Date: 2015-08-06
From: Stealth Campsite

To: Rangely, ME
Miles today: 14.2
Weather: overcast clouds

Typically in the mornings I start waking up around 5:45. It's just when light first hits my tent. We camped in a notch last night and that light never happened. I woke up and checked my watch thinking it was a typical day. Nope. 6:40. I yelled to Jeopardy to get up. I mean, town day. How do you oversleep on town day?I still took my time getting up. Yesterday was tough and I was still hurting. I finally left a little before 8:00, fording the nearby river in my Crocs before going through the agony of putting on wet shoes and socks for the fourth straight day.The first mile out of the notch brought us to the Height of Land. There was a bench next to the road with an amazing view of a lake and even better cell phone coverage. Only since summiting Bemis have I started seeing lakes here. The mountain views are nice but the water ones are far better.I made it to the next shelter by 10:00 and stopped in to check the register. Inside was a SOBO who hadn't quite mustered the energy to pack up and start walking. We talked for a few minutes while I waited for the rain to stop. Jeopardy said he was still there when he passed by. I made it 4.5 miles further before giving in to hunger. I sat down at a campsite and had lunch with a camp counselor and a trail maintainer. One thing I've learned is that the locals aren't too happy with Scott Jurek. They've all had something to say and none of it has been positive. I do like the personalities of the people I meet here though.The rest of the day was pretty easy terrain peppered with insane mud bogs. It's rained a lot and keeping your shoes dry is impossible. It's frustration at it's finest when you just want to get some miles done.About half a mile from the road I met a couple finishing the last bit of their section hike of the AT. I got hints of a Southern accent and found out they live in Sevierville, TN. I finished the hike with them then tagged along on their ride to the Farmhouse Inn.I checked in, grabbed a queen size bed, and reserved the one next to me for Jeopardy. After a shower I grabbed one of their bikes and rolled into town. I went to a little restaurant and had a double cheeseburger and a seafood platter. While I was eating I got a text from Jeopardy saying he had gotten to town and asking if I had eaten. I told him I had but I could go for another dinner.We went across the street to a bar and I tore into a giant plate of chili cheese nachos. I also finally found a bunch of other NOBOs. The trail has seemed barren since Gorham. We all needed to resupply so we walked up to IGA, tossing a Frisbee back and forth across the highway as we walked. One thing I'm going to miss are random hiker trash moments like that. It's crazy being in a town you've never been to and knowing everyone there.I only needed a few days worth of food to get to Stratton so I spent $80. I'm a hungry kid. They even had whole chocolate milk instead of just the 1%. The rest of the Northeast needs to take note. 1% just isn't worth my time. I chugged it out front of the store in front of some disgusted onlookers and walked back to the hostel. I've since washed my clothes, hung out with the NOBOs, given White Mountains intel to the SOBOs and eaten a bag of chewy chips-a-hoy. I'm pretty sure I'm full but I typically wake up in the middle of the night ready to eat. We'll see.Tomorrow we'll take the 9:00 AM shuttle back to the trail and tackle the Saddlebacks. When I see town again I should be 2000 miles in. Two more resupplies and 220.4 miles to go. Jeopardy and I are feeling better after a few hours in civilization. Rangely, ME is beautiful. Oh, and we're halfway between the Equator and North Pole.