For a host of reasons, we weren’t able to leave town today.
For one, it takes time to walk across town. Our key town chores–picking up a replacement pack and boots, and doing laundry–were a couple miles’ walk. The only public laundry machine we know of is actually located at a brewery (the laundromat went out of business probably because the brewery laundry is free). We unthinkingly waited until after trying on shoes to do laundry, which put us behind a hiker who was attempting to dry not just one but two sleeping bags in the only dryer, which isn’t recommended and which took at least three cycles. We were pleasant about it, taking the opportunity to try a local beer and sandwich from the brewery, but we lost the afternoon hours we’d planned to use to hike ten miles out, and then just five miles to the nearest campsite north.
The nail in the coffin was the taxi we’d called, which we were told would be there in 20 minutes but wasn’t there after an hour. We saw the cab as we were walking back to the Super 8, at which point we apologized and said we no longer needed the ride. The delay meant that we wouldn’t be able to get to a site until after dark.
It was all very frustrating, including, I’m sure, for the cab driver and guy with wet sleeping bags. The cherry on top was paying the Friday night premium for the same room we stayed at yesterday, which we could have left our gear in had we known we’d be staying again.
Not everything sucked about today. The laundry was free, and the brewery fare was decent (the beer was a C- for $7.50 per pint). We enjoyed the colonial architecture, and tried to guess the age of the homes, mostly in wet disrepair, as we walked by. At least one driver stopped to let us cross the street sans crosswalk.
And, of course, Osprey is awesome for replacing my pack. My new one is black and orange, and while I don’t care about the color, I do appreciate the rigidity of its intact back support.
Because we couldn’t leave town today, two 12-mile days ahead are now two 18s. We will have dry conditions, but we will be breaking in our boots fast and dirty. I’m wearing mine in the hotel room right now in order to do some of it on carpet and without weight on my back. For what it’s worth (and we’ll see just how much that is), Oboz, my new boot brand, has the only factory insole I know of with a hard heel cup and a forefoot cushion. I’ll continue to carry my Superfeet insoles, which are better but less fitted, to use when the Oboz ones break down.
I wish today had worked out differently, but every adventure requires a certain amount of rolling with the punches. Being upset about bad fortune only makes it worse, like scratching poison ivy. Indulging negative feelings feels good in the moment but makes them both more intense and longer lasting.
Plus, I said I’d write a post or two in a bad mood. I’ve taken my chance and been true to but not bound by my emotions. I’m not happy, but I am happy about that.
