Where the Buoys are!

Buoys, quintessentially Maine. They dot the Maine landscape on  houses, fences, and lobster traps. They are decorative and yet utilitarian. We take them for granted. they are seen, but seldom heard from.....they are just there. These are the buoys of Summer.

Buoys are flotation devices that  lobstermen use to identify location of lobster traps.

According to Maine State Law, Title 12, Section 6434,  It is unlawful for anyone except the licensed owner, or a Marine Patrol Officer to raise, lift, transfer, possess, or in any manner molest any lobster trap, warp, buoy, or lobster car. This includes all gear that has washed ashore and is seemingly abandoned. 

Early lobster buoys were made from empty glass bottles. However,  it became hard to tell which buoys belonged to which lobsterman. The bottle/glass buoys were not sturdy for the rough north Atlantic waters.  During the 1800's lobstermen would carve buoys out of wood logs and painted them to identify the lobster traps. This evolved  into a New England folk art which is still popular today.

Buoys are so popular and beloved in Maine, that people play a game of  buoy baseball on Ogunquit beach. Buoy bats are made from authentic lobster buoys and hardwood handles. These products are produced in the neighboring town of South Berwick, and sold locally and on-line. http://www.buoysports.com/.  No two Buoy Bats are alike because lobster buoys are made for fishing. There are blemishes and unique markings  on these foam buoys, which truly makes this a unique sport product!

Aerial Veiw of Ogunquit

Real freedom lies in wildness, not in civilization.

                                                                                     -Charles Lindbergh

Aerial photographs of Ogunquit have been a favorite subject for photographers since the first airplanes flew over this small spit of land on the Atlantic. The above photo was taken by Ogunquit's Craig Capone. Capone is a member of Ogunquit's Planning board and had the opportunity to fly over Ogunquit and take some interesting aerial shots. Some of these photos will be used to determine land use.

The above shot is an aerial of:  Mt Agamenticus, Cape Neddick, Ogunquit and the Berwicks. Southern Maine is unique because this is where southern and northern forests meet. It is the most biologically diverse area in Maine. Notice how the forest converges on rivers, and estuaries and the Atlantic.

This photo is East Village of Ogunquit. Ogunquit Beach Inn is located on School Street. School Street is the centre street in the photograph ( notice the red school). The next photo shows the barrier island, Ogunquit  village, and the forest which stretches to the New Hampshire mountains.

Perkins Cove is quite unique. The sheltered cove protects fishing and lobster boats. On the headland side of Perkins Cove the waves are dramatic against the craggy coast.

In May of 1938, the first air mail plane landed on Ogunquit beach. The vintage photo below shows the police chief Cecil Perkins, with the Postmaster, Byron Adams. There was a celebration that day on Ogunquit beach, and children had the day off from school to see the event.
Charles Lindbergh first sited Ogunquit on his transatlantic voyage from New York to Paris in 1927.