I stepped outside late yesterday morning, all bundled up to protect myself against the brutal subzero temperatures that have hammered us Mainers of late. I suddenly realized that it felt considerably warmer than I had anticipated, so off came my hat and gloves. Then I peeked at the display screen perched atop Portland's Time and Temperature Building; it was 27 degrees out, which felt absolutely tropical by comparison.
The punishing cold is also affecting fishermen here in Maine, and even as far south as Maryland. At best, frozen waters are making navigation tricky. And at worst it's keeping boats frozen in place, unable to go fishing.
That's the case in Friendship, Maine, where some lobsterboats have been stuck in ice for a couple of weeks. And as noted in the WGME-TV news video below, every day they remain on ice costs lobstermen money.
The Mainers aren't the only fishermen stymied by the cold. In Annapolis, Md., The state's Department of Natural Resources crews have been working to clear ice from Maryland waters so that watermen can fish, and fuel docks and emergency vessels can operate.
According to the Annapolis-based Capital Gazette, usually, waterways there freeze in December and January, but this year didn't ice up until a couple of weeks ago. Hence, the ice that has usually thawed by mid-February may not melt until "well into the first week of March," Department of Natural Resources Capt. Jeff Lill told the online media outlet. Click here to check out the Gazette story as well as video of Lill navigating the DNR buoy tender John C. Widener through the icy Chesapeake Bay waters.
Whether the winter weather is icing in fishing vessels at their moorings or causing crews to hammer away at ice forming on boats at sea, I think it's safe to say Old Man Winter has worn out his welcome. Take heart, though, because Major League Baseball teams are gathering in Florida and Arizona for spring training, so a change of season can't be far off.
Until then, curse out Punxsutawney Phil, who didn't see his shadow on Groundhog Day, thus sentencing us all to six more dreary weeks of winter.
