The Asticou.........

6:07 am - Thursday - July 19th - Southwest Harbor, ME - 57º F, 80% humidity, wind 3 mph out of the south.......sunny, blue skies with a forecast high for today of 74º F.

Wednesday, while cool initially, was quite humid with a forecast high of 77º F.  We decided to take a week off from hiking and just do a little site seeing later in the day.  I began my day watching stage 11 of the Tour de France.  There is something pleasant about watching bicycle riders suffer for hours climbing 12% grades in the Alps from the comfort of your leather recliner.  I've done enough of that in my life spending hours climbing in hot weather over mountain passes day after day on a 500 mile bike rides not that many years ago.....I know what it feels like.  Certainly, I do not ride as fast as these guys do, or as many miles in a single day as they do, and I was never riding for the 'yellow jersey', but I do understand the suffering.  It is suffering to which you willingly submit yourself.......it is for the sense of accomplishment, and for the reward.......the equally long downhill.  You stand on the pedals for mile after mile with the wind in your face........all the pain of a few moments prior is forgotten.  

Stage 11 was completed around noontime, and we were in the VW shortly thereafter driving over to Northeast Harbor to have lunch at the Asticou Inn and Restaurant.........Yelp gives them a solid 4 stars on 34 reviews.  We arrived just after 12:30 pm, and were shown immediately to a table on the outside deck......perfect!

The restaurant was quite busy and we both felt we were lucky to get a table so quickly.  The view of Northeast Harbor was perfect and exceeded our expectations........

......we quickly ordered some adult beverages......white wine for TLE, and a local stout for moi......

.....like Jordon Pond, the Asticou Restaurant offers popovers and tea.......TLE ordered the popovers (no tea), and I their Lobster Quiche.  The service was excellent, and within minutes of receiving our drinks we had our food......

......according to my sister-in-law, Kay Houghtaling, we have become excellent 'Rusticators' (The term “rusticators” is used to describe families who came to spend long summers on the coast of Maine. Rusticators started arriving in the late 1800’s. The word rusticator is derived from the word rustic, which relates to country living).....I guess I would have to agree with her.

 

We lingered over our food and drinks until almost 2 pm when we finally asked for our check.  Right across the street from the Inn are the Asticou Azalea Gardens, so we decided to walk over and check them out.......

......unfortunately, the azaleas went through their blooming cycle a number of weeks ago.  I can only imagine how beautiful the garden would have looked with them in full bloom.  As it was the gardens were quite lovely........

......and it was a very nice way to walk off our lunch!  We were home about 2:45 pm.....time for a nap for moi.

We watched some more 'Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee', and some recorded shows.  I was in bed a little after 9 pm as it is back to work on Thursday!

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