The summer wind

Pleasure craft sail around the harbor at the Eastern Prom in Portland.

Anthony strolls the beach in Portland.

The father-and-son enjoy a rare warm October day.

A duck boat motors around the harbor

The Jewel dwarfs boats in the harbor.

A breach-loading cannon from the U.S.S. Maine that was sunk in Havana harbor and triggered the war between the United States and Spain.

The U.S. flag still waves from the mast of the U.S.S. Portland.

PORTLAND - I am not sure if global warming has had a hand in this smoldering weather or Mother Nature is just being charitable before winter closes in and locks us in an icy vise for the next five months.

Whatever the explanation, summer's searing heat returned to New England on an October weekend which is usually cold and windy, and reserved for raking leaves, watching high school football games, and stocking firewood.

Two nights ago, temperatures plummeted into the low 30s, opening the door for Jack Frost to take out what was left of my garden.

For two days, chilly weather settled over New England. The smell of smoking hot wood stoves drifted over my neighborhood as Mainers reluctantly turned on their furnaces for the first time since May. It was cold enough to snow and I saw people in fall jackets.

I was about to bow to Old Man Winter and brace myself for the cold and snow that will soon wreak havoc on the six-state region.

But this weekend, summer snuck back into New England and broiled the state of Maine. The cold nights disappeared and the humidity returned. I turned on a pair fans, which is unheard of in October.

The humid weather gave us an excuse to pack sandwiches, head to the Eastern Prom in Portland, walk the pristine beach and simply enjoy the warm sun.

We weren't the only Mainers who shunned their TVs, laptops and shutoff their cell phones for a walk along a crowded beach. Thousands of Pine Tree natives were strolling the Eastern Prom or weaving in out of the crowds at the Old Port. A cruise ship, "The Jewel" was parked along the wharf. It is a floating city that dwarfed all other boats and ships in the harbor.

Temperatures rose to the mid 80s. Beach-goers threw themselves in the water as landlubbers basked in the burning sun. Shorts and bathing suits were the attire for the day. Runners and cyclists were out in full force. Sailing craft of all sizes headed for open seas.

As I can remember, the second weekend in October was usually cold, damp cloudy and just plain windy.

But summer found its way in New England and chased away Autumn's chill, treating Mainers to a brief respite before Winter has the final say.