Proctor Academy - Navigational Aids

I had the opportunity to spend this weekend splashing around the north Atlantic in a boat. This is made all the more pleasureable by our government's thoughtful placement of charming navigational aids, lighthouses, beacons, horns, whistles and bell buoys all over the place to guide us to whatever destination safely. Here's an example at the south end of Tarpaulin Cove:

If you go to the west of Beacon "W" in Woods Hole, you'll need extensive hull repair:

Next week at this time, more than one hundred new students and their families will be finding their way to Andover and Proctor to start new chapters in their lives. Their navigation--getting here, at least--should be straightforward enough. Here's an encouraging sign you'll want to leave to starboard:

After they're dropped off, of course, they will want to be sensitive to the prompts, structures and subtle signposts that will lead to success.

Nun 2 bucking a four knot current. It's important to keep on the right side of a navigational aid.

Our friends in government seem to have gone out of their way to make these markers charming as well as functional.

Nobska Light.

This isn't a nav aid; it's a monument to Batholomew Gosnold, who established a British colony here on Cuttyhunk Island during the summer of 1602, and then--in the fall--left for home. Or was it school?

This isn't really very helpful.

This discouragement is intended for those considering other schools.

Now we must be getting close....

If you end up here, you've gone way too far....