Blue Highways: A Journey into America

Heat-Moon’s circuit around the country nears its conclusion. The final chapter is the book’s shortest and begins with Heat-Moon spending more time in Maryland and the Chesapeake Bay area. In the harbor, he marvels at the skipjacks—a traditional fishing boat that may eventually face extinction due to technological progress and commercial demand.

After departing Maryland, Heat-Moon traverses historically significant territory—old US Civil War battle sites, such as Spotsylvania. Heat-Moon suggests that one thing seems impervious to change: war. While warfare methods have and will continue to evolve, the author implies that the human appetite for war probably never will change.

As Heat-Moon approaches West Virginia, it occurs to him that his route over the last months, one he has traced out on a map, somewhat resembles the emergence symbol of the Hopi. Heat-Moon quotes Black Elk Speaks: “[E]verything the Power of the World does is in a circle” (406). Heat-Moon appears to be synthesizing the abundant philosophical ideas he has pondered in the text.

Heat-Moon mentions that he has traveled over 13,000 miles, and as he approaches Ohio State Route 218, he encounters the worst road conditions yet, due to dilapidated pavement. Once past, the last leg of his monumental journey begins.