Down East route scenic, but no byway

The route Down East may be designated “scenic byway,” but it’s no byway. Not these days when frost heaves and potholes aren’t the only hazards to motorists. The snow, ice and slush covering the road in deep ruts prove the greatest nemesis – to one’s psyche as well as safety.

How in tarnation did anyone convince transportation officials from Augusta to Washington to put up little signs, kiosks and graphic promotions to direct more vehicles down these curvy, narrow, hilly roads that are almost impassable at this time of year? One would be better off in a sleigh to maneuver roadways in such deplorable condition.

This recent snowstorm didn’t take anyone by surprise; it was predicted, albeit underestimated – by a foot or two – in some inland sections of Maine. February inevitably brings these sloppy snows, usually after a spate of warm, sunny days. That is why folks around here warn: “Winter never rots in the sky,” which is another way of saying that today the buds on the lilac bush look as if they’re swelling but by tomorrow we may encounter a full-fledged northeast blizzard howling around the barn and dumping heavy, wet snow.

That’s exactly what happened last Thursday and Friday, from Portland to Dover-Foxcroft, from Rumford to Machias. Thing is, much of the state rebounded, clearing their roads, shoveling their sidewalks and going about the industry of being Mainers during wintertime.

Communities covered in 2 feet of snow somehow succeeded in scraping bare their roads by the next day. Of course, this was in southern Maine.

In “the other Maine,” including the Down East region, highways and byways didn’t look as though they’d seen too many swipes of the snowplow even two days after the storm.

From Holden through Gouldsboro, to be exact, the routes were so ridged with ice, snow and sand that the fuel truck zigzagged as though driven by a drunk, and the compact car following far behind did so with the brake lights on. The road’s shoulders – if there were any – were solid white with snow, preventing anyone from finding them let alone using them for emergency stops.

Routes 1A and 1 were horrendous but nothing compared to Route 186, the winding road to the coast and to the highly publicized Schoodic section of Acadia National Park. As usual, this notorious stretch of pavement – if one could call it that – presented more obstacles than a slalom course at Sugarloaf.

Yet this is the road transportation folks, tourism promoters and chamber of commerce-ites clamored to get named a “national scenic byway.” Hopefully, the designation will bring with it adequate maintenance plans … and funds. Maybe one day the byway actually will be traversable during the winter months as are others throughout Maine.

Speaking of byways, it is scenic, by the way.