Life On A B-I7

Day 11

Wythville VA, 58 miles

Lying in bed, thinking about getting up, there’s a certain amount of excitement that comes from the idea of sleeping a little bit longer. That said, once you get up and start packing your gear, there’s a certain amount of excitement that comes from the idea of hitting the road for another day. One of those types of excitement has a tendency to deflect you from you ultimate goal. No doubt you know which one I’m referring to.

I stopped at a Kroger two miles from my start. I bought something to fill my water bottles and a fruit bowl. I chatted briefly with the man, he told me to be safe, that rain was on the way in. It sure didn’t look like that to me (more on that to come).

I have figured out the hills in Virginia, by-the-way, while it’s true that Virginia is for lovers (you see that slogan everywhere) it’s also for people that love hills. There are the up hills that are preceded immediately by down hills. Those aren’t too bad. Then there the up hills that are preceded by flats, those are the ones to be avoided, except that you can’t avoid them and get where you wanna go…

The day progressed wonderfully, sun actually breaking through at times, I had to get the sun screen out at one point. Early afternoon I stopped in at the Spinning Jenny Winery. The couple that runs the winery and tasting room waved at me from the road, so I dropped in. It turns out they are also Warm Showers Hosts. I asked them how they got into wine making and they said they wanted to do something with their land besides grow hay. Well, the grapes are good, the glass of Merlot was excellent with a nice dry finish. I thanked them a headed back out onto the road, it was time to put my head down and get to my destination.

I was planning to camp in the Wythville City Park but about 2 hours outside town it started to rain. (The man from Kroger was absolutely right.) By the time I pulled into town I was pretty wet and decided to get a room. After cleaning up I headed down to the Seven Sisters Brewery. Turns out to be the place in town to go for a beer. It’s Saturday and they had live music. It was good, and so was the beer. I had a Hazy IPA that reminded me of the one brewed back home in Redmond Oregon!

I was chatting with a fellow and I mentioned that I lost my hat today on the road somewhere. (I’m sick about it, it was my favorite hat.) He told me to hang on a second and he went out to his car and got me a replacement. I’ll be wearing it the rest of the trip. He runs the Wythville Stationary Store, and the hat rocks his store’s name. He said he didn’t blame me for checking in to the motel, but he also said the park is beautiful and I should not hesitate to stay there if I pass this way again. If you are reading this and headed to Wythville, be sure and stop and stay at the Elizabeth Brown Park! Thank you Shane for the great hat!

The roads can get a bit narrow, but I haven’t had a single issue.

Day 10

_ Blacksburg VA, 55 miles_

It’s 7:30 AM and the sun is trying to make an appearance through the clouds. It looks like it’s going to be a good day for riding. There was very little food along the way today. I had to break into the M&Ms at 1 PM. Long Distance Cycling Rule #2 came into play today.

About five miles outside Christinsburg, I got a call from my friends in Arizona. It was good to hear their voices. Funny thing, when I talk to my sweetheart back home and she puts me on speaker and my kitty hears my voice, he cries. When my friends in Arizona had me on speaker, none of them were crying… I don’t know what to think about that…

Today is a special day. I reached the end of my first map. The route I’m following across America is divided into 12 sections, each with a corresponding map. I now have only 11 maps to go! Special days require a bit of celebration. I took an Uber from my no-tell-motel to Olive Garden to have a drink and some good Italian pasta. (Thank you Terry for that recommendation.)

I reached Blacksburg at 5 PM. Long day.

Sometimes when I stop, something nearby begs to have its picture taken.

Day 9

_ Daleville VA, 49 miles_

The morning started with threatening skies, but the rain never came, much to my delight. The temperature in the morning was in the low 50’s. By afternoon it reached 62. Temperatures in the 50’s feel much cooler than it sounds when you are cycling. Theres no good way to keep from sweating and still stay warm in those temps. It’s just part of the challenge of long distance cycling.

It was a good day. I pulled into Buchanan at the 28 mile mark. I pulled over to the curb to assess the town and a rider pulled up next to me, he was a local out for a ride, not a TransAm rider. We chatted for a few minutes and he asked me if I wanted to take a break. I said “sure,” because that’s what you do when a local makes a suggestion. He led me to the city park and we got off the bikes and sat down on a bench looking at the James River. This was my first view of the James River (that I recall anyway). We sat on the bench and chatted for fifteen minutes or so. It was a remarkably friendly conversation, we chatted about our retirement, our children, our partners, and cycling in general. This is going to sound very strange, but after just fifteen minutes of hanging out, I think I could almost call him my brother. We parted ways, he had to get back home, I was looking for a bite to eat. He was very complementary of my efforts, but I could tell he was a better cyclist then I am, so he was humble too.

I found a nice cafe and had a very good bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, then I was on my way again. Sometime during the afternoon I rediscovered the drops. The funny thing about not cycling for awhile is you have to learn stuff all over again. It’s coming back to me slowly…

When I’m asked by people how long it is going to take me to cross the country, my stock answer is 80 days, but I always qualify that by saying I really don’t know for sure. I’m not like Englishman Phileas Fogg that wagered his entire fortune on being able to travel “Around the World in Eighty Days.” I’m not wagering a single penny on how long it might take me, but maybe if I do it in 80 days someone will write a classic novel about me! (Sadly, I don’t have a French Valet traveling with me like Phileas did.)

The town of Buchanan was charming.

Day 8

_ Lexington VA, Rest Day_

My three biggest fears:

1. Sun Burn
2. Road Rash
3. Rain

So far I have been able to manage the first two, and dodge the third. I hope my luck continues with all three.

Today was a much needed day of rest. I sent home another 9 pounds of gear and managed a net savings of 6 pounds of carry weight. When I was in downtown Lexington I happened by an outfitter that had a one person 3 pound ultralight tent in the window. I didn’t intend to replace the one I was carrying, but that turns out to be exactly what I did. I think I’m now as light as I can reasonably get.

I have been dealing with the notion that my days of peak performance are probably behind me. Now it’s a matter of listening to my body and pacing myself. I’m not going to get there as quickly as I would have 5 years ago, and certainly not as fast as the several riders that have passed me so far, but I’m convincing myself to be content with that. A friend back home told me to pace myself and listen to my body. Do what you can do but don’t push yourself beyond your limits. Good advice indeed. Thank you Greg.

The trip so far has been steeped in history. Virginia has been an amazing historical tour. (Even considering the limited time I have been able to devote to that while off the bike.) I got another dose of history today while sitting in a coffee shop. I picked up a book about Samuel Adams (a New Englander, I realize) and was fascinated by the small portion that I read. He was a man of few accomplishments, but at the age of 40 he seemed to blossom and become one of the spokes-persons of the revolution. If there was a movement of note in New England he was typically behind it either with his writing or with his presence. I was particularly impressed by his belief that government should answer to the man in the street, not to wealthy interests. He also said the following that rings as true today as it did in his time: “To have a villainous ruler imposed on you was a misfortune. To elect him yourself was a disgrace.” We still have a lot to learn from our founders.

Yesterday on the BRP.

Day 7

Lexington VA, 55 miles

Today I broke 50 for the first time. It was not easy…

I left the Cookie Lady’s house early and reached the Blue Ridge Parkway at 7am. I knew it was going to be a long day. I had a choice of starting with one bottle of water (normallly I start the day with three) or ride five miles down a steep hill to the nearest town to replenish my water and snacks. I chose not to add 10 difficult miles. I would pay a price for that decision. The map showed me there would be food and services just off the parkway in 20 miles, so I was fairly confident I could make that even though the parkway is grueling… When I arrived, there were no services. The map was incorrect, that meant I had to go another 10 miles and I was already finished at that point.

I had to stop frequently to rest. I was asking myself a lot of difficult questions, none of which I was in a mental state to answer. During one of my moments of rest (slumped over the handle bars) A kind man stopped to ask if I needed water. At that moment I realized what a “Trail Angel” is. I replied “that would be nice.” I couldn’t get out much more than that. He pulled over in front of me and got out and allowed me to fill my water bottle, I drank it in one go. He let me fill it up again for the road. As we chatted, he casually informed me he had a box of M&Ms, he would let me have them if I wanted them. That’s when I knew for sure he was a Trail Angel, and I told him so! His name is Tim Calloway from Harbor Springs MI. We had a nice long conversation (as I recuperated and gained my senses). Tim was one of 300 hikers out of 3000 to finish the AT back in 1975. He was on his way to Damascus VA for a trail reunion. I believe he said something like 20,000 hikers do the AT now every year. There will be almost that many in Damascus for the reunion. Damascus is a town of 2,500, so your can imagine there will be a tent pitched on every blade of grass! I very much appreciate Tim, as you can well imagine.

I had another 10 miles to go to get to food. I made it. It was actually fun. The descent off the parkway was a gas. I turned off and descended down a winding narrow 2-lane that dropped 2,000 feet in 2.5 miles! I have some brake pads left (I think). When I reached the hamlet of Vesuvius, I pulled into Gertie’s for some food. They were preparing real food on a large flat-top so I ordered a Gertie’s Burger. It was excellent. I filled up my water and headed out for the last 20 miles of my ride that would put me in Lexington. It was mostly flat until the last 5 miles, which was mostly uphill. I made it and found a Best Western at 7pm. Long day.

Long distance cycling Rule #2:

”Don’t forget the M&Ms.”

For those of you reading this story that are interested in such things, my BP at 2pm was 136/70/102. I try and keep the heart rate around that number, which does mean stopping from time-to-time. But I’m mostly Okay with that.

My Trail Angel

Day 6

_ Afton VA, 42 miles_

I had a bit of a hard time getting out of Charlottesville. Traffic was heavy, I made two wrong turns, and I had one fellow wave at me and shout, “Astoria is that way!” He was technically correct with his advice, but it was not the road I was looking for…

I ate breakfast at Wyant’s Grocery store about 2 hours later in White Hall. It’s a small place, not much more than a stop sign. When I walked in there were a half-dozen locals chatting over coffee. One of locals came over to chat with me and asked if I would be going through Sisters Oregon. I told him that indeed I would be. He told me to be sure and stop at the Sister’s Coffee shop and ask for a friend of his. He informed me that his friend was an accomplished hat maker. It would not surprise me if I run into him when I stop there.

It’s only 30 miles to Afton from Charlottesville, but I got here before 2pm and decided to unload my gear at the Cookie Lady’s house and do a bit of side touring. I rode the Blue Ridge railroad tunnel at Rockfish Gap and then dropped down into Waynesboro for dinner. Going into Waynesboro was not the best decision. I had about 500 feet of climbing to get back up to Afton. I’m exhausted as a result of the additional 12 mile excursion.

The Cookie Lady is a famous stop on the TransAm. She has passed away but her daughter still runs the house. I’m here with three other cyclists, two are from the U.K. The walls of the house are literally papered with postcards, thank-you notes and memorabilia from almost 50 years of cyclists having stayed there.

I’m not sure where I’m heading for tomorrow. I’m going to see what the day brings.

The Blue Ridge mountains are really blue, even on an overcast day like today. This was taken about 500 feet above Afton.

Day 5

Charlottesville VA, 24 miles

”Some days you feel good, some days you feel bad. Some moments you feel good, some moments you feel bad. It all depends on what gear you are in…”
— LifeOnaB17

Definitely a short day. My body isn’t ready for 50-60 mile days yet. I was following a couple on the internet that started the ride a month before I did. They were doing an average of 25 miles a day. We called them the “Christmas Couple.” (That’s when we estimated they would finish.) Sure enough, when they reached Illinois they rented a U-Haul, loaded up their bikes and that-was-that… At times I have a nagging doubt that I might be the “Thanksgiving Man.” I hope not.

I met a fellow back in Charles City (my first night out) that is a professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Main. He is planning to do the ride in under 50 days. He gave as his excuse that he has kids at home so he can’t be away for too long. He only did 80 miles the first day (he started a bit north of Yorktown). He said he would work up to 100 miles a day. He must be planning a couple of rest days because at the rate of 100 miles a day he would complete the ride in 42 days. One aspect of my ride compared to his made me very proud… He told me he was carrying the same solar charged battery bank that I was but he kept his in his pannier because he couldn’t figure out how to mount it on his handle bars, he was admiring what I had done to mount mine. Considering the source, you have to take that as a complement. That said, it will not be sufficient compensation if I end up renting a U-Haul…

Most cyclists (at least the ones I’ve run into so far) don’t stop to take in the historical landmarks. Virginia has no shortage of historical landmarks, that’s for sure. I’m going to have to come back and take in more! My objective today was to visit Monticello. Along the way I passed the home of James Monroe, I almost didn’t stop but it was early so I decided to pull in. (It’s a good thing I did, more on that in a bit.) I toured the grounds and remaining original structures. The actual home of Monroe burned down shortly after his death but the guest house he built while he was president is still standing. Monroe never planned to build there but he was good friends with Jefferson. When the 250 acres on the mountain near Jefferson came up for sale, Jefferson told Monroe to buy it and that’s how Monroe ended up there. On a clear days you can see Monticello from Monroe’s estate.

I wanted to tour Monticello but to do that I would have had to leave my bike on a bike rack at the visitor’s center and ride a shuttle a half-mile to the top of the mountain. There’s no way I was going to do that, so I will have to come back another time. Jefferson spent 40 years building Monticello, it was his life’s work (but not his only legacy). He referred to Monticello as “my essay in Architecture.”

Tomorrow I visit the “Cookie Lady” in Afton and reach the entrance (for this journey) to the Blue Ridge Parkway. I’m nervous and excited. It’s going to be some tough riding.

With some luck, I’ll be in the Shenandoah Valley in two days. I’ll have to get over the Blue Mountains first…

Day 4

Palmyra VA, 46 miles

”Man is harder than iron, stronger than stone and more fragile than a rose.”
— Turkish Proverb

I’m feeling more like a rose than a stone after these first four days… But I’m just getting started, at least that is what I am telling myself. My health has been great, but I have a bitch of sunburn so it’s going to be cover-up these next couple of days.

It dawned on me today as I started to tire, why I was able to make 45 miles the first day, because it was all flat. I started getting into the hills today, It won’t be too long before I reach the top of the Blue Mountains and cross the AT! I’m actually looking forward to that. I shouldn’t admit this, but I had to get off the bike and push a couple of times today. You gotta do what you gotta do…

I was chased by weather all day. About a half-hour after arriving in Palmyra, the thunderstorm hit. Fortunately for me, I was safely ensconced in the Palmyra United Methodist Church. The folks here run a cyclists hostel and it’s a very comfortable place. A parishioner named Ann met me on the front steps and gave me the cook’s tour. After the storm blew over I was planning to go down to the E. W. Thomas grocery store and get some fried chicken. I heard the fried chicken there is excellent. I mentioned that to Ann and she informed me that her maiden name was Thomas and the store uses her mother’s fried chicken recipe! The bad news is the storm knocked out power to half the town and the E. W. Thomas grocery is closed until Monday. No fried chicken for me…

The Rivanna River runs through Palmyra. Thomas Jefferson played a major role in developing the waterway as a means to ship agricultural goods to Richmond. It is affectionately referred to here as the “Mr. Jefferson River.” Jefferson was born on the shores of the Rivanna. It is a major tributary to the James River which is the largest river that flows into Chesapeake Bay.

I was chased by weather all day.

Day 3

Bumpass VA, 49 miles

The day started with a truly fine Southern breakfast at the “Love Shack” just outside Richmond. My breakfast included two perfectly poached eggs on Virginia Ham, both of which sat on top of a slice of toasted bread. On the side were dressed greens and a fruit assortment dusted with glitter. The menu listed that choice as “Bang Bang On The Door Benny.” To-go, I got a sticky bun. The menu listed that as “Knock A LIl Louder Sugar Bun.” (The names tell a story for sure.) I had a nice chat with the proprietor. He asked me how I like my breakfast. I told him I would be surprised if I had a better one between there and Oregon. He was pleased by that!

When I arrived in Bumpass I pulled into the Post Office and went through all my gear.

With my bike included I’ve been hauling 95 pounds. That’s too much. I saw a guy on the road today (he stopped to chat) that was maybe carrying 75 pounds, probably less. It made me very jealous. I’ve known since I left Yorktown that I’ve been hauling too much gear. All that aside, when I pulled into the PO I took everything out of my bags and mailed home 10 pounds of shit. I don’t think I’m going to miss any of it. (Except maybe the camp chair, but seriously who carries a camp chair on a cross-country bicycle tour?)

I ate dinner at the country store 2 miles down the road from the PO. I’m sleeping in the Catholic Church cemetery near there. I knocked on the door of the Rectory but there was no answer. I threw my gear down in a portion of the cemetery that has not yet been consecrated for the internment of souls… so with luck, I’ll wake up in the morning with no burdens to carry other those that are attached to my bike… now 10 pounds less than yesterday!

The Love Shack

Day 2

Richmond VA, 37 miles

I was able to manage 37 miles today. I was slowed a bit when I lost my map. I had put it in the back right pocket of my jersey thinking it would be safe there and easy to reach. I was wrong. When I discovered it missing I turned around and headed back but soon realized that was a fool’s errand. So after a bit of consternation, it dawned on me to call the Adventure Cycling Association and ask for help. They are good people. They told me to download their app and buy the digital version of the map I had been using. That’s exactly what I did and it didn’t take me long to realize that solution was much better than the paper map, especially when your phone is mounted right on the handle bars.

The paper map is still useful for planning, but when I’m riding, I’ll be using the digital version. Oh, by the way, after all that I reached into my back pocket and found the map. I had looked in the right back pocket and the left back pocket, but not the center pocket. I have a new long distance cycling rule, no doubt it will not be the last…

Long distance cycling Rule #1:

Remember to check the center pocket.”

I had to stop here for my friend Terry.

Day 1

Charles City, 45 miles

I reached Lawrence Lewis Jr. Park, a nice park and campground shortly after 2pm. I was very tired. No surprise. I shouldn’t admit this, but I didn’t train for this adventure. I’ve been a bit distracted lately working on identifying some “health issues.” Notice I didn’t say “problems,” because everything is treatable and my care team gave me their blessing to go on this adventure. (They might not have if they had know I was undertaking it without having properly trained.) It’s going to be slow going for awhile, if I stay focused I should be just fine, in a week or two. My goal is 78 days for the crossing. I shouldn’t talk too much about goals since it’s only Day 1, but I made my goal for today so I suppose that bodes well. Tomorrow will likely be more revealing…

Tonight’s Campsite.

Prologue

Yorktown Virginia

Tomorrow is the big day. It’s almost time to begin my journey. The question that I’ve been asking for some time now is, why TransAm. It’s time to put down into words something the resembles an answer. When you look at it deeply, you can’t really know the answer until you reach the end of the journey. Until then these notions are all likely candidates:

• Insight
• Health
• Accomplishment
• Satisfaction
• Confidence
• Challenge
• Pride

I hope when I’m all done I will feel like I have achieved some of these. If I am truly fortunate, all of them. In either case, the journey will have been well worth it.

It’s time to begin…

Tuesday May 2, 2023 (Journal Entry)

In Japan your doctor can give you a prescription for a walk in the woods…

How does one stay healthy (besides walking in the woods, which by the way, is not an insignificant part of the equation…) Good physical health and good mental health, including the preservation of memory, are things we have a good bit of personal control over. To do that, there are five areas that we should focus on. These are explained in detail in Sanjay Gupta’s book “Keep Sharp.” I’m no doctor, but I’m pretty sure most doctors would agree with these things without hesitation, In fact, Gupta’s book was recently recommended to me (doctor’s orders) and I’m very grateful for that.

Exercise

Physical exercise. Be active. Whatever it takes to keep moving the body.

Rest

Good sleep and stress reduction. I have started to discover meditation and I think it is going to be transformative.

Nutrition

Eat smart, all things in moderation. Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate.

Learning

Learn something new each day. Write it down, talk about it, use as many senses as you can.

Connection

Spend time socializing and connecting with people.

By the way, I’m not personally convinced that being active on Instagram and Facebook is what is really meant by connecting with people. I still have Instagram and Facebook accounts, but I no longer spend time on those apps. I’m not aware of any studies that have shown them to be healthy activities, I suspect they are anything but that in reality. Connecting with people means connecting fact-to-face, not Facebook-to-Facebook… For the record, I don’t maintain this website because it makes me feel like I am connecting with people, I maintain this website because I love to write, doing so brings me joy, and the act of writing here reinforces the learning and experiences I am gaining in my everyday life.

Thursday April 27, 2023 (Journal Entry)

”And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.”

-JOHN MUIR

And onto the road I go, to lose my mind and find my soul.

-ME

To lose my mind… My expectation is that the loss of my mind will make room for new insights and discoveries. Hopefully the mind I leave behind will be waiting for me at the end of the road…

Thursday April 27, 2023 (Journal Entry)

My children are concerned about my memory (at least a portion of it). I don’t discount this. It could very well be. However, all the tests so far have been unremarkable and the Neurologist is unable to make any diagnosis. It could be that I am just a very internal person and external events don’t make all that much of an impression on me. After a lifetime of looking inwards, it might be hard to formulate impressions/memories from external events. Who knows. At any rate, the Neurologist gave me a clean bill of health (in-so-far as she was able). I thought this particular comment from her was worth sharing (because I find it flattering)…

“He is embarking on a solo cycle across the country, averaging 60 miles/day. He manages all IADL/ADLs. He is extremely well organized.”

Well shit. If you are “extremely well organized” you don’t need a memory!

Thursday April 27, 2023 (Journal Entry)

I could not have said it better myself, although, in a way, I am sort of saying it…

I’m starting to get very excited about the journey. Of course there are a lot of open questions that won’t get answered until I am on the road. I’m hopeful all of those questions will be answered in the affirmative, in which case the photo is an accurate description of my upcoming adventure.

Wednesday April 27, 2023 (Journal Entry)

My favorite place. Peloton Bike Shop and Cafe in Seattle. They make good Manhattans too…

Wednesday April 26, 2023 (Journal Entry)

The biggest lie of all time:

If one group gets something, it has to be at the expense of another. To put it another way (for a bit more clarity) if you were to help a group different than your own, it would come at a cost to your group.

Wednesday April 26, 2023 (Journal Entry)

I have been doing daily affirmations. Written in my journal. I’ve been doing it for a while and I’m starting to like it. I’m not sure if it is sinking in or not, I think it is. I can tell it is going to take a long time before I truly believe it, maybe the rest of my life. That’s ok, it doesn’t hurt me to write them every morning…

The first affirmation is:

I am a badass. I love myself. I have enough love for everyone.

This one makes me feel good. I am a badass in a lot of ways. I can ride my bicycle across the country and I can out ski most ski instructors that are my age. That’s pretty good I’d say. Having enough love for everyone is a bit trickier. When a truck driver pulls into my lane on the freeway and the rear of his trailer almost hits the front of my Tacoma, it’s a bit difficult to have love for him. This happened recently and I recall passing him and letting him know my displeasure with my horn. Probably not a “loving” thing to do I suppose.

The second affirmation is:

I can do anything. I will allow the Universe to heal me.

This one is a bit more abstract. I realize I can’t do anything, that is a bit naive. I suppose the idea here is it doesn’t hurt to try. I will allow the universe to heal me is a little vague. When I first started writing that, I literally meant heal me. (I was experiencing back pain at the time.) On reflection, I know the Universe probably is not going to intervene in managing my pain level, not that the Universe doesn’t care, it’s just that the Universe probably doesn’t have time for that. I think what I really mean by that is I will listen more closely to the Universe… So I have modified the second affirmation slightly, I now write:

I can do anything. I will allow the Universe to heal me and guide me.

Sunday April 23, 2023 (Journal Entry)

When my partner woke up this morning I looked at her and said, “I don’t know where they are either…” She laughed and said “that was quite a dream…”

Apparently we were flying, I was at the controls and things weren’t going so well. We almost hit a building and were brushed by another airplane. I told her that I must not be a very good pilot. Her reply was a bit surprising, she said I was doing fine. That doesn’t explain why she was trying to reach for the controls, but dreams are funny, so there’s no real point in trying to dissect this any further. I’m just grateful she thinks my flying wasn’t to blame for the two near catastrophes that caused her to want control of our airplane…

_ Saturday April 22, 2023 (Journal Entry)_

Be very careful when you hear someone attacking another person. If their only argument is to point out the other person’s weakness, real or imagined, it means they have no ideas of their own.

_ Saturday April 22, 2023 (Journal Entry)_

It should be embarrassing for me to say this, given my background, but I’m not too proud to admit that I finally understand the difference between binding and assignment as they are implemented in computer languages.

To put it succinctly, binding uses more memory but allows the user to make significant modifications to variables on-the-fly. For example, in a language using binding, a variable might start out as an integer, but if there is a need later on during execution for that number to become something else, say, irrational, a language that uses binding can easily accommodate that. In the case of languages that use assignment (and strict type checking, like compiled languages) once a variable has been assigned a value of say integer, that is the only type of number that variable can hold. In general, languages that use binding are a bit easier work with than languages that use assignment, and can be faster when it comes to the amount of time it takes to develop the solution to a problem.

Why am I writing about this? I like to learn something new every day, even if some people might consider it is useless information. For me, learning something every day will help stave off dementia and will help stimulate my memory. which by the way, has never been very good, even when I was younger.

Now, ask me the difference between “early binding” and “late binding” and the first thing I’ll say is we are not talking about wrapping packages… If you insist that I give you an answer (simplistic as it is, and I’m fully aware that you may not be insisting…) I’ll just say compiled languages use early binding and dynamic languages use late binding. I’ll leave the rest of that explanation to someone that has a better understanding of language design.

Friday April 21, 2023 (Journal Entry)

I was asked to repeat three words (pencil, light, hamburger) draw a picture of a clock showing the time 11:10, and then write down the three words I had previously been given. I passed.

I went on to tell the doctor there was little chance I would remember those three words two years from now… he laughed and said he would not expect that… but now that I have posted this, there is a distinct chance that I will… if I happen to look back here just before I make the attempt…

Friday April 21, 2023 (Journal Entry)

All I’m doing here is contributing my point of view to the world. Why does that matter? The world is only free as long as each of us is allowed the ability to express ourselves. But does the freedom to express ourselves come with any responsibility? I believe that it does.

The freedom to express ourselves is not about ensuring everyone lives a particular truth, or that everyone is free from all restrictions. Both of those taken to their extreme are anathema to living socially. There must be some shared truths, among them do no harm, and respect everyone. Generosity and mindfulness are key virtues that freedom is built on. Generosity includes making sure that everyone has equal opportunity to live a rewarding life. Mindfulness includes speaking truth that is designed to help everyone, not just yourself or those you choose to associate with exclusively.

One thing worth mentioning is that there is no room for anger in a civilized society. Anger leads everyone down the wrong path. If you are acting out of anger you are either being misled, or you haven’t yet grasped what freedom truly is.

Thursday April 20, 2023 (TransAm 2023 Planning)

This is the planned itinerary for Virginia. (Subject to change.)

Dip the rear wheel in the Atlantic Ocean!

VIRGINIA
Miles: 577, Days 12