UPDATED: 7/29/16 (Denker, Day 1 [or 0, depending on how you look at it])
[Editor's {Me!} Note: Parts of this post were added on Friday night; such additions are placed in brackets.]
As I said in the last post, I plan to update this blog post throughout the day. I'm using a phone to do this at this moment, so my posts may be somewhat short.
Checkpoint One: Birmingham, Alabama
I'm not sure what time we passed through, but we did. I took a picture of the city as we passed through it, but it is too big to put here right now; I tried to resize it, but it wouldnae work. Maybe I can get it to work later. [Later is now:]
[As you can see, it was a cloudy morning.]
Checkpoint Two: Nashville, Tennessee
V f just gone through Nashville, at about 9:30 a.m. (Central). I took more pictures, and I hope to get them up before the day is out. Of course, y'all may not be super interested in what Birmingham or Bowling Green looks like, but on the off chance... Also, we found out that most of Indiana is actually in the Eastern Time Zone (we had expected it to be in Central).
[You can see the Bat Building in the distance; it's in the center.]
Checkpoint Three: Bowling Green, Kentucky
Okay, so maybe Bowling Green isn't as exciting as I thought it'd be. No big deal. We drove through (or around) it at about 10:45. I tried to get pictures... but that didn't really pan out. [So here is a picture of my feet instead; it was taken while we were passing near Bowling Green, so it counts.]
[Fancy, eh?]
Checkpoint Four: Louisville, Kentucky
To Louisville -- and beyond! Okay, check the Ohio River off the list! I got lots of pictures for y'all. We've under 100 miles left. We probably won't stop for another hour and a half. Because, by that time, we should be at the place where we are staying. [By this time, I was starting to take pictures more often. Here we are in Louisville, crossing the Ohio River:]
[Indiana!]
Checkpoint Five: Indianapolis, Indiana
[If you look closely at this license plate, you'll find it says, "CHEKM8." I haven't a clue where he's headed.]
We made it! We're finally here. More details are planned to come later -- when, at long last, I get on a laptop!
[Well, I'm on a laptop. And it's 10:17 p.m. Eastern. I've gotta be at the playing hall around 2:30 tomorrow, but I'm not exactly sure what I'll be doing in the morning. The great news is that we are staying just 5 minutes from the tournament hall, so we don't have to deal with long commutes!]
Well, it's been a big day. And tomorrow will be even bigger. Earlier tonight, though, I was feeling kind of discouraged. What am I supposed to differently against a master than against a 1450? I mean, I just lost to a 1400-something last week; what am I supposed to do with a 2250?
I am trying to stay positive though, even if it's tough. My dad is here to help me with that. When it comes time to play, I'm just gonna shake my opponent's hand and start giving it what I think is my best. I need to be content with that. What I'm going through right now could be analogous to the conflict that a hero of some story must face. After the hero gets all pumped up — but before his big showdown — he realizes once more the enormity of his task and must restrengthen himself for the coming fight. I may not be wording this well, but that's okay. Y'all get the drift. Goodnight!]
