Maine is a very patriotic place. Today was Day Zero - Orientation Day. The team went over all the basics of how to ride with our group, which I've already had and even helped lead, so I was focused on just enjoying the town around us. I've been all around the US and I'm always fascinated by people's worldview, as much as you can tell from just being in a place for a few days. And one of the things you really notice about Maine is the level of patriotism. American flags and patriotic symbols are everywhere in town. But it's not like when we were in Kentucky or Texas; it's more of a liberal patriotism, a sort of in-your-face kindness. I've developed a bit of a theory, which is that places are patriotic in inverse proportion to their importance to America. That is to say, the places you think of as quintessentially American - New York City, San Francisco, Washington, DC - are not very patriotic. Whereas places most foreigners couldn't find on a map - Maine, Eastern Kentucky - are patriotic as heck. I am not sure yet quite why that is.
I enjoyed Bar Harbor very much. I sat next to a woman named Maggie who was 74 tonight while eating pizza. We got into a long conversation about politics. She's really worried about where the country is heading for her grandkids' sake. She just lost her husband 6 months ago and is terrified at how alone everyone seems, how angry they are, the rhetoric that Trump uses. We agreed on almost everything, but it was interesting to see it from a 74 year old widow's perspective. It's what I love about these trips - the people you meet. Godspeed, Maggie, and may God Bless America.
Oh! I almost forgot the hike. Shanon and I went on the Beehive trail in Acadia National Forest. I'm super glad I bought that America the Beautiful pass because it saved us $24. Anyway, it was a ladder climb on iron rungs; short but incredibly fun with some amazing views. Highly recommended.
