From a perch some 20 feet above the Saco River in Buxton, they fearlessly leap from an old bridge abutment into the still water below.
From Buxton and surrounding towns, kids are drawn to the swimming hole just off Route 202 to beat the heat and make some big splashes.
Some of the kids have invented their own acrobatic moves for their jumps. Keith Gorham drew oohs and aahs Monday afternoon from other teenagers with what he called his “gainer.”
“Run and do a back flip,” is how Gorham described the jump.
After jumping, kids scramble back up the bank. Reappearing on the abutment, they ready for a repeat performance. Bryan Gorham, a freshman at Bonny Eagle High School, and Fred Short, a sophomore at Sacopee Valley High School, ran to the edge of the abutment and leaped in tandem, plunging into the water below.
Following one jump, Keith Gorham, imitating Spider-Man, climbed the face of the granite abutment to the top from the water. Others swung out over the water on a rope strung from a tree on the bank and drop into the river.
Bryan Gorham said kids come from Portland and “everywhere” to share in the fun. Many local teenagers spend their summer days there. Katie Davis, an eighth-grader at Bonny Eagle Middle School, said she goes every day.
Some pedal bicycles to the river while others drive cars. There is no parking along the Buxton shore of the river. There is parking in a lot across from the Salmon Falls Library on the Hollis side of the Saco.
Two signs attached to a post in the parking lot said “Area Closed 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.; No Jumping or Diving From This Bridge.”
Buxton Officer Scott Camire said jumping from the old abutment is permitted. “It’s the bridge on Route 202 that is posted,” said Camire.
Pleasant Point Park, a 66-acre site, with swimming and no admission fee, is just downstream. But many of the kids prefer the thrill of jumping from the old abutment.
The kids share that part of the Saco River with other recreations – boating, kayaking and fishing. Steve Rodimak, Hollis, cast a fly rod fishing line from the Hollis bank Monday. Rodimak said the river there sports small-mouth bass and trout. “It’s awesome. Very good fishing,” Rodimak said.
The river and its country setting catches eyes of passers-by. Lisa Harvey, Deerfield, Mass., stopped there Monday, taking a rest break in the shade from the hot sun while riding her Harley. “I saw the kids. I was just riding through,” Harvey said.
The kids entertain themselves at the river all summer long.
“It’s a good thing to keep them busy,” Camire said.
Cutline (River 3) owns are beating the heat, making big splashes with summer fun on the Saco River in Buxton. From a perch high above the river, they leap into a popular swimming hole from an old bridge abutment into the still water just off Route 202. Some of the kids have invented their own acrobatic moves for their jumps. Keith Gorham drew oohs and aahs Monday afternoon from other teenagers with his ce. Bryan Gorham, a freshman at Bonny Eagle High School, and Fred Short, a sophomore at Sacopee Valley High School, ran to the edge of the abutment and leaped in tandem, plunging into the water below. Following one jump, Gorham, imitating Spider-man, climbed the face of the granite abutment to the top from the water. Others swing out over the water on a rope strung from a tree on the bank and drop into the river. Bryan Gorham said kids come from Portland and Middle School, goes everyday. Some pedal bicycles to the river while others drive cars. There is no parking along the Buxton shore of the river. There is parking in a lot across from the Salmon Falls Library on the Hollis side of the Saco. Two signs attached to a post in the parking lot said ping from that bridge is dangerous because its narrow and he cited the truck traffic. Pleasant Point Park, a 66-acre site, with swimming and no admission fee is just downstream. But many of the kids prefer the thrill of jumping from the old abutment. The kids share that part of the Saco River with other recreations – boating, kayaking and fishing. Steve Rodimak, Hollis, cast a fly rod fishing line from the Hollis bank Monday. Rodimak said the river there sports small-mouth bass and trout. ack, hopes to relocate to the area. Mack, who also had a fishing rod, said the river is clean. ren The kids entertain themselves at the river all summer long. 
Cutline (River 5)
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