Ordinary Maine

A funny thing happened on the way to September's end. I just happened to catch this masked hero while out taking some pictures and wanted to share the capture with you.

It is said that growth only happens when you push yourself to the end of your comfort zone. Tonight I wanted to take a picture of the Carnival Victory leaving Portland. This is a shot that many would get by going to Spring Point or Fort Williams, but an appointment in Freeport made that impossible for me. So I decided to head to Fort Allen Park on the Eastern Promenade.



Now I started on the upper level of the part near the Gazebo, but I wanted a different perspective, so I drove down to the boat launch and walked along the walking trail until I could get down to the rocky shore. I took this picture of the Victory from just about 10 feet above sea level and at this point the Victory is just starting to pull forward out of the harbor after being pushed out of the terminal by the Portland Tug Boats.

It was neat to watch this ship leave Portland. I was hoping to have some time to capture the Queen Mary 2, but in the wake of Hurricane Kyle the world's largest ocean liner decided to change its itinerary.

So much for ordinary!

Tony

Well September is almost gone and the liquid sunshine just keeps blessing the State of Maine. As someone who get cabin fever easily the last few months have not been fun. This evening I took a little ride down the Bridge Street Bridge to look at Saccarappa Falls. As you can see from other posts the river is not nearly as high as it has been after similar rain events. One thing I keep noticing is the pile of trees that keeps building up on the upper dam.

My grand parents own the property on the Gorham side of Little Falls and they too are seeing entire trees left in the dam structure. This leaves me wondering if the dam owners are no longer maintaining the structures or if they just plain don't care about them? In Gorham at Little Falls the access gate that leads to the dam has been unlocked for months, giving anyone open access.

Anyway that is my view of OrdinaryMaine today.

Tony

Over the weekend at Pathways, I learned some basic Yoga moves. I have no idea what form of Yoga they derive from and to be honest that is really not the point. I am now starting my mornings off with the series of exercises that I learned and it is very relaxing. So far it seems like a great way to start the day and I look forward to continuing the process. Now all I need to do is get my breathing in sync with my movements and I will be all set. Something is naturally telling me and my body that only happens with practice.

Breath!

Tony

Today I took a trip back to the neighborhood of my childhood. After taking a quick drive down Dalton Street in Portland, I drove my tracker to Veranda Street and parked it. As I started to get out of the car I was amazed at how similar things were. I then decided to walk down to the bottom of Dalton Street and back taking in the old neighborhood.

What really surprised me is that I could remember all the people I grew up around. I was able to remember who all of my old neighbors were and in some cases it was obvious to me that they still lived on Dalton Street. At the bottom of the street I stopped to notice that the bamboo growth over the years has really choked out any access to the creek at the end of the street. I also noticed that the Libby property that provided all of us with access to the train tracks next to Dalton Street was fenced off and there was no sign of the familiar trail I took so many times as a child.

On my return trip to the top of the street I stopped off at good old number 12 and just took some time to look and remember. The house was gutted and redone after my mother sold it, so it no longer bears the white dotted scars from the blown insulation that was added in the early 1980s. I did not take pictures of the house out of respect for the current occupants. While I know there was a big remodel I can still remember how I experienced that house in the years from 1977 to 1997. Oddly enough I felt quite detached.

I then headed up to the Veranda Street Bridge to check out the aging iron monstrosity that now rotting away after years of neglect. I look down the side of the bridge at the access path to the train tracks below and then continued to the Bridge so I could look out towards the north and the train yards behind Presumpscot Street. Just at that moment a rail truck (like when I was a kid) was driving down the rails towards the yards.

After a moment I headed down the street to Mike's house. Mike was my best friend growing up. I was about 7 or 8 when we met. I will never forget the day. I was walking up the hill on Veranda Street to my house after making a trip to Pasquale's Market. As I approached Mike's driveway my bag broke and everything in it went all over the place. Mike came out to help a stranger pick up a mess and ended up with a childhood friend. I spent a few minutes looking at Mike's house and remembering that friendship before returning to the bridge and heading down the path leading to the tracks.

This steep path was not easy to navigate in Birkenstocks, but I am happy to report I made it out safe. Upon reaching the tracks I started to follow the tracks down to the old cemetery that site behind Presumpscot Elementary School. I had taken this path many times over the years to school, but again on the track side there was not trace of the access road from the Libby property. I traveled on those tracks until the familiar path, now smaller and less traveled, appeared before my eyes. I took that path and headed out towards the school, stopping for a moment to see the graves I remembered from my youth. As I approached the school athletic fields I saw that another familiar path had been moved, so I decided to check it out.

This trail really followed the old trail down to the creek where the many of the kids from my neighborhood would cross a log that was down in the creek in order to get to school quicker. As I approached what I expected would be a drop, the trail took a hard right and followed a new route. It seems as though access to the creek is really not possible without lots of effort this time of year. I continued on the path and went down a set of stairs. The picture below is of the stairs that are on a path that never existed in my youth. They were put in by Portland Trails years ago, but after my time.

This weekend I attended a retreat for men at Pathways in New Hampshire. I am just starting my journey, but this weekend I spent some time with a great group of guys. I cannot tell you just how much they gave me. During a break I was able to snap a few shots. I like this one.

I look forward to returning in the future and wish everyone the best.

Tony

Well I had some time to hit the water this afternoon and do a little fishing. I joined Mr. Salmon and his buddy Scott for some action on Sebago Lake. We ended up getting into some great Lake Trout Action. More pictures from the trip are posted here.

This laker was 28 inches in length and weighed in at 8 pounds. It hit like a rock and took over a half hour to bring in. While bringing in the lines to make my fight easier, Scott ended up hooking onto a 26 inch 6 pound laker. It is fun to work doubles.

Tight Lines!

Tony

On September 12, 2006 Madilyn joined the Bessey family. Renee and I knew that Camden would have a hard time adjusting with this change if we did not take the time to make becoming a "Big Brother" the coolest thing in town. That is why Camden was the first person in our family to hold Madilyn after we left the OR. I think that caught his grandmother and aunt off guard, but we needed him to know he was part of the team. Part of our plan was to start a tradition (all you need to do in order to start a tradition is do it more than once) by having Camden build Madi a Bear on her Birthday.

As we settled into the Hospital that afternoon, Camden and I took a trip to the Maine Mall to build a bear for his sister. Each year at this time we have returned to continue that tradition. Last night Camden and I made the trip again for the third time. Here are some pictures of the trip.

This is a lot of fun. I like family traditions. Happy Birthday Madilyn and good work Camden. Mom and Dad are very proud of you both.

Today, like everyday is 9/12/2001. Each and every day for the last seven years we have lived with that reality. Simply put, we live in different times. These are two pictures from the Sixth Annual Westbrook 9/11 Memorial Parade and Remembrance. Let us never forget what happened to us on that fateful day.


May we never forget the day America was Attacked.

Lets Roll......

Tony

Okay, so I know it is only September, but in the Bessey household we are all taking the time start thinking about Halloween. Last year Camden dressed up as 1970's Elvis (aka. Fat Elvis). Now Renee and I are both aware that getting a three and a half year old to pull off that costume is not easy, but it was fun watching him do it. Camden also won 3rd place in the Halloween on Main street Children's Costume Contest.


Great Elvis!

Tony

This afternoon was dedicated to a little Camden and Daddy trip to Naval Air Station Brunswick, for the State of Maine Airshow. I must admit that I mostly wanted to see the Blue Angels. While waiting to see the Blue Angels I caught up with my good friend Kevin Crocker. This was a good bit of luck as he was able to help me understand what was happening in order to anticipate what and where I should be shooting.

These men are an amazing team and quite the site to watch. Impressive does not even do justice to the show they put on. Today's show was the 47th performance of the year for the Blue Angels. While organizers claim this is the last "State of Maine Airshow," I somehow doubt that will be the case. NASB is not scheduled to close until 2011 and there is not doubt that the people of Maine want more. It will be interesting to see what happens.

This morning I woke up to sunny skies here in Westbrook and of course the threat of flooding on the Presumpscot River. Flood stage here is 15' and at the time of this picture the water level was 18' with the expectation that the river would crest at 19' by late morning or early afternoon.

Many photographers and space watchers are aware that we have been in an extended period of low solar activity. About three years ago we entered solar minimum which usually lasts for a period of about one to one and a half years. Currently we are going on three years of minimal solar activity. What this means is at lower altitudes, such as the lower 48 states, we do not see many auroras (aka. Northern Lights).

The area I serve as a District Executive for the Pine Tree Council, Boy Scouts of America is quite interesting. While it is not the largest district in size here in Maine, it does have the largest population base. For the most part I cover all of Cumberland County with the exception of Brunswick, any town in York County that is on Route 25 and Oxford County from the York County Line up to Stoneham and Waterford.

Today I was out in the northern area of the district looking for ideas for new units. When I crosses out of Stoneham into Albany Township on my way to Waterford I saw this sign and wanted to share. I know that is has been in many post cards. It seems that lately the area has become commercialized.
I took Camden along for the ride today and we did some geocaching. All in all it was a long day, but Camden took home some good memories and I learned more about the people I serve in the Scouting program. Just another day in my Ordinary Maine.

Tony