All signs pointing to winter ahead

In less than a week, some signs along Maine’s roadsides – from Blue Hill to Belfast, from Gouldsboro to Gardner, from Castine to Casco – changed from “Bush” to “Brush.” Just as quickly as the oak trees turned from gold to rust. After all, it’s a week later and there has been plenty of frost on the pumpkin so to speak.

The political signs lining the roadways in partisan picket fences have given way to other signs, from “Hunters’ Breakfast” to “Harvest Supper.”

Now that it’s Nov. 9, the signs we see become “No Trespassing,” “Closed for the Season,” “For Lease,” “Church Craft Fair,” “Construction Ahead,” and “Brush Wanted.”

‘Tis the that season pickup trucks bearing hunters park along the shoulders of winding roads of mid-coast and northern Maine just as pickup trucks bearing wormers and clammers hugged the winding roads of coastal Maine in late summer. It all depends on the season.

Seems like yesterday that wide-hipped RVs crowded the narrow byways throughout Down East Maine bearing vacationers who came to witness how “Life Should Be.” So said the Turnpike sign.

But now, traveling around the state one notices other signs as if Xing off dates on the calendar:

“Opening Soon for Trees and Wreaths,” said one sign on Route 3 near Augusta. “Deer Cut and Packaged,” said another. “Pick-Your-Own” advertised a farm in Windham, its apple orchards obviously closed by now and its owner carrying a bucket-loader full of pumpkins to a mulch pile behind the barn.

There are other signs along the wayside that tell of the season, they’re just not posted. All you have to do is look up at the young crew of roofers on the peak of that shingled cape, or at the chimney pointers with their trowels, or chimney sweeps with their long brushes. Or look at the folks – whole families last Sunday when the wind died and temperatures climbed – raking leaves into bags or stacking wood into rows. Or putting on storm doors and putting away deck chairs.

All signs along the road point to “Winter Ahead” just as clearly as the blinking yellow light marks the intersection and the orange cones warn of highway work under way.

“Campgrounds Closed.” “Buying Fir Tips.” “Toy Sale.” “Tagging Station.” “Bridges Freeze First.” “Moose Crossing.” “Reserve Now for Thanksgiving Dinner.”

At this time of year, the signs tell all, if not too much.

One roadside sign along Route 1 says: “The divorce is final; my friends can all come back now.”

That may not have to do with the season but it’s a sign of the times.