Date: 2016-06-30
From: Cooper Brooks Falls Lean-to

To: Jo-Mary Road
Miles today: 3.7
Weather: clear sky

The sky was clear when I awoke. It was actually cooler. Or maybe it was that the hammock was in the breeze created by the "falls." Last night was a little better. No spasms. But I don't think I was awakened as many times by my back.It will be a short hike this morning. It is less than four miles to the road. I can take my time with breakfast. Add medication. And wait for the dizziness to subside.Then it's off to the road. I actually got a better start today, 0630. Or maybe I fell asleep earlier last night. The road is a welcome sight. I'd left my cell phone handy and had the hostel number programmed. I walked out on the bridge and turned on the phone. Nothing. No signal. The battery was holding a charge. But there wasn't any signal. How did those other two make calls.I was still standing in the center of the bridge. A car horn behind me. I hadn't seen a vehicle traveling toward the main highway the other day when I'd been here, but that's the direction the vehicle was traveling. I tried to get off the bridge.I guess I didn't move very well. It must have been pretty obvious. The vehicle, a Yukon, stooped, the window came down, there were three adult males, camping, and fishing gear. The driver asked if I was alright. I explained my slow movements. He asked if I needed a ride. I couldn't refuse...but I did tell him I hadn't had a shower for a few days.They wound down the windows and took me as far as Milo. I couldn't explain how thankful I was. The driver, Bill, wouldn't take gas money. I offered to buy a round of drinks, or a case. No one accepted anything. Or maybe they were just happy to get me out of the Yukon, wind the windows up, and run the air conditioning.But I was in Milo, Maine. Cell phone out, call the hostel. No signal. Really? I'm in town, surely ATT has service in Maine. But obviously not in Milo.I was standing on a corner at the edge of town; I could see the rest of the town from my location. And there was a pub right there. The entrance was in back. So around the building I go. The building is L-shaped. The long leg is the pub, the short side a beauty salon. I get about 30 feet across the rear parking lot when a lady's voice asks: "Are you lost?" I confirm for her I am not lost, just going to the pub. She announced that it was closed. It was about 1145. I told her I'd wait, it should open shortly. She told me it was close - permanently. I asked where the nearest public phone might be located and explained my cell phone issue.She told me there was a phone in the salon. I explained my lack of a recent shower and that neither she nor her customers might be happy with my presence. That did not deter her. I found myself inside with her business phone, a cup of coffee, and a comfortable chair, thankfully in a far corner of an empty room.Two phone calls and two hours later my shuttle arrived. Off to Monson. With a cold soda in my hand...from the cooler in the back of the shuttle.We arrive at the hostel. I'm greeted by Poet who immediately wants to know what type of cold beverage I wanted. Medication doesn't mix well with some beverages. Another soda, thank you.There were many regrets by Poet that the most peaceful room for me was on the second floor and the steps were steep. But the handrail was solid. The bed was solid. The shower was hot, and long. And shortly thereafter my clothes were clean.There was a signup sheet for breakfast. There was also a BBQ within hobbling distance. That's all they do, BBQ. And they make a hamburger with everything, topped with pulled pork. I was hurting, not sick. I wasn't going to sleep hungry.In between shower and BBQ I'd stretched, and returned to the room for another round of stretches. I'd done some stretches over the last two days. I think I may be able to relieve and maybe correct this; I've done it before. Maybe I can do it again.