Our Environment: “Finding Solace in Southern Maine” by by Scott Turner
Sunday, October 06, 2019
In the lingering warm air of the last weekend of September, Karen and I found solace and strength in the sunshine and sand of Southern Maine.
On Old Orchard Beach, we walked for several miles, surrounded at times on the mudflat by hundreds of Semipalmated Sandpipers—small shorebirds that literally shuffled around our feet.
Although we circumvented the sandpiper flocks, which fed on tiny crustaceans and other creatures in the mudflat, some birds would set off toward us. At times, sandpipers came within five feet of our feet, and we could see their dark feet and straight dark bills clearly. Many of these birds were quite vocal, producing various “peep” sounds that would accumulate into a peep hub-bub.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTDuring our stroll, the tide was out, the air was warm, and the waters cool and clear. The beach was much wider than any in the Ocean State, A few hearty folks swam in the ocean. Others sat in chairs or on blankets. But most of the immense strand was empty.
Sometimes, we let the cool, but not cold, Atlantic Ocean, wash over our feet. Scattered quahog shells littered the mud, along with broken bits of sand dollars and driftwood.
Small snails in moon-shaped shells cut trails atop the wet mud, where an occasional Herring Gull slapped around the fleshy contents of a cracked-open quahog.
A drawback of this summer-like day was that mosquitoes showed up, as we stopped to admire the setting sun, which painted the sand and sea a glowing pink and orange.
Next morning, we drove through forests and marshes to the soft white sands of Goose Rocks Beach in Kennebunkport. Along the way, we spied color change in the roadside foliage. Most of that tint came from red maples, which are always the first to go in our fall landscape.
The primary color change among the red maples was from green to burgundy, particularly at the top of the trees. In addition, the vine, Virginia creeper, was deep red, and visible on both the ground, or wrapped around tree trunks. Sumac, which is a small tree, was also changing color—to either scarlet or burgundy.
We noticed many vivid blue asters along the drive, as well as lots of glittering goldenrod. Often these plants formed a foreground for the fall color in the trees.
At Goose Rocks, we found scattered empty yellow lounge chairs, and claimed two. From that perch, we watched kayakers paddle toward offshore islands, as sunshine glistened on the water.
Weekend temperatures were 10-to-15 degrees above normal. Either summer lingered, or we experienced another manifestation of a hotter planet. Either way, we took pleasure in the warm sun and fresh ocean air, awakened to the world by the call of gulls and the sounds of surf.
With its vast beaches and long stretches of salt marshes, it’s no wonder that Southern Maine was where Rachel Carson called home for several years.
Visiting the area was a chance for us to feel reverence for all creation.
Scott Turner is a Providence-based writer and communications professional. For more than a decade he wrote for the Providence Journal and we welcome him to GoLocalProv.com.
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