the local municipal snow ballet

Many of you have told me you have visited Maine in the summer, or you hope to one day. 

Ever wonder how we cope in the winter?

A few days ago I said that in Maine we know exactly what to do with snow.  Today I took a trip to the library and lo and behold, the snow ballet was in full operation. 

(Warning:  these are not art shots, or anything close.  I was doing my best to stay out of the way in the midst of monster trucks and bucket loaders.  Plus, my fingers were falling off left and right in the cold.)  

We are looking at one of two 'main' streets in town.  Usually, traffic on this street is an orderly procession of two lanes of one-way traffic, which yields obligingly to cars parking or leaving spaces after they visit the post office, library or shops.  (In the winter, anyway!)   Today, the dump trucks hogged the right lane, and parking was allowed only on the left side of the street.  I have to say we all coped gracefully, probably because this dance makes our lives so much better in the end.  The trucks don't even parallel park.  See how they kind of kitty-corner?

And then there is this guy.  He does most of the dancing.  I want his job.

He drives in to a good big pile of snow, then digs.   Look at  his wheels off the pavement.

After he takes a good big bite, it's down to the waiting dump truck.

Lift the shovel, and dump!  Then go back for more.

 A big bite,

back up a bit,

and deliver the load again.

See why I couldn't be too picky about exposure or composition? This all happens FAST.

When the truck is full, it pulls out heading for the snow dump, and another takes its place.

From the line at the snow ballet bar here:

  While the trucks wait, the drivers greet folks they know as they pass by.  

This is Fred.  He's been doing this for years.

I fled up the church steps to get this shot, as the driver kept advancing....

He's doing a special move.  He's "backwards plowing", so that the snow bank by the side of the street will disappear.  

This makes it once more possible to get out of one's car on the sidewalk side!

Before:

 ...and AFTER!!

So, do you wonder what happens to the snow?  Most every town in Maine has a 'snow dump' somewhere.  Ours is a little out of town, near the vocational school.

All day long, these guys and their machines move the snow around.

  

Here comes a new load---beep, beep, beep!

 and, dump!!

I don't know if you want to see a shot of an empty dump truck, but I liked this photo.

So that's the truth about the snow ballet, and I'm sticking to it.

Now, I am going to read one of the two books which were waiting for me at the library.  Should I start with St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves, or should I read the Irish novel Ghost Light?  

Decisions, decisions.

Have a good night, everyone!