One fifth of the way thru our epic summer vacation. Sort of. It’s difficult to include 10 days in the greater Skowhegan/Madison metro area in any phrase that includes the word epic. But, still one fifth by time.
I am sitting here Tuesday morning drinking coffee out of my Lucky Charms mug and ruminating over what we did yesterday. And my picture upload is not working, so no picture of this mug or mine. Lucky you.
Yesterday was our annual trip to Freeport. Freeport is home to LL Bean, distribution center and the largest retail Bean location too. The rest of the town is all outlet stores and small places to eat. The deals are many and varied, they really are outlet stores. Usually it’s a shop fest but this year we are not going home at the end of the trip. We are headed to Europe. So if we buy here we carry it all over Europe or ship it home. I chose to buy a couple things I needed for the trip.
I am in search of a unicorn. Really. I am looking for a waterproof, light and packable, warm jacket, no hood. I searched LL Bean first. No. Then North Face. No. Then Patagonia where I found a nice clerk who told me why my goal was unicornesque but then found me a damn near perfect jacket 40% off tagged clearance price. Ya. $47.12. Nice. I bought. I own a unicorn.
So I have a Patagonia story. A year or so ago Marika told me I could take my old Patagonia jacket to their store and they would exchange it. The jacket hats ripped, paint splattered, stained, etc. I got all out of it. I guess they recycle old clothes. I paid $80 in 1982 for it. She and I went to their store in SF and I plopped it on the counter. Took the guy 15 minutes, he said I can’t find it in the book best I can do is give you $300 for it. Well, OK. I now shop Patagonia.
Emily wanted to get some better stuff sacks for her luggage and I needed one for my new jacket so back to Bean. Where we also found travel towels. We are staying in hostels, no linens provided. Those will be handy.
No trip would be done till we went to Dooney and Burke to look at handbags. Right. I hate this kind of shopping. 30 minutes of agony. I try to not interrupt Emilys flow but it’s tough. We left and a cloudburst hit so we stepped back in and bought a D & B umbrella. And I threw on my new jacket, what great timing. I was dry and warm. Emily not so much.
This is my day. We headed back to Skowhegan. Emily did not feel well. Probably because she had not eaten. And this being Maine, every exit does not have several fast food outlets and gas stations. So we drive 70 miles to Waterville and got her a McChicken. Yum. We stopped at Best Buy for a short lightning cable too. I know, life in the fast lane.
Off to the in laws. We spent the rest of the evening there. Usual drinks and dinner. Leg of lamb. Strawberry shortcake. Normal dinner. Off to our cabin. And to sleep.