4:03pm at the Drowsy Poet Cafe in Lynchburg
Tuesday, May 12, 2009

According to Google Maps from my home in Farmville, I have traveled 51.9 miles, not including the windy around to avoid highways.
Lessons learned so far:
1. Bring a bigger water bottle.
2. Find a good hitchin’ spot and stick!
A. A good hitchin’ spot is right past a light where the car’s are going slow, NOT near a prison, & it has plenty of space to see you and have a safe spot to park.

I left my home in Farmville around 7am and walked out of town and stuck out my thumb. At around 9am, Bill picked me up. Bill is a Machine Producing Fella, who is from New Jersey and likes reading Theology. Bill is a good guy, drives a nice car, apologizes when his phone rings and he talks on it, and worked his way into Electrical Engineering not through college but by learning on the job. His advice is do what you feel like doin’ even if it seems “stupid”, because he regrets not doin’ some stuff when he had the chance.

Bill drops me off near Lynchburg near 29. I try getting a ride north on 29. Not happenin’ so I took a nap. Then I decided to try to get to Roanoke, but couldn’t find a good hitchin’ spot.
So I walked. Walked to Lynchburg and through some neighborhoods searching for the dollar movie theater and hopefully some Wi-fi.

It gave me time to think about what values I want to live by on the journey, here goes:
1. Be Courageous! If you want something ask for it. Talk to people. Don’t worry about what others think.
2. Give! Even though I will be broke give to as many folks as I can. Not necessarily money, but gifts, encouragement, smiles, and kindness.
3. Don’t give up! Push on. The trip is long.
4. Be Grateful! Life is all about perspective.

Change the world,
ben.

I am grateful to Bill!

“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy;
they are the charming gardeners
who make our souls blossom.”

Marcel Prous