Penobscot River

Let's just call it "Penny." Or maybe just "A log."

The United States Coast Guard is called in to break up the ice.

One of my favorite things I have ever done was going whitewater rafting on Dead River. After surviving that I have been craving another rough ride down a river. I have always wanted to do the Penobscot, and this GoPro footage has me sold!

It's a mixed bag of weather this morning in Maine with snow reported in Piscataquis County and a mix of snow and rain elsewhere. Flood warnings and watches posted by the National Weather Service remain in effect throughout much of the state as rivers and streams are swollen.

Granted it's pretty short video, but keep in mind that our beautiful Penobscot River was viewed by many hundreds of thousands of television and Youtube watchers all over the planet, thanks to Charles Osgood and CBS Sunday Morning.  

What does it take to clear the Penobscot River of ice in the winter? In this news story the answer is; 65 feet, a crew of 8, and 72-tons worth of rugged Coast Guard persistence.

As the Waterfront Concert Series becomes a permanent fixture in Bangor, emergency management officials are being proactive. One particular concert this summer has Maine Emergency Management officials working with Bangor, Brewer, and Penobscot County emergency response personnel to train in advance to be prepared to prevent and mitigate any safety or security issues...

The big construction equipment is now in place for the next phase of the demolition project bringing down the old Waldo-Hancock Suspension bridge.

She's older than her Captain, and as he might joke, more experienced at the job of ice breaking on Maine rivers. That's because the Officer in Charge of the Coast Guard Cutter Tackle, BMC Marc Moore, has only been aboard the fifty-year old vessel since June of last year...