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WINTHROP — Registered Maine Guide and avid kayaker Paul Willoughby, who lives on Upper Narrows Pond in Winthrop, recovered a warning buoy that had broken loose from its mooring, most likely during the recent northeaster.
“A couple days ago I was paddling down towards the southern end of Upper Narrows when I saw something that looked out of place down on the southwest shore,” Willoughby said. “It was kind of late, so I thought I would check it out the next time I paddled down that way.”
He said that the next day he went down there there again and noticed one of the warning buoys that are placed around the intake of the Winthrop water treatment plant was missing.
“That’s when I paddled over to check out the object I had seen the day before,” he said. “Sure enough, it was the missing buoy.” Because one end is weighted to keep it upright in the water, he knew he couldn’t tow it by himself. So, the next day, he towed one of his other kayaks down, loaded the buoy on it and towed it back to his place, then loaded it onto his truck and took it to the Winthrop Water Utilities District office.
A happy ending not only for the buoy, but for boaters who may have been endanged by it being missing. Nice work from an observent citizen!
PHOTO: Paul Willoughby towing the warning buoy he found on Upper Narrows Pond recently. (Submitted photo)
