A friend of Heat-Moon who brings humor and levity to the journey, invigorating the author with their shared time working on a stone wall. Chisholm is also of European and Native descent, an aspiring writer and college teacher, noted for his determination and talkative nature.

An African American man Heat-Moon meets in Selma, Alabama, whose experiences reflect on race relations in the United States. A veteran of the US Airforce, he shares his perspectives on discrimination and distrust in American institutions.

An octogenarian and former schoolteacher living on Smith Island, Maryland, who shares wisdom from her long life shaped by geographic isolation. She is self-reliant, witty, and engages in insightful discussions with Heat-Moon about technological and societal changes.