July 28: Back in the USA!

Woohoo – back in the USA! Today’s ride started with a trip by catamaran from Yarmouth, Nova Scotia to Bar Harbor, Maine. After a delightful 3 ½ hour cruise across the Gulf of Maine, I traveled route 1 along the coast to Portland.

I had mixed feelings this morning as I arrived early for check-in at the Bay Ferries terminal in Yarmouth. Although I was excited to be going back to America after several weeks away, I was sad to know that the Canadian portion of my summer adventure was ending. The people of Canada had been so kind and welcoming, and I had very much enjoyed my time in the provinces and Yukon.

The ride aboard the “Cat” was one of the nicest ocean crossings I have ever experienced, with live Celtic music, healthy food choices, friendly staff, outside seating areas, and even a catamaran tour with the captain. I enjoyed my snacks along with a good book and with the vessel traveling at speeds up to 50 miles an hour we made the crossing in record time.

After passing the border checkpoint at the terminal, I headed south on highway 1 to follow the coastline of Maine down to Portland. The route passed through several seaside villages including Belfast, Camden, and Rockland and provided numerous beautiful views of the ocean, marshlands, and rivers. I also made a stop in Rockland to look at the lighthouse there. As I traveled south, it was refreshing to see the speed limit signs in miles and the service station gas measured in gallons.

I am excited that the Alaskan and Newfoundland portions of my summer adventure were so enjoyable and am looking forward to having a few weeks to cover some of my favorite spots in the US as I continue to work my way south along the eastern coast and then west towards Colorado.

Because today felt like a homecoming to me I treated myself to a nice dinner at Demillo’s on the Water, a local eatery known for its great seafood. The pecan encrusted halibut with cornbread stuffing and cheesy polenta was moist and mouthwatering. It’s good to be home!