20th September 2024 - (continued)
I packed all my gear up and made an ill-advised descent of the stairs with all of it. I get to the ground in one piece. This really is a nice place - I may visit again at some stage. I never usually watch TV when travelling, but I had to watch something on the giant TV last night. I watched the latest episode of Slow Horses on Apple TV - a series that is woefully badly written, but I love the characters so much I persist with it. Afterwards, I watched the second episode of Bad Monkey - a crime comedy set in the Florida Keys - good fun.
Son-of-duckling greets me like a puppy - the door mirrors folding out like its ears are standing up, as it yelps its appreciation. I load everything into the boot (trunk) and set off into a bright, but overcast morning.
It's not forecast to be quite as warm today, but it's still pleasant. I drive down to the office where I checked in, and asked them where they could recommend for breakfast.
Thus, here I am driving to a restaurant called Bell the Cat, about four miles away...
I drive back across the bridge to Belfast.
You know, it does have some aspects in common with the Belfast in the UK: They're both harbours - and neither of them has a shipbuilding industry...
Bell the Cat is a huge place, fronted by a large parking lot - which is very full
I'm soon sat down...
...and Jayden and Lizzy...
...bring me the 'Basic' breakfast (with a side of avocado - as I knew it would wind up my mate Darren) - (Hi Darren
)
When Jayden asked what kind of toast I'd like, I said, "Sourdough" - to which she asked "White, wheat wholemeal or multi-grain?". She recommended multi-grain - it was a good choice...
I smashed the avocado onto the toast and pretended I was a millennial. Tasted great…
Fully sated, I paid my (very reasonable) $23 inc 20% tip bill and said goodbye. Great restaurant
I have been having trouble with Agnes. I keep asking her to take me to Acadia National Park and she keeps telling me there are no available routes. Weird. I put the town of Ellsworth in the search (it's about ten miles from the park) and she's straight on the job.
How about that for a bridge?
It spans the Penobscot Narrows. The left tower has an observatory at the top, accessible by elevator. I would have taken a trip, if the weather was clearer - perhaps I'll come by another time before I come home...
Sheriff's car from another age at the side of the road - can anybody identify it?
I stop off in Ellsworth to visit the temple of consumerism that is Wal-Mart...
I idly look at the wares on display...
It's not even October, but the pumpkin spice has infected the entire store...
Halloween is a big celebration in the USA, which means it's big business...
...and Wal-Mart wants to grab as much of that business as they can...
It's just a bit over the top...
...but if they're having fun - that's fine...
I get one of the items (for folks back home) I'm looking for, but will have to look harder for the other...
I notice that the use of self-checkouts has become so ubiquitous that they signpost the ones with staff at them...
I pay for my stuff, and was hoping to buy a 'reusable' shopping bag (you get them in Tesco for a pound or so). Nope - the only option is a paper sack - hey ho...
I go back to son-of-duckling, who excitedly greets me and reminds me to fasten my seat belt before setting off. Part of the "moving off" system gives your seatbelt a little tug (to make sure there's no slack, I suppose) then releases and locks the doors. The interlocks and complexity of the electronics on these things must be mind-boggling...
I work out why Agnes can't get me a route to Acadia National Park. There are two of them - and one of them is on an island...
I post the correct one into Waze and we're soon heading south towards the accessible one...
I find that access to the Peak Road is restricted and that you have to book a slot. I turn around and, having done so, Ranger Donna (horribly out of focus in this shot) compliments me on how quickly I managed to get it done and asks if I'll be in this area again, as the visibility isn't great and it'll be worth revisiting on a clear day if I get the opportunity.
There are some great views...
When I reach the summit, I understand what Donna meant - this is beautiful, but it would be spectacular on a clear sunny day...
I take a last look around...
...and then make my way back downhill. I follow the loop road for a few miles, trees are showing signs of turning colour - it has certainly been a noticeable difference the further north I've gone...
I get down to Seawater Bay - a lovely spot...
I'm listening to Das Boot on Audible...
I set Agnes the task of taking me to my hotel for tonight - The Comfort Inn at Bangor - and she's straight on the job...
I'm staying here two nights - it has a good write-up and, apparently, a great Mexican restaurant next door...
I decide to do some shopping online. I'm going to replace my ageing iPad with a new one. There's no Apple Store in Bangor, but - by skilful use of Google - I am able to find what I want at Best Buy (for UK readers, Best Buy are a giant electrical and electronics retail warehouse).
It all starts fine - yes, they have a Gen 10 iPad with 256Gb in blue in stock. Would I like to pay online and then collect it? "Yes", I think, "That'll make it easy".
[Morgan Freeman]"But that didn't make it easy, in fact Mike regretted doing this almost immediately"[/Morgan Freeman]
I go through the rigmarole of filling everything in, then click 'Checkout'. How would you like to pay? Let's see - "PayPal" - no - some snag. OK, how about Apple Pay? Nope.
OK - I'll enter my credit card details. Need a USA phone number and address. With the bit between my teeth now, I eventually find that I can enter an address in Delaware as the billing address and that will allow the purchase to go through. It eventually does and my iPad will be ready to pick up within the hour. Good - I could do with some fresh air. I put the address of Best Buy into Agnes to find it's three minutes away...
I drive over there and explain what has happened. They tell me they can't release it to me until I have received the email that says it's ready to pick up...
Of course, what I could have done, is drive over here an hour ago and just paid for it...
Anyway, whilst I'm waiting to receive my email, I pick out a protective Otter Box case for it and pay for that. Suddenly the email arrives and I'm given the iPad. I ask if they have a plastic carrier (I really need one to tote all the crap I carry in the car about), but - once again - paper sacks are the only answer.
I come back out to the car and drive straight to Las Palapas - the Mexican restaurant right in my hotel's parking lot...
Named for a sort of shanty roofed building, which I think in Belize they called an Atap...
...it is absolutely packed - with only seating at the bar available. Actually, after my Best Buy ordeal, that's exactly where I want to sit...
That'll do nicely...
I peruse the menu...
[/Morgan Freeman]"But he already knew what he was going to order. It was what he always ordered in a new Mexican restaurant" [/Morgan Freeman]
Nachos Supremos...
They were superb...
I settle up (a very reasonable $25 inc a 20+% tip), and walk back out to son-of duckling. Now - if it's anything, the X6 is a big car - but look how comically small it looks next to the bro-dozer on the right...
I park at the front of the hotel and take my shopping indoors. I have to hand it to Apple, setting up a new phone or iPad is very simple - you effectively just put them next to one another and they get on with it. By far the most complex task was fitting the Otter Box - but I eventually managed that as well...
Within twenty minutes it had adopted the content of my old iPad (which I called Ripley, for some reason). It also adopted this name, so I changed it (as I'll be keeping Ripley) - the new iPad is called Marnie.
It feels like it has been quite a long day, so I think - having published this update - I'll have an early-ish night.
Good day
OMG - who'd buy that?
I packed all my gear up and made an ill-advised descent of the stairs with all of it. I get to the ground in one piece. This really is a nice place - I may visit again at some stage. I never usually watch TV when travelling, but I had to watch something on the giant TV last night. I watched the latest episode of Slow Horses on Apple TV - a series that is woefully badly written, but I love the characters so much I persist with it. Afterwards, I watched the second episode of Bad Monkey - a crime comedy set in the Florida Keys - good fun.
Son-of-duckling greets me like a puppy - the door mirrors folding out like its ears are standing up, as it yelps its appreciation. I load everything into the boot (trunk) and set off into a bright, but overcast morning.
It's not forecast to be quite as warm today, but it's still pleasant. I drive down to the office where I checked in, and asked them where they could recommend for breakfast.
Thus, here I am driving to a restaurant called Bell the Cat, about four miles away...
I drive back across the bridge to Belfast.
You know, it does have some aspects in common with the Belfast in the UK: They're both harbours - and neither of them has a shipbuilding industry...
Bell the Cat is a huge place, fronted by a large parking lot - which is very full
I'm soon sat down...
...and Jayden and Lizzy...
...bring me the 'Basic' breakfast (with a side of avocado - as I knew it would wind up my mate Darren) - (Hi Darren
When Jayden asked what kind of toast I'd like, I said, "Sourdough" - to which she asked "White, wheat wholemeal or multi-grain?". She recommended multi-grain - it was a good choice...
I smashed the avocado onto the toast and pretended I was a millennial. Tasted great…
Fully sated, I paid my (very reasonable) $23 inc 20% tip bill and said goodbye. Great restaurant
I have been having trouble with Agnes. I keep asking her to take me to Acadia National Park and she keeps telling me there are no available routes. Weird. I put the town of Ellsworth in the search (it's about ten miles from the park) and she's straight on the job.
How about that for a bridge?
It spans the Penobscot Narrows. The left tower has an observatory at the top, accessible by elevator. I would have taken a trip, if the weather was clearer - perhaps I'll come by another time before I come home...
Sheriff's car from another age at the side of the road - can anybody identify it?
I stop off in Ellsworth to visit the temple of consumerism that is Wal-Mart...
I idly look at the wares on display...
It's not even October, but the pumpkin spice has infected the entire store...
Halloween is a big celebration in the USA, which means it's big business...
...and Wal-Mart wants to grab as much of that business as they can...
It's just a bit over the top...
...but if they're having fun - that's fine...
I get one of the items (for folks back home) I'm looking for, but will have to look harder for the other...
I notice that the use of self-checkouts has become so ubiquitous that they signpost the ones with staff at them...
I pay for my stuff, and was hoping to buy a 'reusable' shopping bag (you get them in Tesco for a pound or so). Nope - the only option is a paper sack - hey ho...
I go back to son-of-duckling, who excitedly greets me and reminds me to fasten my seat belt before setting off. Part of the "moving off" system gives your seatbelt a little tug (to make sure there's no slack, I suppose) then releases and locks the doors. The interlocks and complexity of the electronics on these things must be mind-boggling...
I work out why Agnes can't get me a route to Acadia National Park. There are two of them - and one of them is on an island...
I post the correct one into Waze and we're soon heading south towards the accessible one...
I find that access to the Peak Road is restricted and that you have to book a slot. I turn around and, having done so, Ranger Donna (horribly out of focus in this shot) compliments me on how quickly I managed to get it done and asks if I'll be in this area again, as the visibility isn't great and it'll be worth revisiting on a clear day if I get the opportunity.
There are some great views...
When I reach the summit, I understand what Donna meant - this is beautiful, but it would be spectacular on a clear sunny day...
I take a last look around...
...and then make my way back downhill. I follow the loop road for a few miles, trees are showing signs of turning colour - it has certainly been a noticeable difference the further north I've gone...
I get down to Seawater Bay - a lovely spot...
I'm listening to Das Boot on Audible...
I set Agnes the task of taking me to my hotel for tonight - The Comfort Inn at Bangor - and she's straight on the job...
I'm staying here two nights - it has a good write-up and, apparently, a great Mexican restaurant next door...
I decide to do some shopping online. I'm going to replace my ageing iPad with a new one. There's no Apple Store in Bangor, but - by skilful use of Google - I am able to find what I want at Best Buy (for UK readers, Best Buy are a giant electrical and electronics retail warehouse).
It all starts fine - yes, they have a Gen 10 iPad with 256Gb in blue in stock. Would I like to pay online and then collect it? "Yes", I think, "That'll make it easy".
[Morgan Freeman]"But that didn't make it easy, in fact Mike regretted doing this almost immediately"[/Morgan Freeman]
I go through the rigmarole of filling everything in, then click 'Checkout'. How would you like to pay? Let's see - "PayPal" - no - some snag. OK, how about Apple Pay? Nope.
OK - I'll enter my credit card details. Need a USA phone number and address. With the bit between my teeth now, I eventually find that I can enter an address in Delaware as the billing address and that will allow the purchase to go through. It eventually does and my iPad will be ready to pick up within the hour. Good - I could do with some fresh air. I put the address of Best Buy into Agnes to find it's three minutes away...
I drive over there and explain what has happened. They tell me they can't release it to me until I have received the email that says it's ready to pick up...
Of course, what I could have done, is drive over here an hour ago and just paid for it...
Anyway, whilst I'm waiting to receive my email, I pick out a protective Otter Box case for it and pay for that. Suddenly the email arrives and I'm given the iPad. I ask if they have a plastic carrier (I really need one to tote all the crap I carry in the car about), but - once again - paper sacks are the only answer.
I come back out to the car and drive straight to Las Palapas - the Mexican restaurant right in my hotel's parking lot...
Named for a sort of shanty roofed building, which I think in Belize they called an Atap...
...it is absolutely packed - with only seating at the bar available. Actually, after my Best Buy ordeal, that's exactly where I want to sit...
That'll do nicely...
I peruse the menu...
[/Morgan Freeman]"But he already knew what he was going to order. It was what he always ordered in a new Mexican restaurant" [/Morgan Freeman]
Nachos Supremos...
They were superb...
I settle up (a very reasonable $25 inc a 20+% tip), and walk back out to son-of duckling. Now - if it's anything, the X6 is a big car - but look how comically small it looks next to the bro-dozer on the right...
I park at the front of the hotel and take my shopping indoors. I have to hand it to Apple, setting up a new phone or iPad is very simple - you effectively just put them next to one another and they get on with it. By far the most complex task was fitting the Otter Box - but I eventually managed that as well...
Within twenty minutes it had adopted the content of my old iPad (which I called Ripley, for some reason). It also adopted this name, so I changed it (as I'll be keeping Ripley) - the new iPad is called Marnie.
It feels like it has been quite a long day, so I think - having published this update - I'll have an early-ish night.
Good day
OMG - who'd buy that?
Last edited:
People do like a beer & food picture.
