Yesterday, in New Bern, I went by the pharmacy where Pepsi-Cola was born. They've done a really nice job of hosting visitors in it. Likewise, the Pepsi-affiliated KFC birthplace in Corbin, Kentucky has done a nice job. Speaking of corporate birthplaces, Coca Cola (Atlanta, Georgia) and Pepsi both started off in places with sweet people… I guess there's something in the water!

By the way, did you know that the original Pepsi recipe contained alcohol? And the original Coke recipe contained cocaine. And lots of sodas had arsenic and other toxins…. And "Mountain Dew" was a phrase for moonshine.
Anyways, I tried a new drink, Caleb's Kola, which contains kola nut extract. I had mine in an ice cream float -- yummy!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
The sweet young lady was explaining to the next customers how one cola had a different formula than another, and therefore tasted more "like the C-word". I had a hard time controlling my laughter -- and still think that's one of the funniest lines I've heard in a long time. Maybe they'll change their training program…
Later, on my way out of town, which was somewhat confusing, I got another flat! Stopping on the side of the road, I struggled some more with the problematic rim. With all my tubes now broken, I pulled out one of my old tubes which I'd already patched a couple of times, and it still didn't inflate previously. I added a third patch, this one extra large, and pumped it up. Luckily, it held air, although it was still a huge hassle to get the tire on the rim.
Rode on for a little while, before I heard the disappointing sound of air leaking out. Checked, and it turned out to be coming out of the valve area. I put the valve cap from the front tire on the rear tire, and that seems to have roughly held the air in.
Today, the rear tire still has some air in it, enough to ride on. I've made it through a couple of towns, without bike stores or hardware shops or anything. I'm concerned that it'll give out again soon, although I will continue riding and still have a few alternatives.
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

In this wonderful book, the author describes the natural basis of many seemingly disconnected phenomena, ranging from basic energy transfers up through common events in the human realm.

The book links up ideas from physics and engineering with everyday affairs. I deeply enjoy the themes and style.

Life is movement, in both time and in space: from birth to death, and from birthplace to the end of travel, which then becomes the birthplace of a new moving thing.

This book affects both my life and my perception of life more generally. Definitely worth reading!

Whew! :)
Made it! :)
Barely! :)
Woke up this morning, read for a little while, then got on the bike. After a smooth-rollin' day yesterday, figured more of the same today. Wrong! Instead, as soon as I got on the first bit of road, just a few feet in, pop! Flat tire. And on the new rim which I recently learned has some kind of unusual sizing issue.
Turned out I ran over a huge nail! I struggled with the new tube for a little while, and got it in quicker than expected. However, while inflating it, the thing broke! I knew it was a bit risky, my remaining unpatched tubes are all of a valve type not exactly meant for this wheel (Presta instead of my wheel's Schrader). Anyway, luckily I had one more unopened spare, so with considerably more struggle with the rim, I got the last tube in, and got rolling again.
Still have a few bike issues with brakes and other parts -- ok, lots of issues! And with the sometimes narrow shoulders around here, having challenges, but still making headway.
By the way, riding on the highway is mutually beneficial -- highway symbiosis -- as I create a lane out of an otherwise empty area, and speed up the traffic passing me, and the big trucks occasionally give me a lift with their air drafts, and they get a smooth road built that wouldn't be there just for bikes. Plus we get to encourage each other to our destinations! :)
Had a good ride, made it to the next town, Maysville, NC. The people in this area are very friendly. After some good chats and too much food, rode on. With night setting in, just made it to New Bern… birthplace of Pepsi! :)
Beautiful place around here, lots of charming countryside, settlement, and some booming developments. Now sitting outside a laundromat that advertises wifi, and next to a barbeque joint (chicken & seafood) that actually has available wifi. By the way, a BBQ place is the best location to use wifi, for the smells! :)

Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

How many circles can you make at LifeFLOW, without filling up the screen?

Rock & Roll!!! :)

I just felt like doing this:

Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Lots more riding today, had a good run up the North Carolina coast... Now taking a welcome break from the rain, in Surf City...
"DIME SIZE HAIL AND WIND GUSTS OF UP 50 MPH WILL BE POSSIBLE WITH THIS STORM."
Sitting on a rocking chair, using wifi from the neighboring hardware store... Last night I had a vision of a hardware wholesale store... WOW! :)

By the way, lots of places seem to have a hard time supplying wifi. You'd think that by now it would be easier. I guess that it's not profitable enough for an ad- or subscription-supported model (except in special cases), or basic enough for supply like water and electricity. What about a donation basis? If regular people provide open wifi everywhere, with an obvious link to make a contribution?
Also, today I had an idea for a new group, a "contrarians' club"... Who wants to join? :)
By the way, eccentrics travel better! :)
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Check it out! :)

Rode another good distance today, thankfully! :) The day started out without a rear tire full of air. I patched a tube with a couple of punctures in it, but the tube had more holes so it seemed better to use a new tube. I've been having trouble getting the current tire on and off, which turns out to be some kind of rim problem. There was a bike shop nearby, so I went in. They kindly helped me get the thing going again, and now it rolls well, although next time I get a flat I expect it'll be difficult to get the tire on and off again. Ah well, at least it's now full of air! :)
Got in to Wilmington… It's a town that's got some pretty areas. Tough riding, though… On the way into town, no bike lane, no bike path, no shoulder, no sidewalk, no nothing…. And lots of dangerous drivers. Glad to have made it!

By the way, for a long time I would ride on highways that split into e.g. "17" and "BUS 17". For most of that time I thought it was a bus route to avoid, until fairly recently figuring out that it's the business route.
Rock & Roll!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

Riding a bit further on... took a ferry across to the sea... got a flat tire today, and having some rim issues... slow headway, but enjoying the ride, through beautiful places like Kure Beach and Carolina beach... invented a new and wonderful food:
RECIPE
Combine (with hands!) wheat bread, peanut butter, banana, lettuce, chipotle salsa, sour cream, and whatever else you can throw at it. Enjoy!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)

By the way, this morning I came across a gas station advertising "Coffee & Worms" ... YUCK! Who'd want to drink coffee with their worms? :)
Rock & Roll!!! :)