped to keep the live lobsters fresh.
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Thurston's Lobster Pound sits on stilts overlooking Bass Harbor, and the counter below the menu is a series of open tanks with live lobsters grouped by size. The next person in line points to the one they want which gets plucked out of the water, tagged and sent outside to the large, steaming pots. Definitely some of the best lobster we've had and a great location.
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Just on the other side of the harbor, a 1.5 mile trail winds through mossy ground cover, mushrooms and pine trees out to a rugged granite coast. Our timing was perfect to explore the exposed tide pools. With the magical fairyscape of the trail and frantic coast, the name of the trail, "Wonderland," was definitely fitting.
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#travelwithkids #familytravel #mtdesertisland #acadianationalpark #findyourpark #tidepools #wonderlandtrail

While we didn't get to enjoy a campfire this evening when yet another TAF (traveling Airstream family) @emilyelainee and @danielpoint1 stopped by the trailer to say hi and compare notes on raising trailer babies, we did make do thanks to some @sculpey_polyform. Nice to meet you guys and stay in touch! #airstreamfriends #nomadiccommunity #nomadicbreedersunite #sculpey #sisterhoodofthetravelingparents

I promise protect your eyes... uh, I mean... our National Parks. Thanks, Ranger McDreamy, for another piece of Jr. Ranger bling from Acadia National Park! #acadianationalpark #juniorranger #jrranger #childhoodunplugged #findyourpark #maine