Date: 2017-07-27
From: Rangeley 

To: Rangeley 
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: overcast clouds

7/27Rangeley 0 milesHoly kadiddlehoppers, it was good to sleep in a real bed. In a room by myself. A CLEAN room. With my very own CLEAN bathroom. To get up, I just sat up and put my feet on the floor. No levering myself up and crawling awkwardly through a tiny door shorter than a hobbit's. I kept checking the time, seeing that it wasn't morning yet, and blissfully rolling back into slumber. Eventually it started getting close to seven, which is when breakfast starts, so I got up. The "continental breakfast" was not a croissant and a coffee. It was a very nice buffet. A roasted tomato and feta frittata, a toasted bagel, a scone, fresh fruit and yogurt... I don't see how this can be called a continental breakfast. Not that I'm complaining. I went and grabbed my dirty laundry. I walked to the Villsge Scrubboard nearby, and was sad to find out that it is closed on Thursdays. I kept walking. I needed some things at the IGA. Mostly pharmacy things, but there is no pharmacy here. On the way a vehicle pulled over. The F bombs! They decided to do a short day due to incoming severe weather. They invited me to the library with them but I stuck with my IGA plan. I pondered getting this bullseye type rash checked out. I think the shape is due to the location (armpit chafing) rather than a tick bite. I haven't found a tick biting me since April. I feel absolutely fine, barring thruhike wear and tear. I decided to get cortisone cream instead, and keep a wary eye out for symptoms. It's not like I wouldn't recognize them at this point. I finally found unscented trash compactor bags at the store. It came in a pack of four so I texted the others to see if they wanted them. They did. I met them in town and handed them bags, then they got moving, and I assume they hiked the two miles out to the shelter after that. Returning to my room, I worked up a sweat and possibly turned the air blue with curses as I replaced the hip belt on my pack. That was *hard*. I don't look forward to swapping it again later. Given the laundromat situation I tried rinsing my clothes in the sink. It sort of worked, but I never did get the water to run clean from my socks. I suppose if they're hideous after they dry, I can launder them tomorrow. I'd get out of town pretty late, but I could do it. Next I had to sort out what I was mailing ahead and what I was mailing home. I really wanted a nap instead but it had to be done. At least I could nosh on the crusty bread and Brie that I picked up at the IGA. I eventually got to the point where I could lie down, but my head kept telling me I would oversleep and miss the post office hours, so I gave up and carried all my parcels down to the post office to ship them. On the way back, I stopped in at a different outfitter and found a ball cap that might be cooler to wear than the boonie hat I've been using. The boonie hat was important in keeping the mesh netting off my neck in bad bug season, but that's over now. I figure I'll carry both to Stratton and see how I like the ball cap. I stopped again for ice cream. Don't judge me. I ate at the tavern that's attached to the motel tonight. It was perfect. Shrimp the size of my fist, perfectly cooked squash, toasted giant couscous, and tostones. I've spent a ton of money on food here and it's been worth every penny. Three months of hiker food is a long time, y'all. I tried turning on the tv for entertainment. It turns out that I'm still not interested. Maybe I'll read a book on my kindle app?