Date: 2013-08-02
To: Bangor, ME
Miles today: 0.0
Weather: scattered clouds

The 100% chance of rain predicted the previous day had arrived. The skies were overcast and the parking area had developed numerous puddles. I packed my gear and checked out in the lobby downstairs before heading to the breakfast lounge. It was a standard continental breakfast set up like the numerous hotels I had stayed at along my hike. They had cereal, waffle batter for making your own waffles, bagels, toast, fruit, juice, and coffee. I recognized a man that I believe I met back in Monson. He had been slack packing and hiking the AT in sections. He recognized me too. I walked over to his table and re-introduced myself. I asked him if he was heading towards the next town of Medway, just off the Interstate 95, where I could catch the bus to Bangor. He gladly offered me a ride. I was grateful that I didn't have kill a lot of time approaching people checking out of the hotel, for a ride, or worse yet, standing in the rain along the highway looking pitiful. It was dumping outside by the time we both finished breakfast and he checked out himself. He was amused by my question in the hotel cafeteria and the primitive-caveman tone of voice I used. "Hey is that an iPad 3 you have there?" It was a legitimate question, given that there are other cheaper knock-offs, but he was amused. The drive in the rain through East Millinocket, and into Medway was shorter than I expected. He pulled into a service station, where I could ask were the bus station was. It turned out by good fortune, that the service station was also the bus stop and that the bus to Bangor was scheduled to arrive in 20 minutes! I ran outside to inform him that I'd be staying here and thanked him for the ride. I purchased a ticket for the 2 hour ride further south- south east to Bangor, along with a bite to eat. While on the bus heading towards Bangor and looking out at the gloomy wet day, I was happy that I had made the last-minute decision the previous day at the Abol Bridge, to hoof it to the summit. It's not often that I trust weather forecasts, but a 100% chance of rain seemed certain, and I didn't want to sit in a shelter at Katahdin, or hotel in Millinocket watching the rain fall all day. I searched my emails on the internet with my trusty iPhone, for the Travelocity confirmation of flight I had scheduled back in Hanover, NH some 3 weeks earlier at the Dartmouth Outing Club. I needed the information along with the phone number to see if I could convince them to change my flight to an earlier one. I knew they could sometimes be coerced with a significant amount of money, but from a practical standpoint, there would likely be no seats open at such last minutes notice. In Hanover, I had padded my time of getting through the Whites and the Mahoosucs, Saddlebacks, Bigelows, etc. of Maine, to make certain that I would not be in the middle of the wilderness somewhere when my flight departed the east coast for home. I scheduled it for August 8 and today is August 2. It was not a bad guess given unforeseen terrain and weather through two more states. After maybe 20 minutes of talking to a representative and agreement to pay 200.00 more, they miraculously found me a new flight departing Bangor at 6am on August 3. The bus arrived at a service station in Bangor in the late morning, not more than a half mile from the Bangor Airport. It was still raining when we arrived. Adjacent to the service station was a Wendy's. I made my way to Wendy's, where I consumed a large lunch with chocolate shake. The rain had stopped for the afternoon. I walked towards a large shopping mall after lunch and found a store to purchase a razor and shaving cream. Across the way I could see a high rise on the perimeter of the airport. I walked down the long approach road towards it. It turned out to be a Sheraton called Four Points, which was connected to the airport. Given my 6am flight, I thought this couldn't be more convenient. It turned out that they had one room available for only 200.00. Deal! The room was quite lavish with custom stone work in the bathroom. I could watch the planes landing and taking off from my 4th floor window. It was surprisingly quite, but given he cost of the place per night, they had no doubt spared no expenses in sound proofing the place. I enjoyed a long shower, shaved, cleaned my clothing, and then looked for a place to get a hair cut. I found a place on the other side of the airport, which turned out to be a significant walk along a perimeter road which circumnavigated the airport. The barber/hair salon was in a residential looking building. I did not realize until after the haircut, that I had left my cash back at the hotel. I apologized and told her I could send it as soon as I returned to the hotel. She was gracious about it and gave me her business card. After mailing the cash along with a generous tip, I walked back to the shopping mall had visited earlier in the day to Captain Nick's on Union Street. I was informed by the hotel that this place had excellent lobster. I celebrated the end of my epic journey with a three pound lobster and beer. Anyone who hasn't had Maine lobster is in for a treat. I walked back toward the Sheraton in the late afternoon, relaxing in bed, while watching TV. I would be home tomorrow by 3pm.