Date: 2014-07-28
From: ~Mile Marker 1995

To: Stratton, ME
Miles today: 2.1

I didn't have to go to Stratton. I had enough food, wasn't really tired, and I still wasn't sure I had enough time to fool around in another trail town. I have set a date to finish. I had to really, due to my parents, brother, and daughter coming up to Baxter Sate Park to greet me at my finish. August 9th or 10th. That's the date I'm gonna summit Katahdin and end my journey. So with plane tickets bought and schedules re-adjusted, I now have to make sure I'm there when they are. Pressures on! I reached ME 27 at about 8am about 5 miles East of the metropolis of Stratton. This is not a tourist town so it will be easy to get a hitch. I said, it will be easy to get a hitch.......hello???? My thumb is out!!!!!! You have a pickup truck dude...pull over...... I know you have seen a hiker before, give me ride! Look at the sky it's about to rain, pick me up please!!!! 2 hours and a 5 mile road walk later I enter the Stratton Diner for some breakfast. These towns, although not all are hitchhiker friendly, sure know how to do up a big breakfast for us. Again, without fail, I have to test their pancakes to make sure they are up to Figgy standards. These, to my happiness, were. Ya me. I will be here in the morning as well.Right across the street from the diner is the Stratton Motel/Hostel. With the exception of Diesel the rest were SOBO's and very nice people. I jumped in and joined them in a cutthroat game of Uno as a few were already about a beer or 2 into the wind. Man I hate that game. lol. The rain was just coming down in buckets as we sat and played. What a good choice to come into town and do the usual "in town" stuff, and very convenient to the hostel as well. I can hit a 9 iron from one end to the other it's so small, but perfect. No shuttles into town here. you ARE the town!A scale. Hmmmm. I wonder. Wow! 157! I can't eat anymore than I am, I mean, I'm not going to carry any more than I'm willing. Food is heavy. I started at 191. The heaviest I have ever been, on purpose of course. I can eat anything I want really. This place has a full kitchen at our use to cook anything. So I choose shells and cheese..... noodles. Really? I did add some ground beef to it to get that all important protein, but after I ate the concoction I started not to feel to well. Stomach grumblings....bathroom time. Oh no, Giardia? Noro? I hope it's just eating junk and I can get over this. I don't want to get sick now. "Figgy!, what are you doing in there?" I heard someone giggle "Go screw!" I said. Now even more laughter coming from outside the bathroom. Never mess with a man on the throne..... Don't they know that?Fortunately, I did feel better. But went upstairs to my bunk pretty early to lay down. Very tired and ready to sleep, I peek out and see 2 SOBOs playing beer pong in the pouring rain. Oh silly SOBOs with all their energy and enthusiasm. Wait till they are in the Smokys or the NOC. Lets see if they are playing beer pong in the rain then. I watched some YouTube on my phone and stuffed Oreos in my mouth till I passed out. It's a good way to fall asleep.SOTD, I love the Rainy Night, -Eddie Rabbitt