Derp derp derp derp derp

Alright, enough of this sentimental fluffle. Time for some plans.

Amanda picked me up last week from where the IAT crosses into Canada, where I was sitting, damp from the morning’s grey drizzle; making friends with folks in US Customs and Immigration, which mans our border crossings. *Border Patrol… patrols the border. Never actually thought about the difference until I walked that border trail and had to call in to make sure they knew I was there…

Oo. It’s snowing again.

I’ve been holed up in this wee town since then, as a couple of snows have blown through. The morning after I got in, I walked to Amanda’s work, but stopped in a cafe to get a cheese danish.

Turns out, best beloveds, the owner has biked/hitchiked across southeast Asia, and worked on a 100ft yacht for a while, in her misspent youth ahaha. We were talking about travelling sustainably; and she said, “We actually could use a dishwasher. Want to try out a shift tonight?”

So I did. Now, there’s a workplace with excellent humans whom I like very much, for the duration of my stay. It’s an evening shift. I will get up from writing to you. This chair is soft, and my coffee is cold. I shall finish it!

Not my current coffee. This is when you dishwash for a fancy cafe, and they give a free lunch to your hungry hiker face.

Next up: Go walk through the snowy streets to GIS lab (conveniently run by a geology professor who is also affiliated with the Maine IAT), where I’ve finally figured out how to map stream slopes in the way that you should, when you’re calculating gas flux rates like a fool. I’ve only got about 100 stream sites left to map. (Ughhhhhhh forr science). This is from the data I took on greenhouse gases all the way north, from last year and earlier this year.

I’ll check out two thrift stores, and drop into the cafe, on my walk up- with the snow and cold moving in, rain is less frequent. I’m probably going to ditch my heavier rain shell and pick up a $14 outer jacket for better insulation; and in a pinch, one of my groundsheets (1 contractor trash bag, ripped open lengthwise, and 2] a bright orange disposable plastic rain poncho, thanks Rick) will work to save things from any chance winter rainstorms.

yay.

In my free time, and as we wait for Thanksgiving to pass, I’m also throwing together personalized things for various companies for that Svalbard expedition I’m hoping to integrate into my trek of the IAT. I got lucky and ran into some Nature Valley folks interviewing hikers a few weeks ago, and they used some of the footage they took; so that’s another few dollahs towards making it to northern climes that I don’t need to raise. (Aww yiss.)

This is this trekker’s town life: Write to folks I haven’t seen in months (or years). Write to you. Wash clothes and self. Talk to town humans, like a human. Plan logistics like a mad thing. Buy foods (and clean my food bag). Love the general existence of houses, hot running water, friends, and warm beds.

All things going well, we’re headed north a bit after Thanksgiving. If I love you, someday, I’ll write you my equipment list.

Clear skies, and happy November,

Sail.