Stratton

“Tumbledown shack in Bigfoot County, snowed so hard the roof caved in” -Grateful Dead “Brown Eyed Women”

Woke up with the sun and walked my .1 South back to the road, where I caught Marching Band dropping off Chickenfeet and some others from the Hostel. He took my pack to the hostel by dropped me off at the Looney Moose for breakfast on the way. I waited 5 minutes for them to open, and I was the fourth one in the door. I had found the local spot, and as it filled up with about a dozen people it seemed everyone knew everyone and many sat together at the big center table though they came in separately. I got the hiker breakfast, called the lumberjack where I’m from, which seemed particularly funny sitting in this little timber town.

A bit under a mile from the diner to the hostel, and that short walk gave me a tour of the whole town. There’s a particular style in some of these small towns that is charming and sad at the same time, I’ll call it American Pastiche, though I think that means something else. But you get these homes and businesses that have part bright new vinyl siding and part old weathered clapboard, shiny flashing beside peeling painted trim, new sections of metal roof amidst old rusting stretches. It gives the impression of things being simultaneously rundown but cared for. Making up with heart what they may lack in money, and trying to stay one step ahead of the ravages of time and the long, harsh New England winters.

Mellow zero day, spent my time gaining mass and futzing around online. I updated the playlist, which I haven’t done since Harper’s Ferry. It’s over a hundred songs now https://open.spotify.com/user/atstation/playlist/3axFthoA2sCv5BuoNK5WgB Don’t know if anyone else is listening but it’s a great reminder for me, some songs are tied into certain memories now. Beyond that it was pretty boring. I should have hiked out of here but I suppose the rest and calorie surplus did my body good. Rain blowing in tonight and hopefully done by morning, but 50/50 chance I’m going over the Bigelows wet tomorrow. After that things look like they calm down quite a bit til Katahdin. I’d tell you the plan but that’s a sure way to tempt fate.

No pictures today so here’s a panorama from Saddleback