Blue Highways: A Journey into America

Heat-Moon departs Melvin Village and heads east to Kennebunkport, Maine. It is immediately apparent that the summer season is imminent, which brings with it all the novelty of commerce—something Heat-Moon has purposely avoided during his journey. Naturally, Heat-Moon drives away from the crowds and toward a small fishing hamlet called Cape Porpoise, where he catches the crew of the Allison E, a fishing trawler, unloading its daily catch of flounder. Heat-Moon strikes up a conversation with the skipper and secures himself a fishing trip the following day. At 3:30 the next morning, Heat-Moon joins skipper Tom West and his two mates and heads out to sea for the day.

The weather causes a small craft warning, and the ride out to the fishing grounds is a rough one. As the crew goes about casting the nets and hauling in the catch, Heat-Moon interviews Tom West and asks him about life as a commercial fisherman. Once again, the industry has experienced drastic change since West’s earliest days. The day ends early because of a turn in the weather, and the crew heads back to shore.

From Maine, Heat-Moon heads down the Eastern seaboard and realizes that staying off the main interstate will be a challenge.