Thermos tea on the trail

A summer note, because the tea question is not a winter question.

The steel thermos keeps things hot for about six hours if you pre-warm it with boiling water for a minute. Black tea brewed strong goes bitter by hour three. Two things that hold up: a smoky lapsang, which is already bitter in a way that does not get worse, and plain rooibos, which does not change at all and tastes of nothing in a pleasant way.

I have stopped bringing milk. I have not stopped bringing a lump of sugar for the last cup, which is a tradition now and is not up for discussion.

The bench at the second gate has been repaired by someone. New larch slats. I approve.