Road trip 2013 - searching for what makes Maine the way life should be

Log, Thursday morning

• Went into downtown Millinocket yesterday evening.  So many store fronts empty, and run down looking.  Ghost town ish.  Went into the Appalachian Trail Cafe and met a couple hikers, but both from out of state. 
• Walked south down mainstreet and found an inn for AT through hikers.  Tried to find someone there to talk to but nobody was around.  As I walked away though I passed a guy on the sidewalk who was approaching a car that had just stoppped.  It was friends of his.  I stopped and waited for him to finish (because he seemed like the friendly type), and when he was done asked if I could talk to him.  He said sure!  Rick Lax.  Born and raised in Millinocket.  Working with his dad at his carpentry business.  Never gonna leave Millinocket.  It's home.
• Went for a run down a road that led to the Millinocket Airport (which has two runways).  Saw one small plane parked on the tarmack.
• Showered up.
• Went back into town and stopped for a beer at a relatively new bar/restaurant called Pelletier Loggers Family Restaurant.  Rick told me about this place.  The only new business in town I think.  Built about 3 years ago after a reality TV show did a story about loggers in Millinocket.  Met a guy at the bar who has through hiked the AT, and who now actually works for the AT.  He has also through hiked the Pacific Crest Trail.  The bar tender was a very friendly woman too.  She turned me on to a new beer from Vermont called Switchback Ale.  Also turned me on the a French Canadian dish called poutine.  French fries, gravy and mozzerella cheese.  Oooeeeyy goooeeyy yum.  Met the owner on my way out of the place.  He was sitting at the bar with customers.  Had had a few too many already.  Would have asked to interview him, but I don't want to do drunk interviews. (although that could be another book idea!)
• Back to my hotel to catch up on the French Open.  Watched Joker crush Haas and watched Nadal crush Wawrinka. 
• Finished synching up photos and interviews for the day.
• Bed!