Zero Day in Waterville, Maine

## A Rainy Day in Waterville A hiker's plans were shifted by rain in the Maine wilderness, leading them to opt for a zero day in Waterville, Maine. The hiker had seen the rain in the forecast and decided to move their zero day up by a day to avoid getting wet. The hiker set a course for a coffee shop in Waterville and arrived around 9:00 AM. The coffee shop was closing early, but the hiker was able to take advantage of the quiet atmosphere to focus on writing, editing, and captioning blog posts. By 3:30 PM, the hiker had six days of posts scheduled and was working on a seventh. The hiker spent the day in the coffee shop, taking breaks to grab lunch from the grocery store and finish up their work in the van. Despite the rain, the hiker was able to catch a few glimpses of sunlight peeking through the clouds. The day ended with the hiker bagging up six days of food for the week and relaxing for an hour before a strong summer thunderstorm rolled in. ## The Past Week's Challenges The past week has been a challenging one for the hiker, with a broken trekking pole and a difficult crossing of the Big Wilson stream. The hiker is grateful that the trekking pole made it over 2,300 miles before failing, but is looking forward to trying out new Leki trekking poles. The hiker is also reflecting on the challenges of the terrain in Maine, which has been deceptively difficult. After managing great pace in the 100-mile wilderness, the hiker is now questioning their plans for the upcoming 75-mile out-and-back hike. They may need to be more conservative in their planning and allow for extra time to adjust to the terrain. ## Looking Ahead to the Week's Hike The hiker is excited to try out their new Leki trekking poles and is looking forward to the week's hike. They are planning to take a more cautious approach and allow for extra time to adjust to the terrain. The hiker is also looking forward to the challenge of the upcoming 75-mile out-and-back hike and is preparing themselves for the difficulties that lie ahead. The hiker's zero day in Waterville has been a productive one, and they are now ready to get back on the trail and tackle the challenges of the week's hike.