Kickin It Across the Land

Day 2: February 21 2011: Chancay to Huarara (?)

2011-02-22T07:57:00.000-08:00

Im so fuckin tired. Too tired to write anything. So Im gonna make this quick. The day was full of ups and downs. Im talking hills and emotions. I skated the first 5 km. Nice roads. Cool weather. I don´t even remember why I stopped skating and started walking. I wasn´t tired. The road wasn´t great but it was skateable. But regardless I did. And out of nowhere came a dog. He wasn´t like other dogs. He didn´t try to attack, didn´t bark. HE just got close to me and started following. Sometimes rubbing against my legs, sometimes walking in between them. This was no dirty stret dog. The 10 o clock heat was killer but he still trotted proudly with his tongue hanging out. I tried to lose him by skating but he didn´t like my faster pace. He would jump infront of me. Not barking or trying to bite my wheels, but to just block me. As if to tell me don´t go too fast, walk with me.

So I did. I wanted to see where this dog would follow me until. At first I didnt mind the walk but then I started to break down. Here I was running away from everything and everyone again. I started to make friends in Lima. I was getting to surf for free and was offered a place to stay for free by one of the locals who let me use his board. But I threw it even though I wanted it. Everything I tried to build in Rhode Island went to waste. I had to start all over again. The realtionship I had with the person I loved the most I almost threw it all away before my trip because I was too stubborn to listen, to stubborn to stay, too focused on my trip to care about her sadness. My parents. My dad told me that I was losing my relationship with them. I proved nothing to myself at the Adrenalina, the only thing I thought I knew how to do. Here I was in the middle of the fucking desert with nothing except a tent, a sleeping bag and my board, with nothing to live for, three years after I lost it all in Ghana. What have I done? Nothing. I didnt even have enough money to fly home when all was done. I wondered why God was protecting me. Even my mind which I once had, I was slowly losing. I am crazy. That I have come to accept and I am on the brink of losing it.

I saw my little dog friend. He was still trotting with a fat smile next to me. He didn´t care where he was going. He just did. I looked at him and I promised myself, that I was going to finish this. And then I was going to go back and finish what I started. I was going to get work done and build a home. I would find my woman and make it with her. No more running away from relationships, from jobs, from life. I was thankful my little perro was there. ¨Thank you little buddy¨ , I said.

When the tears were all shed, I was really starting to feel the heat and at about 1130 me and the dog stopped for some food. Under the shade of a billboard we sat and we split some tuna I had. I told him that I was sorry. I couldn´t walk anymore. I had to skate after we were done eating. He was just happy he tuna cheese and bread.

I found a sugarcane stem I planned on using as a paddle when we were done. Again he tried to stop me from skating but this time I swung my stick at him to scare him and it worked. He still followed until he was too tired. Eventually I lost him. I was sad I did.

The road to Huarara was full of big hills. With every up I accomplished I went down with an infinite amount of hills ahead of me. It was so fucking frustrating because I had no way of telling when it was going to be over, unlike a mountain. Once you get to the top you are at the top. But the constant uphills were a bitch. Finally after one last up I could see a city. It was so much bigger than I thought. I arrived at 330 and got some real Chinese food. I kept moving at 5 trying to find a place to camp but this place was big and sketchy. I would have to make it out of this urban zone to camp but I was too tired to keep skating. Two towns north a policeman stopped me and asked me ¨Donde vas?¨ or where are you going. I said ¨aqui, pero soy mirar por a place to dormir¨ (yes that was my quote)ç

He told me there was a hostel right up ahead. I was uncovered and I wouldnt camp tonight. For 10 soles I would just be happy sleeping on a bed and recharging the iphone.

Day 1: Febraury 20th 2011, Barranco, Lima to Chancay (74 km, 47 mi)

2011-02-22T07:36:00.000-08:00

As soon as I put my foot down this morning with my pack on I felt all the stress in my head and the fear in my soul shrink and move down to my feet. With every kick I lost some of each. I was ridiculuosly calm this morning. I wanted to leave at 6 but I ended up sleeping in until 7:00. By the time I left it was 7:30. Had a mango for breakfast, best breakfast ever.

The ride out of Barranco was pretty easy. I knew where to go having done the ride to Lima a couple of days before. The closer I got to Lima the more cars that flooded the road. It was nothing compared to a weekday though. I got out of Lima at about 9:30. On Panamericana norte is where people really started to get angry at me. I didnt take the wild honking serisouly, that was their means of communication. A lot of putas and locos flew by me. And the best part was that I got sprayed by a water gun by two different cars and hit by a water balloon by a third. For some reason none of it got to me. Not even when a bus started honking at me and didnt let go of it until he was so close to me I had to bail on the gravel. Feeling like a man on a mission is a good thing. I stopped at Puente Piedre for a quick snack and got lunch at Ancon, a pretty little beach town. It was about noon. By the time I left Ancon it was 1 and by the time I was back on the highway after getting lost it was 2. I was looking for the Panamerican variante a highway right on the ocean. When I got there is was beautiful. Relatively empty roads with a nice little shoulder. The ocean was on my left and giant sand cliffs on my right. Sunny blue skies and smooth roads. And even though the sun was doing work and I was going up, I started going down real quick with a view of some perfect breaks. I got to Chancay at about 4.

As I sit on this cliff with a beautiful sunset infront of me and waves crashing underneath me, I look back and appreciate syuch a diverse day. I skated shit roads with no shoulders, through a city and barren desert, cliffs and ocean, head and tailwind. Today I had it all and I skated 47 miles. What a great way to start 820 miles.

DAY -2: February 18th 2011

2011-02-19T15:32:00.000-08:00

I was supposed to leave on Thursday, at least that was the date I had randomly chosen. I didn´t. Now I have moved that date to Sunday the 20th. I figured Sunday was not so random. The streets will be quietest on Sunday morning. They´ll be empty, epmtier than any other time.

I have downloaded a map of my route on my phone. The GPS app Motion X GPS is fantastic. I have a terrain and road map of my route. 1320 km or about 820 miles is the official distance. I figure it will take about a month. I would really like to get back to Rhode Island by the beginning of April and really excited to start landscaping again. I do not have a ticket. I have no idea where Im going to leave from or how but that´ll figure itself out. I have no idea what Im going to do in Tumbes, I heard it was a shithole, but usually the best adventures happen in the crappiest places. I cant worry about Tumbes yet, my first stop is a town called Chancay about 78 km north of Barranco in Lima. Thats about 48 miles which is a very ambitious goal for the first day. The minimum of 40 miles a day will still stand (64km). (Distance converter: another reason why the iphone is a handy tool)

I think Im ready to face the headwind. I can´t escape the fact that there will be shit roads. BArren desert is all thats ahead of me with the ocean by my side. I am so excited to sleep by the ocean almost every night.

Terrified is the word I want to use. Its probably the most accurate, but there is just something inside me that is holding my sould prisoner. I tried to let it go, to forget about the trip, cancel the skate but it won´t let me go. The first time turned my life around and here Iam : time to do it all over again

Not All Those Who Wander Are Lost

2010-12-03T08:36:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow another journey begins. I now know that maybe I am not lost. Although I can't see what all this may lead to, I know that I'll understand when its all done. I know that the questions that I don't even have will be answered before I realize what they are. I am following my heart; I know this is what I need to do. I wanted to keep going after San Diego but I knew that I had to work on somethings first. Now that I have done that, I know I am ready and now Peru awaits me!

I am so excited. I have a one way ticket and a $1000 to keep me alive. I have no idea what awaits me but I am ready for it. I can't really speak any Spanish so I am going to have to stick around Lima for a couple to learn the culture and language. After adapting my journey will take me north up the Peruvian coastline on the Pan American highway to Tumbes, a border town with Ecuador. If I manage to stick to my 40 mile minimum per day I should make it in about 30 days. I'll be stopping to surf at Chicamas and Mancora, I hope. Whatever else happens after, happens.

I am bringing a couple of different things this time. An Iphone. Yes an Iphone. It could get me in trouble but here's why. Part of the deal with my dad which I have improved my relationship with infinitely since you last heard was that I had to take it. He told me that if I wanted his approval I should take this piece of technology so I could stay in touch. I didn't hesitate. Now I have my ipod, a camera and a video camera to record it all. I still plan on being out of touch with the world, it is the only way.

I have a righteous sleeping bag this time around too. The infamous Western Mountaineering Highlite sleeping bag. I feel great sleeping in it. No pepsi can stove this time too; I don't want to carry any fuel around. I'm trying to save as much weight and space for water and dry foods. I also have the Big Agnes UL2 tent. Its a two person tent and big but I got it for real cheap and I figure that if its too much of a burden I'll get rid of it or trade it. Other than that its just me, my board shorts and my hat keepin it real along the Peruvian roads and still kickin it longer.
Life is good!!

Day 182: December 3rd 2009. The Lost Soul

2009-12-05T13:35:00.001-08:00

Toben was supposed to get a bike this morning. He was excited all week for it.

"Yup, I can't wait to get me a bike t'murrah!" in his light Louisiana accent.

He met another homeless man who worked up enough money to get to Seattle. He offered his bike up to Toben. So instead of taking a walk over to G street pier, where we usually go first thing in the morning to catch the first rays of the sun, we headed over to where they would meet. They were scheduled to meet at 9:30am by the first wooden benches north of the Maritime Museum. The weather was real miserable, cloudy skies, chilly air. Regardless of the weather though, there was a homeless man who walked the harbor up and down all day long. It was like he was a programed robot. At 630 he would be walking past the Coast Guard base. At 710 he was walking by the Star of India. He would walk the length of the harbor from about the airport to the Midway never speaking to anybody or even making eye contact with anybody, carrying an army napsack over his shoulder. He was one of the first people I started recognizing here when I arrived. So I asked Toben that morning

"Man, I wonder what that guy is thinking all the time. I keep seeing him doing the same thing everyday" and without a pause or any hesitation Toben responded like he had the one and only answer.
" He's a lost soul, destined to walk until he finds his purpose and does good on this earth before he can depart. He's stuck here, kind of like a ghost"

A lost soul. Man I hope Im not a lost soul.

Day 175-179 November 26th- 30th, 2009. Satan, and Satan's Demons and Spawns on Thanksgiving Weekend

2009-12-04T13:42:00.000-08:00

"Do you know what its like to be injected with all kinds of drugs you don't know about? Do you have any idea?" Ted seriously asked me and Toben as he puffed from the apple. We were leaning on the black waist high metal fence of Ace parking, propped up against our bags. It was about 6, already dark and we were just sitting, smoking, getting ready to start spreading our tarps, mats and sleeping bags.

"Its worse than prison. You sit there like this" as he laid a lifeless head on his left shoulder while his tongue was hanging out like a dead dog. "You are druelling all over yourself and you cant help it and you're constantly thinking-'aaaaaaaaahh. am I dead? Am I a zombie?' haha, you know?"

The fact that he laughed sent shivers to my spine. He was aware of everything that happened and in a normal state of mind, enough to recognize that it was really shitty. To me that was fucked up. Ted started explaining earlier, as he took his first puff from the apple, how he was committed to mental institution in Phoenix due to his religous beliefs.

"You see when I first realized I was god, I used this machine to pound out emails, like a thousand emails per minuted to everybody in the 7th Day Adventist Church, which my dad was affiliated with, to let them know I was the second coming of god"
"Like spam email?"
"Yeah, the same machine they use to send out spam, I used to send emails to let the masses know. They actually convened a meeting about me and decided I was crazy. They told my dad that if I didn't stop proclaiming I was God he would lose his monthly stipend from the church. So my mom took me aside later and told me that I had to stop, or they would lose the money they were getting from the church. That really made me angry and I thought- 'What?! So this is all about money?!' So they disowned me and never talked to me again."
"Damn man, thats fucked up"
"Yeah, they called the police, I got arrested and got sent to mental institution. They diagnosed me with paranoid schizophrenia, and I was committed for a year. I think it was worse than prison. They use this thing called a burrito wrap, like a cloth and they wrap you in so that you can't move anything. They strap you too."
"I can only imagine man. That sounds horrible" I tried hard to imagine and what I was capable of was probably heaven compared to the reality. I tried to imagine a place where I was convinced I was sane, but everybody else was convinced I was crazy and not only that but they also treated me like I was crazy. That in itself I thought, them treating me like I was crazy, would probably make me crazy; it would just slowly manifest itself in me. Besides all the shit they injected me with to 'treat' me, that I had no clue about. It was like eating acid and not knowing it then tripping and not having a clue what the intense effects were. The hallucinations and the intensity would probably turn me crazy.

Then I remembered a tale, I forgot where I read, about a king that was just and loved by his people. Then the water source of the village became infected and made all the people insane except the king who drank from his own private well. Suddenly all the people hated the king, and were convinced he was unjust although he hadn't changed the way he treated them. The king couldn't understand what happened and in trying to please his people by living with them, drank from the infected water source. The king was again loved by his people.

"Oh, so there goes talkative Ted when he's high. Saying too much and threatning my security. I better shut up."

Two Mexican ladies came a little later, set up a table with freshly cooked turkey and ham. We slept well and full on Thanksgiving day.

* * *

Ted's hanging head with his tongue out kept fucking with me the next day. The image kept replaying in my head and "Am I zombie?" kept ringing in my ears. There were somethings Ted would say that would go in one ear, right out the other. Things about the angels that spoke to him, that he must destroy 'satan and satan's demons and spawns" and the only way to do that would be to nuke earth and start over again. According to Ted, the world would be a perfect place with humans living with a "700 year growing old curse" or a lifespan of 700 years where they would be in the physical form of a 17-23 year old. For Ted, his religion was all about "winning" and "conquering". I asked him later that day.

"Ted, why do you have to kill all these innocent people to destroy satan? And mess up earth?"
"That's the only way. I have to become human to destroy satan and satans demons and spawns and nuke em"
"But doesn't god have better, more sophisticated weapons to destroy satan, rather than using a man made weapon that destroys everything?"
"I do have weapons called spiritual scanners that I could attack satan and satan's demons and spawns with, but the technology is so advanced and sacred it must be protected because of satan or satans demons and spawns get a hold of it, it could mean the end of the world. I was the one who gave humans the knowledge of nuclear power. That technology existed long before huamsn came up with it, with my permission"
"I just think you are too focused on destroying everything and the exclusion of everybody. You don't like too many people"
"Oh, Omar, you're so naive. You think this world is full of love, love this, love that. You're so young. You dont know this world is full of hate. You don't know about the hate I've been through. I know you think I'm crazy"
"I don't think you are crazy, Ted, I think you are angry"

"Wouldn't you? I had everything and it was all taken away from me because people were jealous. They hated me. One day when you have an attractive wife some younger guy is gonna come and take her from you and she's gonna cheat on you and you won't know it until someone else comes up and tell you about it. You won't believe it, then you'll realize it was the truth. Then she'll want a divorce and she will want to take everything you have. And she will, because of the system that prefers women. Or maybe you'll have a successful company and the employees you trusted most are going to steal your source code and sell it to another company even though you are paying them well. You'll try to bring yourself back up then your family will say you are crazy because they are afraid of losing their money. You'll try and buy a new house and have an equity with a private lender, but he'll fuck you and take your house and you'll lose more than $200,000"

I didn't agree with Ted about destroying all of earth, but I guess I understood why he was so pissed at the world. Crazy? I've seen crazy out on these streets, not Ted. If there was some craziness, I thought, it was as a result of the mental institution. No matter what aspect I asked him about, relating to his story, he had it covered. And when Ted didn't speak to me about his religion, he was a real cool guy. He constantly told stories of his life when he wasn't homeless; his 700 bottle wine cellar that "was full all the time" with an automatic temprature guage and alarm system, his 67 Mustang he restored himself, his wine-red-interior Corvette, and his travels all around Europe and Mexico with girlfriends, escorts and such. We were talking of cocaine once, I don't know why but I asked him if he had ever tried it.
"What do you think Omar? I had money. I like to party and I got only the best"
No doubt, he was a very well spoken guy and told him that once when he asked me if I thought he was crazy.

"I think you are a very well spoken guy, actually. I don't even think you deserve to be on the streets"
"Ha! Well spoken." He looked at me with disbelief that I said that. "You know the judge told me that when I was defending myself, after they filed terrorism charges against me. He said I was a well spoken man"

* * *

"Omar, Omar. Wake up. I got it!"
"What Ted? Its 5 in the morning man. Its dark and cold. We still have another hour of sleep before we have to get up. What is it?"
"I got it. I'm gonna declare war on humanity. On everybody. The angels and I agree"
"Oh man, you woke me up to tell me that Ted. Just relax man, you can declare war at any time, there's no rush. We can talk about this later"

But he couldn't wait, he was talking to himself, contemplating and I couldn't go back to sleep. He smoked a cigarette, then quickly rolled up his sleeping bags and left. I didn't see him again that day. It was Monday the 30th of November.

Current Standings

2009-12-03T12:58:00.000-08:00

Skated Memphis, TN to Tyler, TX: 468 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=16+Autumn+Grove+Cove,+Cordova,+TN+38018&daddr=Imagination+Dr+to:Fairley+Rd+to:Tunica,+MS+to:Lula+Rich+Rd+to:helena,+ar+to:clarendon,+ar+to:AR-33+N+to:34.783356,-91.914368+to:Little+Rock,+AR+to:Texarkana,+AR+to:Tyler,+TX&hl=en&geocode=Feb6FwId0Vem-inrV2avTJl_iDFHLDp61v2vQA%3BFXAsFgIdJiKk-g%3BFVAuFgIdhO6h-g%3BFYI-EQId492c-imXepT7BjrVhzFlXF_cbJupLQ%3BFWx1DQIdqqab-g%3BFQvhDgId5K2Z-imlth3BW9XUhzEMG4NKrwY81g%3BFSBgEQIdt6mO-imNqqBcE1rThzEguZT4Mn6HFQ%3BFRCaEgId8G-M-g%3B%3BFXEwEgIdxcV_-imbVh-hNKHShzEXW_MNEPUFNA%3BFQBI_gEdSBll-imLqVntcGw0hjEOnUgIWiDaVQ%3BFRyk7QEdOtJR-inj-aseBcxJhjEccHdxfVwoPg&mra=dpe&mrcr=3&mrsp=8&sz=10&via=1,2,4,7,8&dirflg=w&sll=34.627558,-91.71936&sspn=0.5345,0.88028&ie=UTF8&ll=33.508194,-93.714752&spn=0.541608,0.88028&z=10)

Rode Tyler, TX to Austin, TX: 230 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=tyler,+tx&daddr=corsicana,+tx+to:Austin,+TX&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=34.90741,-90.072615&sspn=0.532691,0.88028&ie=UTF8&z=8)

Skated Austin, TX to Llano, TX: 74.6 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Austin,+TX&daddr=Spicewood,+Texas+to:Llano,+TX&hl=en&geocode=FRHXzQEdK48s-ikvA8ygmbVEhjF61WnUS0abXQ%3BFdAE0QEdiUAm-imnauanzD1bhjEO7MQSo80xew%3BFbFZ1QEdolYe-imTOn1mH0xahjGFs-KNbhTRKQ&mra=mr&dirflg=w&sll=30.465543,-98.158722&sspn=0.139971,0.22007&ie=UTF8&ll=31.784217,-99.596558&spn=2.208485,3.521118&t=p&z=8)

Rode Llano, TX to Sweetwater, TX: 185 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Llano,+TX&daddr=ballinger,+tx+to:sweetwater,+tx&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=31.611288,-99.61853&sspn=2.212604,3.521118&ie=UTF8&ll=31.615966,-99.541626&spn=2.212493,3.521118&t=p&z=8)

Skated Sweetwater, TX to Gail, TX: 69.5 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Sweetwater,+TX&daddr=snyder,+tx+to:gail,+tx&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=32.711044,-101.217041&sspn=1.093075,1.760559&ie=UTF8&ll=32.609303,-100.925903&spn=1.09432,1.760559&t=p&z=9)

Rode Gail, TX to Lamesa, TX: 31.7 miles

Skated Lamesa, TX to Seminole, TX: 40.9 miles

Rode Lamesa, TX to Hobbs, NM: 30 miles

Skated Hobbs, NM to Lordsburg, NM: 394 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=hobbs,+nm&daddr=lovington,+nm+to:alamogordo,+NM+to:las+cruces,+nm+to:deming,+nm+to:Co+Rd+B001%2FMuir+Rd%2FNM-113+N+to:lordsburg,+nm&hl=en&geocode=FZQA8wEd2ETa-Sndq3y_A5X8hjGAaI_yoFEitA%3BFYiv9gEdtgbX-SkVKdOxfdr8hjGLMbFfuzyP-w%3BFcwB9gEdtyyv-SlR1HMiY1DghjG9YAuYjwUHeQ%3BFfwL7QEdH7Gi-SlpmAZFxxrehjG9Mj_xHdBtYw%3BFZph7AEd0LuT-Sl3Pj8b4cPehjEuC7EHIrHNhA%3BFSSA6wEdCNuH-Q%3BFZig7QEdxzyF-Sl55WnFIQLZhjHpCduwNTw58A&mra=ls&via=5&sll=32.352123,-107.817078&sspn=1.097452,1.760559&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=7)

Walked Lordsburg, NM to Duncan, AZ: 35.7 miles

Skated Duncan, AZ to Gila Bend, AZ: 267 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Duncan,+AZ&daddr=1000+w+baseline+rd,+mesa,+AZ+to:Gila+Bend,+AZ&hl=en&geocode=FTRK8wEdQy9_-SljnspX22vYhjHjmeWWlpbrXw%3B%3BFXC-9gEd4hNI-SnjfTCNQCjVgDErggvuexfqbQ&mra=ls&dirflg=w&sll=33.307577,-111.939697&sspn=1.085707,1.760559&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=7)

Rode Gila Bend, AZ to Calexico, CA: 178 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Gila+Bend,+AZ&daddr=calexico,+ca&hl=en&geocode=&mra=ls&sll=33.070665,-110.47903&sspn=2.177263,3.521118&ie=UTF8&ll=32.907262,-115.241089&spn=2.181244,3.521118&t=p&z=8)

Walked Calexico, CA to Ocotillo, CA: 31.6 miles

Rode Ocotillo, CA to San Diego, CA: 88.7 miles (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=ocotillo,+ca&daddr=San+Diego,+CA&hl=en&geocode=FW-N8wEdvBEW-Sm5uxAo88LZgDGB3Xz8L9hRJg%3B&mra=ls&sll=32.702945,-115.74733&sspn=0.546594,0.88028&ie=UTF8&t=p&z=9)

Total skated: 1,314 miles
Total rode in car: 743.4 miles
Total walked: 67.3 miles
Total of journey so far: 2,124.7 miles

A Song For the Homeless of San Diego, and Everywhere Else

2009-11-28T12:54:00.000-08:00

What Goes around, comes around, sometimes up sometimes down.
Enough hungry and homeless roam the land. Living in country bounty so plenty (How come they so hungry?)
Enough hungry people go to bed belly empty
Lord, God you know, it hurts so much you just can't cry.
River of tears long gone run dry
The sky is their roof, the ground is their belly.
Upon the concrete slab they lay their weary heads.
Lord, God you know, it hurts so much you just can't cry.
River of tears long gone run dry
You don't know what tomorrow's gonna bring
Life is on ebig road, we livin in a borrowed time

Israel Vibration- On Borrowed Time

Day 173: November 24th 2009. Mexico on the Mind

2009-11-24T14:11:00.000-08:00

At first it was an idea and I thought it would fade away but it kept sticking and kept sticking. I thought, hey, maybe it was downtown San Diego, let me go try something new. So I did. I left my homeless community, Tobey and Ted and all the other people that sleep in my neighborhood and headed about 12 miles north to Ocean Beach.
I got everything I was thinking of when I got to Ocean Beach. There were waves when I got there on the morning of Sunday the 15th. I surfed all day on the knee high waves and I was ecstatic. Two days later the swell started picking up to overhead and I surfed the next 3-4 days until I was completely worn out. From about 6 in the morning until about 11 I would be in the water, until the wind started to pick up and turn the ocean into a mess, then I would go pump around the bowl or lay out in the sand and burn then head back into the water at about 3 until the sun went down at 5. Those were my days in Ocean Beach. The good beach life I missed, but then I realized that I didn't want to be done. I didn't want to settle there. I met some cool people, saw the reggae did it all but for some reason I still didn't feel satisfied. And the Mexico thoughts kept coming stronger and stronger everyday. The bottom line was that Ocean Beach felt like a vacation, and for a week that was great, but in the end I'm not travelling to be on vacation. Obviously that is a tiny part of it, but I'm travelling to learn, to be enlightened and chilling on the ocean, surfing and skating all day everyday didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. I'm gonna keep doing them forever, but why not do them somewhere new?

So I looked into and started researching. From San Diego to La Paz, Baja California is more than another 1,000 miles. If something doesn't start to show by the end of the week of the December the 5th, I'll be on my way to Mexico.

Also, one more thing, it is so imperative that I return home because without going back to the origin and being able to reflect on this knowledge I have acquired, they will be just that; facts that dont mean anything. Returning home will allow me to reflect on the bigger picture and turn that knowledge into important life lessons.

Day 163: Novemeber 14th, 2009. Ted's Story

2009-11-18T14:36:00.001-08:00

Another cold ass morning and day in general. Had three layers on all day except after lunch at Vinny's. Thats where my adventure began.

I ran into cool Ted at Vinny's, we converstaed and when I told him I had a website, he got all excited. So he asked me if I wanted to put my shit in his storage, so I can get to the library and use a computer, I said yeah. That's really when I got to know Ted on that walk to storage, and the library after lunch. As he asked me later that day, "so now you really understand how I lost it all."

Ted's storage spot was a little 5x5 room with all that remained of his stuff. First we went through a gate with a keypad, then an elevator with a keypad, then through a hall with different storage compartments that made me feel as I was walking through a hallway with infinite doors in The Matrix. We put our storage, picked up a couple of his laptops, one of which he would let me use as long as I used it next to him, and then headed to the library. On the way there, I asked for his website and he told me.

"You are gonna think I'm crazy"
"Haha, yeah?"
"Yeah, but its the truth. tedisgod.com"
I didn't really show a reaction, I still didn't know what it was all about.
"I beleive I'm god. I am the resurrection of god in the human form" He didnt send the slightest hint of sarcasm
"hmmm..."

So wwe walked and he told me of his beliefs, which were wild, but I listened nontheless with curiosity. It was totally a Matrix style belief system where Ted/God created the technology to create humans somewhere else, then brought them down earth on spaceships and stuff. All this was revealed to him by angels on his 40 days/40 nights on his sailboat.

"I understand if you don't want to talk to me anymore. You would probably get a lot of heat for hanging with me. I've had some Mexicans try to kill me once. They cut me up and was bleeding real bad. Had to get 40 stitches."
"Damn, when was this?"
"About nine months ago"
"Its just so crazy to me how you prefer to lose it all, your job, your family over your wild beliefs."
"My family disowned me and they didn't even invite me to my mothers funeral."
"What you believe is what you believe Ted. Im not, not gonna talk to anymore because of what you believe, that would be ridiculous. I think you are a real cool guy and honestly, Im glad I met you. I don't have to agree with your beliefs to like you. There are certain things though, that are universal among humans with any belief I don't like, like arrogance and dishonesty. Those are things that make any human with any belief become unfavorable to me. And thats the truth"

Honestly, I like Ted. His website was a bunch of ramble that even grammatically didn't make sense and was very repetitive. If I had come across it before I personally met him, I probably wouldn't approach hime, that wasn't my first impression of him. He was a very well spoken guy and I knew he wasn't shitting me about anything he said. For now I'm listening to him.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SiT8rUJFxs

Day 162: November 12th, 2009. Homeless Day 4

2009-11-18T14:27:00.000-08:00

It was a cold fucking day. All day. Temps in the low 60s, 50s and high 40s at night. There was a real a real cool ocean breeze that brought a windchill. It was mostly overcast all day. Real crapy day to be outside. I spent the day with Tobey. We did nothing really just tried to stay warm. He kept talking about making money at the airport but having to take the bus there even though its almost 3 miles from downtown and "looking like tourists". He wouldn't share his secret that was "taught to him 15 years ago when he was last in San Diego. "You'll be leaving with a pocket full of quarters after 3 hours. $20-30 in the day. But you can't tell nobody". He kept making me promise, though I dont know why, he never told me anyway. I met a man from Barrington, RI too; he couldn't believe it.

I signed up for an ID to get meals at St. Vincent De Paul's, locally in the homeless community known as "Vinny's", the local dining spot. Bright, red, orange ID. With it I can get my meal a day between 11-12;30 and access to showers, finally. As for storage so I can walk without a pack and get a job, still no luck.

The Situation

2009-11-18T14:25:00.000-08:00

So Im here in San Diego and according to the title and my intent in the beginning the journey is over. But for some reason, I just don't feel it complete in myself. I feel like I can't stop here. I will definitely keep travelling, maybe even some more on the skateboard.

Day 160: Nov 11 2009. Homeless Day 3

2009-11-13T15:52:00.000-08:00

Today is veterans day and nothing governement is open to honor those who fight to preserve 'freedom'. Its more like those who die to keep the rich in power and make them richer. Somebody is playing us all for a fool.

The day started out real shitty. I slept well but woke up real depressed. Another pre sunrise day before the cops came and harrassed us; gotta make a move on early. So I did and because its Veterans Days nothing was open. I went and laid on a harbor bench and passed out until noon. I got up and had no idea what to do. I sat and watched the ocean and contemplated returning home. I was not really impressed with San Diego. Expensive, overcrowded and noisy. The weather was fine on some days but still. I made it here and that was my goal. As I was contemplating those facts I saw a backpakcer walk past me. He was an older dude with a blond ponytail and a blue LSU hat. He sat on a bench two down from mine. To test the waters, I asked if he could watch my pack while I skated; in reality I would be watching from far.

"How do you know you can trust me?"
"I guess I dont"
"How long are you going to be gone?"
"10 minutes?"
It'll be right there"
"Cool. Thank you. Whats your name?"
"Tobey"
"Alright then, I'll be back"

I bought some Oreos and shared. And started a conversation. Tobey called himself a free spirit. He was from 'nowhere' and lived 'everywhere'. He was a 'survivor' and former Army corps of engineers. He wired his own radio together and a light that supposedly goes on forever. I could tell he was definitely a resourceful man, not with his teeth though. The left side at his top pallette was missing, and from the right incisor on, he had teeth that were black from the gums, and became dark yellow at the tips. We had some good conversations, about politics, acid, travels and such. It was good to have a person to really talk to in this urban jungle, and I know and he had knowledge that was useful. I also needed a person to watch my shit when I had to use the internet. So we spent the most part of the rest of the day together watching each others back. And at 730 we headed to the corner of Union and A hoping to score some dinner from the people who come feed us. Instead I had the pleasure of meeting Ted. He reminded me of the old man in Home Alone.

"So how'd you end up on the streets?"
"Oh. haha. It was along sequence of events"'
"What was the initial event?"
"Proabably a divorce. She took about 75% of everything and my two kids. Lost my home in Santa MAria. I used to own a software company that cloned Windows. Had to shut that down. At peak, I had about 35 emplyees. Been homeless for two yeats now."
"God damn, that sucks. Im sorry"

Ted was a real cool. He had crazy stories; the adventures of a computer geek really, but gangsta style. Microsoft was pissed at what he was doing and they tried to steal his source code like they did so many times to others. Even said, that when he was in Seatlle they sent somebody to try and kill him. Instead the guy beat the shit out of him until two people with dogs came and saved him.

That night when no food showed up, he took a bag of food in his pack out and invited me and Tobey to anything we wanted in there. We had a delicous dinner of rock hard onion bagels and ham sandwiches. Those are the homeless of America, at least San Diego

Day 159: November 10 2009. Homeless Day 2

2009-11-13T15:40:00.000-08:00

I spent the most part of the day wandering the streets of downtown. I was waiting to hear from Subway but no luck. I went in and after the told me they needed closers the day before they said they weren't hiring today. I came across another large crowd of homeless people by the public library. Such a sad sight to see. It makes it hard for the smiling peron I am to smile. The homeless population here must number in the thousands. Some are mentally handicapped but from what I have seen the most have recently lost their jobs and homes in the recent economic downturn, while their executives enjoy raises and bonuses. What kind of fucked up shit is that? The woman that sleeps on the mattress behind me on A street parallel to the fence of a parking lot was telling me her story.

She lost her job and house on the same week. She lived in her van after and when she couldn't make payments on that too, the police came and took it and her dog from her and put her in jail for fighting back. With the last of her savings she bailed herself out and paid $150 to take her dog out. She carries everything she has left in a shopping cart. When we got up before the sunrise this morning, before people start to show up for work, and we are forced to leave, she apologized if she kept me awake at night because of her cough. When I asked where I coould get some breakfast, she gave me a banana, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich and a trailmix bar.

Before the end of my night as I was sitting on the corner of 5th and Market a guy offered me a subway sandwich. When I asked him why he did it he said that would hope someone would do the same if he was in my situation. Being homeless completely changes the concept of everyday struggles. Finding a place to shit in privacy is impossible. The public restrooms door is wide open, the toilets do not have their own doors. Fast food franchises make you pay a quarter at the door to enter like a phone booth and no private restaurant will let me in. Showers, you have to sign up for at a place called St Vincent De Paul and there is no provacy there either. I eat once a day and my body is in starvation mode; Im actually gaining weight, storing every meal I take in to the max.

Day 158: November 9th 2009. First Night Homeless

2009-11-13T15:29:00.000-08:00

John made it clear to me the night before that because he was a guest at the house he was staying at he couldn't promise another night. Six people already lived in the two bedroom, 1 bathroom apartment of which I felt a very unwelcome vibe from two. The theme of the house was an 1800s style mustache, so long, it was made to curl up. At least one of them rocked it as a sign of arrogance, I could tell, the worst quality a human could possess.

The next morning came and I was awaken by the proximity of traffic to the apartment, as if I was in Cairo again. It was about 630. John invited me to come check out Point Loma Nazarene University which was facing the open ocean; I couldn;t refuse. The 10 minute walk up the hill was tiring but at the top I witnessed my first swell since January. It seemed small at first but then I looked to the left and Boom! Fuck yeah, solid head high waves. I started skipping fast towards it and there was about 10-15 guys on each of the three peaks. I watched for the next three hours. Surf, Im comin to you, but for now Im here. As I watched, John texted me and told me that one of the roommates is brining my stuff, a good hint it was time for me to go. At 3 I said my goodbyes to John and was on my own. For the rest of the day I would be looking for a job, homeless services and a corner to sleep in.

So I wandered the streets of San Diego, applying in Subways, and different restaurants. Its not like I came here without a plan. I applied to every single microbiology position I came across in Phoenix. Not a single one has responded. If this is what God intended for me, the it what it is and like I said before I accept that fate. I sat on the corner of 5th and Market for a while before a San Diego ambassador told me to leave and so I did. While I was headed back to the bay, I came across a corner lined up with at least 30 people laying out. That was where I would spend my night. And as I was walking up a bunch of college kids came up to everybody and offered sandwiches and water. They also came to sit and talk. I got to spend my time with Jaime and Ni Mo a sophomore and a junior at UCSD in La Jolla. Very kind people, they were. I went to sleep at the corner of A street and State.

Day 157: November 8 2009. Mile 26 on CA-98 to San Diego (26 mi)

2009-11-13T14:45:00.000-08:00

I made it to San Diego. Not the the going out with a bang I wanted but I'm here, with the Pacific ocean right infront of me and its breeze running through my nose getting me high. Im in disbelief. I can't imagine. Ive seen a car with a surfboard today. Is it real?

I was up and skating at 6 and what a difficult start it was. Texas shitty roads, yes again. Then the heat picked up, then mountains and running of water. Its like everything, every obstacle has been put in my way in the end. During my skate (actually I was walking then because the road was terrible) I came across a cycler who stopped to talk.

"Brian Mc.. (I can't recall the last name). How are you?"

"Omar, nice to meet you"

"Walking across country?"

"Trying to, but actually I can't skate because of these shit roads. How are your wheels holding up on these roads?"

"Horrible. Im starting a petition against these roads. They just repaved it too. This country once had the best roads on earth"

That last sentence stuck with me for a while. Shitty ass fucking roads. Where's all the money going to? I said farewell to Brian and continued. The road was fucking long and hot and if it weren't for the border patrol agents who hooked me up with water, I would have ran out with 15 miles to go. With 8 miles still left, my knees were feeling like they needed to be replaced. My calves and thighs were sore too. I relaxed underneath the shade of a little bush. I kept going again and at about 1 PM was at the Texaco station at the little town of Ocitillo enjoying Flamin Hot Lays, Ginseng Iced Tea and Welchs Strawberry fruit snacks and mentally preparing for the interstate mountain passes coming up. I was sitting on a little curb finishing up my fruit snacks when I saw a really familiar face walking up to the register. As the person walked in I got up to see the license plate on his car; indeed it was an Arizona one. I knew this guy. Oh! It was another pedicabber.

I never even knew his name but on Halloween Saturday we were working in Tempe for the ASU vs Cal game. In the taxi line up, he was infront of me. A crew of six guys needed two cabs and since I was the one behind him I got the rest of the guys. The guys wanted me to race him about 2 blocks up to a bar called the library. He gave me a head start but still beat me in the end. That was all I knew of him. What he was doing in this tiny ass town this far from Arizona, was beyond me.

"Yo, are you a pedicabber?" I shouted as he walked back out of the gas station

"Aaaaah, yeah? Do I know you?"

"Yeah man, remember me? ASU vs Cal game in Tempe....Im a Bumblebee (pointing to the logo on my shirt)"

"Aaaaahh..."

"...we raced, you beat me.... I was wearing a wig?"

"Oh thats right! I remember you. What are you doing all the way out here?"

"Man Im trying to make it to San Diego. Where are you headed?"

"I have to take care of a pedicabbing ticket I got in San Diego"

"You mind if I ride with you?"

"No, not at all"

And so it was. I took the oppurtunity which was so random in this shit tiny gas station in the middle of nowhere California; I was there at the same time he was. Out of the 40 other pedicabbers that day he was the one infront of me and riders needed two, which was unusual. Eric was his name. And when we got to San Diego he introduced me to some other pedicabbers. I didn't want to ask of anything more of him. I really wanted to see the ocean, not the bay. Now, I was stressin about a place to stay. If it was in my destiny to be homeless, the so shall it be. I accepted that fate right then and there, for I knew it was what was best. But if I was to spend the night homeless in SAn Diego then it would at least be on the beach on the Pacific; the closest was 8 miles north of downtown and so I skated. I got to Point Loma, a suburb of San Diego and the sun was setting. There was no way I was going to make it 5 miles before dark so I turned back and walked into a McDonalds. An old Hawaiian woman came up to me and asked if I was travelling and after interviewing me for a little offered a place to spend the night. She said she would go ask her daughter and commanded me twice to wait on her there. I waited for a half hour and when she got back she apologized for her daughter couldn't take me in. I said it was alright and now really planned to sleep outside. As I was walking back to the bay on Harbor Drive a guy came up to.

"Have you been travelling?"

"Yeah man I just got into San Diego today"

"Did you walk the whole way?"

"Skated, walked, rode"

"Wow! Thats so cool!"

"Yeah man"

"So whats the craziest thing that happened?"

"Man to tell you the truth I haven't even started reflecting yet." I didn't want to talk, just lay out and be warm. I was too tired

"So what are you going to do now?"

"Man I gotta go find a place to sleep"

"I have a place you can spend the night and shower if you want"

"Really?!"

"Yeah, follow me"

"Man, you must be angel or something"

"Im John"

"And Im Omar"

And so it was. He saw me walking as he was standing on his apartment balcony and came to chase me down. Coincidence? Nah, I always said coincidence was unexplained reason. First night in San Diego, spent warm, amongst a quiver of 6 road nikes and 7 surfboards, in a house straight from the 70s. 70s style furniture, TVS and an old ass Atari.

Day 156: November 7, 2009 Mile 26 on AZ-238 to Mile 20 on CA-98 (46 mi)

2009-11-09T10:26:00.000-08:00

San Diego on the mind. Waves in the soul. So close! Im in Cali, even though everything so far reminds me of Texas/New Mexico.

Early start and a cool morning. The day started real quiet on AZ-238. No cars. Just the desert wind and a train every once in a while on the parallel railroad tracks. After the first five pushes my stomach cramped so I walked the first mile. Things were progressing too slow so I got on the board. Cruising at 8mi/hr, wooo off to Gila Bend and the beginning of the interstate hoping it would be as copless as New Mexico.
At 910 I was in Gila Bend, reloading on water and Poptarts. Then it was off to I-8. 2 miles into I-8...
"Weeeeeooowww"
"Fuck me, already?!"
"Sir, what do you think you are doing? You are not allowed here" said the smartass DPS officer
"Sir, Im trying to get to San Diego. This is the onle road that will take me there"
"Im sorry, do you have an ID on you?"

He jumps back in his car and I wait. Straight up, about 20 minutes later as I was sweating my ass of sitting on the side of the road, he comes back out

"Sorry Omar, you are going to have to find an alternate route"
"But there is no alternate route"
"Thats not my problem"
"Sir, Im almost there, please just let it slide this one time"
"Sorry, state law prohibits you from skating on this road" with not a trace of sorrow in his voice
"Well, I have no idea what to do now"
"I can't help you there, but if I find you on this road again, Ill have to take you in. Consider this a warning"
"Thank You"

So I walked with my head held low. If I must walk this 100 some miles, then so be it. I was pissed. This cop was an asshole and treated me like shit for no reason. Oh well. I walked and so it was. I got picked up by a white Hyundai. Francisco was his name and he was heading to Mexicali to visit his family. To El Centro we departed where I would get off and never have to be on the interstate again. (Since from Yuma, AZ to El Centro, CA there was no alternate route but the interstate)

I left Francisco in Calexico and off I skated on CA-98 a mediocre road. Farms on both sides and scorching heat reminded me of Safford, AZ. San Diego baby. 3 days, here I come

Day 155: November 6, 2009, Mesa to Mile 26 on AZ-238 (42 mi)

2009-11-09T10:13:00.000-08:00

Finally back on the road, man it feels good, but exhausting. Its been a while since I skated and I had to push myself alot harder this time around. I left Mesa at 7 after saying my farewells to Keil and Hannah. I have said so many goodbyes in my life that it has just become another part of life for me. As much as it makes me sad to go, I feel like I dont feel it inside. My dad always told me I was cold blooded (in the most loving way).

From Baseline I took Kyrene which put me on AZ 347. It was a little confusing but I was on my Way on 347 when a red jeep pulled ahead and a guy started taking pictures. I didn't bother to stop because I was in the zone and at 10 I found myself at Maricopa. From there I got onto AZ-238 and exhaustion started to kick in. Stomach cramps, sore ankles and a terrible case of ball rash; with every kick an intense buring on the left side. I stopped, rested at mile 38 and was about to admit defeat for the day but decided to keep going. And I forgot about the pain. At 3:47 I decided that was enough skating for the day. Pretzels for dinner. I feel like tomorrow is gonna be painful.

Day 152: November 3rd 2009, Ready for Some Surf!

2009-11-03T08:17:00.000-08:00

The journey resumes! I've had some good times in Phoenix, but I'm excited to get out and make the final phase of the continental part happen. I need the ocean; this huge flat desert is so boring. Sunday's Cardinals vs Panthers game was my last day with the the Bumblebee and since the last week, I have managed to save the $400 I needed to get out but not without a struggle. Its definitely not going to be enough, but the cold is moving in quick and the days are getting shorter and shorter and I feel like if I stayed any longer I won't be getting out until March and I'm not about to let that happen. A small window of oppurtunity has opened and its time to jump through.

The same thoughts of leaving have now hit as in every city. The butterflies, the fears of being on the road, the anxiousness of arriving at the otherside...all the things that make leaving real. Its on for Thursday, November 5th. 2 days to Gila Bend on I-8. According to the satellite there is a road that runs next to I-8 for the most part I plan on taking.

The gods of stoke have answered mine and Jochem's prayers!

Day 134: October 16th 2009, Stuck and Stressin in Phoenix

2009-10-16T12:55:00.000-07:00

I hope Im not speaking prematurely or being too judgmental but Phoenix is not the place I want to be. To be honest, San Diego is not even that place. I mean maybe temporarily. I can't dig it here. I've tried but its not my style. But I spent so much time here that I'm now more or less stuck.

The Bumblebee didn't turn out to be the money that it seemed, which is all good but now I have no money to get out. This is how it works. On regular days you pay $27 to the bossman to lease a bike and if you don't pay it before the shift it becomes $37 (27/37 rule). On Cardinal football game days the lease is $85 and on other occasions its $65. The Bumblebee follows a little system of seniority. You sign up for the next day if you worked the day before. If not you have to wait for a spot of 8 to open up between 15 people. Because I'm the most recent hire, I'm the lowest on the totem pole. I have to work every shitty slow day to get to the good day (weekend/event). What this forces me to do is to pay the $37 lease on 3 slow ass days even though some days I can't get a single ride because Phoenix downtown is a ghost town. I have seen more people walk around South Kingstown, RI than some days in Phoenix. It's pretty sad. I'm about $54 in the hole with my boss right now. I'm trying to save at least $500 to get out of here, but that doesn't seem like a prospect anytime in the near future.

So now what? Well I gotta stick it out obviously, I just hope it wont be too long. I almost landed a teaching gig, but then found it was gonna start next September. Hell no, I'm not gonna be in Phoenix for this long. Ill be really stressing if I have to be here until Thanksgiving. That's the thing about this place that's getting to me. I feel like I'm slowly losing my peace that I fought so hard to reach to. I've almost quit my meditations. I've stopped skating. I really haven't skated since I got here. Work is about 25 miles away since I live in Mesa and work in downtown Phoenix. Reggae is weak here. The only spot I've come across, the Sail Inn in Tempe has a reggae band every Thursday night but there are like 10 people in the whole place. It's dead.
I want to be alone so bad, I want to be on the road again

"Lord I gotta keep on moving, Lord I got to get on down
Lord I gotta keep on moving, where I cant be found
Lord they coming after me

Ive been accused on my mission, Jah knows you shouldn't do
For hanging me they were willing, and thats why Ive got to get on through
Lord they coming after me

I know someday I'll find that piece of land somewhere not nearby babylon
The war will soon be over and africa, will unite the children who liveth in
darkness have seen the great light

Lord I got to keep on moving, Lord I got to get on down
Lord Ive got to keep on moving, where I cant be found, where I cant be found
Lord they coming after me"

Bob Marley & the Wailers - Waiting in Vain

2009-10-09T09:50:00.000-07:00

From the very first time I blessed my eyes on you, girl
My heart says follow through.
But I know, now, that I'm way down on your line
But the waiting feel is fine
So don't treat me like a puppet on a string, cause I know how to do my thing
Don't talk to me as if you think I'm dumb
I wanna know when you're gonna come - soon.
I don't wanna wait in vain for your love.
Cause if summer is here I'm still waiting there
Winter is here, And I'm still waiting there
Like I said,
It's been three years since I'm knockin' on your door, and I still can knock some more
Ooh girl, ooh girl, is it feasible?I wanna know now, for I to knock some more.
In life I know there's lots of grief
But your love is my relief
Tears in my eyes burn - tears in my eyes burn
While I'm waiting - while I'm waiting for my turn

I don't wanna wait in vain for your love

Day 120: October 2nd 2009, The Good Word From Phoenix

2009-10-02T12:07:00.000-07:00

So Im still here in Phoenix, Arizona. I'm living with a couple of friends from high school in Mesa who I haven't seen in 2003. Its been nothing but good old times. I also got a job and yesterday was my first day. I work for the Bumblebee Pedicab Service in Downtown Phoenix, drving drunk people around and I'm loving it. The money seems to be great. I still haven't set a date to leave yet, but I gotta make my money. If its cool with Keil and Hannah I'll ask if I can chill until Halloween, although I had a dream last night that they wanted me out by Monday.

Day 112: September 24 2009, West of Florence Junction to Tempe (36 mi)

2009-09-28T09:23:00.000-07:00

I never wrote an entry for that day. Though I really dont have much to say about it. Phoenix is fuckin huge, but skating 20 miles through an urban area is so much easier than 20 miles in the middle of an empty road (though the empty road is much more fun...usually). I got into Tempe about 5ish and met up with some old friends. I dont know how long I'm going to spend in Phoenix, but it's still an open date to this point

Day 111: September 23 2009, Superior to west of Florence Junction (22mi)

2009-09-24T11:30:00.000-07:00

Again taking my time, no rush to cover distance. Today was easy. It was so fucking windy last night. Didn't sleep well. Got up early, 6AM. One more mountain pass then down we go. I walked the first 3 miles outside of Superior. Tight, shitty shoulder gave me no other option. After the Boyce Thompson Arboritum State Park, the shoulder got wide. Widest shoulder I've ever been on. Enough to fit 2 Hummers side by side. Wider than the lanes on the road. And smoother. Thats what I'm fucking talking about.

A little hilly up until Gonzalez Pass but the tailwind was blowing strong. Kicks carried me far. I passed a guy walking cross country and he stared at me in jealousy. It seems like he had been walking for a while. He wished he had a skateboard, that's what he screamed to me as I skated past him. At the top I started stressing. For the first mile down it was steep, 6% grade steep. And the wind pushing me made me go fast, real fast, too fast for comfort, at least for me on this board. I tried to foot brake, there was no slowing down. I felt the speedwobble. Figuring I could go about 20 mi/hr comfortable, I must have been going 30 0something. I was really scared. For the first time I wished the tailwind turned into a headwind. I focused, balanced and at least it was going to flatten out eventually. At 1010 I was at Florence Junction, didn't have to put my foot down. Cruised. I thought there was going to be some services here, but nada, just a junction to Florence. Skated about 7 more miles. Finished early. Gonna just wrap it up and skate to Tempe tomorrow.

Day 110: Sept 22 2009, Claypool to Superior (10mi)

2009-09-24T10:33:00.000-07:00

Lazy, late start. I slept until about 8ish not wanting to rush. Even decided I'd rather walk so I walked 2 miles to Miami, the copper capital of the world and got there at about 9. Had a couple of donuts, rested, being lazy, and then kept going. The road after Miami consisted of nice hills witha good tailwind for about 4 miles. Then there was some serious road construction for the next 4 miles. Tight shoulders, rough roads, and loose gravel everywhere made for a stressing skate. So I walked and came up to a flagger.
"Where are you walking to?"

"San Diego"

"Are you serious?!"

If he only knew how far I'd come. San Diego doesn't even seem that far to me anymore. Its only the next state, but it's all a mtter of relativity. The road work was serious. They were widening it, which meant that they were scraping the sides off the mountain. It ended at Top of the World. I made it safely there at about 11. I intended to keep skating to the Oak Flats Campground about 5 miles further but a man in his 40s with a limp called me over as I was trying to figure out if Top of the World Trading Post (the little shop in town) was open.

"Hey, you need a drink?" asked the old man from a distance

"Yeah, is this place open?"

"No, I got some water if you want" waving for me to come over

"Cool" So I walked over

"I used to skate"

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah a long time ago. T" extending his hand to introduce himself (I'm not going to mention his real name out of respect)

"Omar, nice to meet you. And thank you" Shaking his hand

"Have a seat here while I get you a drink" He pointed to some chairs outside his duplex

He brought me a cold Pepsi, offered beer and a cigarette but I thanked him and declined. I kept asking him questions, he didn't seem too interested in my journey. I guess he was originally from Chicago and had been living in Palm Beach for a while. He had a girl who inhereted millions from her parents and they threw it away on crack. They broke up and he moved to Phoenix. There he got involved with meth and one day got a DUI and aggravated assualt for spitting on the cop and got four years in prison. In prison, he claimed to have started receiving messages from aliens, "the grays" and "the greens". He couldn't explain it to me, the messages, that is. The only thing was that the "grays" didn't like the "greens" and something was going to go down in the future, that's all he wanted to say.

Besides the crack and the alien stuff which really didn't bother me, there wa something about his manner I felt sketched out about. He kept saying how the town of 30 people all feared the police because they thought they were spying on them. His dad found him this place after jail. He got a $600 check from the government every month after convincing them that his knee got hurt getting abducted from by aliens. With that money he paid his rent here and lived. After our conversation he asked if I wanted to walk around town to check it out. Of course. I also wanted to see how his community reacted to this guy, because I knew there was something loose.

First he took me to Top of the World Sidewinders where I met Tommy and Tammy. They were a badass couple who put car engines on motorcycles, to drag race. The engines only fit sideways, hence the name. Tommy was working on a bike that was fitted with an old V8 Corvette engine. A beast it was. They acted ok around T, but I still wasn't sure. Next he took me to the drug house as he called it. The door was slightly open and he just walked in.

"Party house" he said "doesn't seem like anyone is here"

I walked inside and it looked like a dirty college party house. I saw bags of dried pinto beans laying around everywhere. Pillos and covers on the floor told me somebody, probably more than one, were sleeping here not too long agao. Why the fuck is he showing me this nasty ass spot, I thought. We left after finding nobody and he walked with his stick and limp with the dumbest smirk on his face.

Something is up with this guy. I knew it and now I had to stick around to find out. We went back to his house and sat. He offered another Pepsi.

"So where do you sleep?"

"I find a place to camp. Im headed to Oak Flats"

"Well, aaaahh, I ain't no fag or no killer or nothing but you can sleep here"

"Cool man, we'll see what happens"

"Im gonna go see if somebody is going to town. You watch the house for me?"

"Yeah, sure"

"Alright, I'll be back"

How could this guy just leave me here in his house. I went and grabbed my book, "The Hot Zone", about Ebola and read. It was now about 430 and T had been gone for more than an hour. I had finished the last few chapters of my book and was at a loss of what to do. I thought about just leaving but didn't want to be disrespectful after his kindness. He came back 10 minutes later with a baby handle of whisky in his hand already half gone. He seemed pretty tipsy, came and sat, then lifter his hands up

"Oh the dope! I gotta go get something" as if I didn't hear what he just said.

"Yeah go ahead man"

He headed to the right where some trailers were. Again he dissappeared for a while. When I saw him coming back he was walking from the opposite direction on the highway, the same route we had taken to the drug trailer. But it was empty, why did he head over there. And why did he start off at the opposite side? Just questions. He comes and sits then about 1o minutes later I notice smoke from the eastside of town. I make nothing of it, then the smoke gets darker and darker, thicker and thicker. I get up to get a closer look.

"Man this smoke looks bad, it might be coming from Tommy's. Should we go check to see if he's alright?"

"Huh? It looks ok"

I guessed I must have been overreacting. Maybe Tommy was smoking one of his bikes or something. But the smoke only intensified. Now I saw Tommy and Tammy running out of their shop looking east.

"Man I really think we should see whatsup. Someone might need help"

He looked at me like I was hallucinating. "Uhhhh, yeah...."

"Well Im gonna go see"

I ran towards the smoke. And there is was the drug trailer was burning intensly. Like the Olympic Torch was burning.

"Son of a bitch, motherfucking druggies" Tommy was now really worried that the strong westerly wind would blow the fire right into his shop. Everything was pretty dry and the fire was spreading quick.

"Where's the fire department? Did anybody call 9-1-1?" I frantically asked

"We called them. They transferred us to Miami FD. Miami then transferred us to Superior FD. We just have to wait" a bearded man replied

"Well is there a water source?"

"That place has been abandoned for months. Junkies come and go every once in a while. It's got nothing, not even a spetic system"

The fire had now been burning for a half hour. The whole trailer was toast. It's deck was now catching on fire including a propane grill. It was so hot, you couldn'y even stand on the opposite end of the street. I took some pictures from that angle but couldn't stand for long. On hour, getting dark and still no fire truck. The fire now caught on the electric lines until they ripped and started sparking. little explosions kept goign off. The sheriff just arrived when just about the frame was left. It was still burning strong. The smoke was so thick, with the wind blowing hard towards where we stood we couldn't see. It was now dark. It stung your eyes standing 500 feet away like you were putting your head close to a campfire. The fire truck from Superior arrived 10 minutes after the sheriff followed by another from Miami in the opposite directions. People were standing everywhere on the road except for T. I looked around again for him but instead I heard an old woman talk.

"Its that crazy guy that lives down there" pointing to the direction of T's house. "I've seen him try to light things on fire before. I saw him walking past it 10 minutes before"

Oh shit I thought. I asked her what the guys name was, she didn't know but she described T. I went back to the house where he was sitting casually drinking a beer.

"How you doin man?" I asked him

"I feel great"

"Yeah? Man did you start that fire?"

"Me? No. Why would I do something like that?" I looked into his eyes. The eyes don't lie. He couldn't look me back. I knew he acted way too cool and too passive about this. I know I saw him walking from that direction 10 minuted before the smoke. He had gone into that house earlier. I walked back to where people were watching. He walks up later and asks how was it. When the sheriff walks over he goes up to him

"This guy's a dealer" poiting to a bald older man with a mustache

"T, this is not the time or place fore this" the sheriff replied

"He told me he was going to get his gun and shoot me" now replied the bald man

"Guys, please take this somewhere else"

The sheriff knew T's name. He must have done something. I had to let them know what I thought and saw. Tammy told me I should let the sheriff know too. When I said what I knew and how I met him, the sheriff told me T was bipolar. And just because he acted cool about it didn't prove anything. He wasn't all there. Either way, I wasn't about to spend the night there. The sheriff offered me a ride 8 miles to Superior and I didn't hesitate to accept. I waite until 10PM until everything was over and the sheriff was ready. I'm still pretty sure T set that place on fire.

It was a cold windy night and I couldn't wait to get into my sleeping bag. Beneath some mesquite trees I lay again.

Day 109: September 21 2009, San Carlos to Claypool (23 mi)

2009-09-22T10:10:00.000-07:00

Rusty start afer being easy for a whole week. The most generous locals of San Carlos insisted on giving me a ride to Phoenix. When I declined they offered to at least give me a ride to Florence Junction at the base of the mountains. Again I declined, preffereing to skate. They again insisted at least to the San Carlos line. No thank you I replied. They just couldn't comprehend why someone would want to skate and walk instead of ride in an air conditioned car. No matter how much I explained that this journey needed to be as slow as possible and to be skated as much as possible, they just couldn't comprehend. Such a kind hospitable people, that only cared for my well being.

After riding with them to Globe so many times last week to dine and shope I realized how boring it is to travel by car. You dont get to appreciate the landscape, you can't feel the elements and there is no rewarding feeling after finally reaching your destination. Everytime, I just couldn't wait to get out of the car.

Anyhow, again a necessary early start to the day, where I took rouch ass Indian Route 6 to US-70 a 12 mile ride. The road was terribly rough but after some relaxing times in San Carlos, suffering a little, I convinced myself is just fine. It took me tow hours to cover that road and I was on US 70 at 820. One mile into 70 and I was saying farwell to the reservation that has welcomed me so kindly and grdually began to greet Phoenix, which I'm so excited for to see some real old friends.

I got to Globe an hour later and ran some errands and ate. I found a little lump on my lower back right on top of my spinal cord that I'm stressin about. I can't see or take pictures of it but can feel it. If it keeps up, Im gonna have to get it checked out. i just hope it's not a disc. Down to $62.13 until Phoenix. I can make it happen easily until then, but will definetely need a job there. Taking my time. I won't cover more than 30 miles for the next week. Besides the coming 6% grade after Top of The World, AZ, I found that among all this randomness its nice to have a little routine of skating five days and resting two. My shoes' lifespan are almost up. No foot braking down the slopes, new pair in Phoenix.

I just want to get to San Diego, and get this trip over with. Not that I'm sick of it, but the more time I relax and not on the road, the more I reflect and every reflection I feel is so inaccurate because I'm still not done. Thoughts, thoughts, thoughts.

One Week in Apache Land

2009-09-21T11:31:00.000-07:00

Well I didn't get to eat Peyote like I hoped and I didn't get to spend that much time at the Sunrise Dance like I planned but its all good because I had a great time nonetheless. Truly, Robert and Alice were such hospitable hosts, I'm so lucky I ended up with them. There are a few lessons I learned and impressions I came out with. Some of which I will share, and some which out of respect, I will not.

Life on the San Carlos reservation, I hoped would be much more traditional in an Apache way. Not that I thought people lived in tee pees but I thought traditions would have been kept. Instead I came to realize that life on the reservation, to my disappointment, was almost the same as an American town. I hoped I would eat much more traditional food, but instead I was kindly fed pizza, bacon, eggs, hot dogs, and broccoli rice. I did get to eat some delicious acorn dumpling soup though which was delicious, nothing like I have ever had before. Most people on the reservation cannot even understand Apache, let alone speak it and that's why I realized that people looked at me weirdly when I tried to greet them in Apache. It made me think about some things about me. I cannot criticize the Apaches for losing so many elements of their culture, I can say the same thing about my own. I became very disappointed seeing the effects of a people who lose their beautiful traditions.

Drinking is such a problem on the reservation (rez). A DUI is like a coming of age celebration in many ways. It was very sad to see how alcohol controlled these peoples lives. The only convenience store that sells alcohol at the reservation, the C store, from what I heard is the number one seller of alcohol in the whole state of Arizona. As a matter of fact Budweiser executives have been known to visit there. I have seen a great majority drinking 40s in the early morning or late at night. That's just what people do, drink. As a consequence, most of the community is unproductive and as Robert put it to me, the people on the reservation have no self determination, they just want to have fun. And as another consequence there is a huge problem with diabetes, heart problems, and obesity. Most people on the rez are unattractively overweight. For the tiny community of 4 or 5 thousand there is a whole diabetes center; I have never seen that in a community that size before. The Apaches have not adapted and have not evolved to the disgusting habits of modern life, drinking in alcoholic ways and fatty foods. They were once a healthy people who got everything from the environment around them, gathering and hunting, but the situation is very different now.

It is such a shame how traditions are lost. I was 'invited' to go to a Pentecostal service by an Apache minister. Christianity and Islam have both, unlike any other religion, conquered, converted, and completely dissolved the traditions of other people for the sake of seeing the light. It is so so disappointing to me.

Having said all this, there are still the proud few. I was very happy to hear one of my 'tour guides' Jameson talk to me about the Apaches fighting against a copper corporation from Australia trying to buy and mine Apache land for the sake of economic growth. When the Chinese mayor of Superior hosted a delegation of Apaches to try and find out why they were fighting, they told him that this was their sacred land that they prayed and lived on. He told them that when he came to America, he dropped his chopsticks for a spoon. Jameson wasn't there but he told me how frustrated he became with that comment. He said that his people didn't hop here on a boat from a foreign land. This was Apache land for years and years. They wouldn't give their land up to a corporation that was going to pollute their waters with toxins, destroy their holy sites and pay their ununionized workers shit wages so they can make as much money as possible and send it back to wherever they came from. That made me happy to hear.

The Apache culture is a beautiful one. Every culture is a beautiful one. The lesson I learned coming out is how sad it is to see traditions lost because of a conqueror who forcibly brings theirs upon you to bring you a better life. Life on the reservation today is a sad consequence of bringing that better life, just like the Aborigines who live in desperate poverty in Australia. I have left San Carlos and its people behind, but they will always have a special place in my heart.

The journey continues in search of more answers, which bring more questions, and force me to keep travelling. Life is good.

Day 103, Part II: How I Ended Up With an Apache Family

2009-09-17T08:51:00.000-07:00

I really feel so lucky and so blessed. I'm chilling in what could probably be a 5 star accommodation trailer. Today I gathered the courage to go and ask the council for permission to stay on the reservation. They first said that I needed to purchase a permit for $10/day to be here. I said that it was out of my budget especially because I wanted to hang around for a week and witness the upcoming Sunrise Dance Festival. Let me get into the details.

After my adventures with the drunk ladies, I skated into San Carlos from Peridot after dropping them off. I got into town and there Paul who I talked about in my last post came up to me and escorted me to the library where I wrote about my adventures that day. I still didn't have permission to stay on the reservation so I went to a market right where some people where hanging out outside. I asked a lady sitting outside where I could speak to the tribal leader and she pointed me to the building next door.

"Go and ask for Chairman Windslar Nosie. His office is at the end of the hall"

I was really nervous, wondering what the outcome could be. What if he laughed in my face? Told me I wasn't welcome? Called the tribal police to escort me off the reservation? Still, I had to try, I had to at least give it a shot. I walked into that hallway as if it was a dark cave with no light on the other side. I could see the room at the end of the hallway. About three people were waiting in line to speak to the same man and here I was. This foreign looking dude with this huge bag on his back waiting behind all these locals waiting on the advice of their leader; what could he possibly want? A younger looking guy came up to me. This guy was big. I already felt tiny amongst all these people, this guy seemed like he was 7 foot tall, 300 lbs. Realistically he was about 6'2", 280lbs.

"Can I help you with something?"
"Yes, I uhh, am looking to speak with the chairman"
"In regard to what?"
"Well, I'm travelling and was wondering if I could get permission from him to stay on the reservation for bit"
"I can help you with that" I followed him into the office next door where he was already speaking to somebody about my question

A smaller but older looking man sitting on his desk and working on his laptop turns to his left to face me

"So you are travelling?"
"Yeah"
"And you are from?"
"Egyptian, but from Rhode Island"
"Oh wow and what brings you here?"
"Well I'm riding my skateboard across the country, but I wanted to live amongst the Apaches and learn about your culture for a little. So I was wanting to get permission to stay on the reservation"
"My name is Tao, this is Patrick, Santana and Jameson" pointing to each one. "Patrick can help you with your permit to stay on the reservation, he works for Game and Fish"

Patrick was the big man that first asked me if I needed any help. He was now sitting behind his desk across facing the entrance to the room.

"Well to stay on the reservation it is $10 a night. That is one of the ways we generate income for our community. The only other way to stay on the reservation is to be the guest of a tribal member"
"Wow, well, I'm on a very limited budget while travelling and I really don't have that kind of money. I would like to spend seven nights here and witness the Sunrise Dance Festival. Is there any other way? Maybe you could let it slide this one time. I could really sleep anywhere, I don't care, underneath any tree"
"Hmmm, well its the rule"
"Maybe you can take him in house" Tao sarcastically suggested
"Yeah, but I don't know if my mom would like that" Patrick seriously replied
"So what made you want to go on this trip?" Tao was now asking me
"Well I just needed a personal journey and I really wanted to visit the west coast. I had some money and my skateboard and decided, hey why not just skate?"
"And this was after college?"
"Yes"
"What did you study in college?"
"Entomology and microbiology. Insects and stuff"
"Cool"
"So you are an American?"
"Yeah"
"I just ask because it would be more of an issue staying here if you weren't" I figured this anyway because the Indian reservations are all under the Department of the Interior, a federal agency. If I wanted to get anything done, I thought, I had to be completely open, transparent and honest. I had my passport.
"Well I have my passport if you would like to check it out"
"Ill have a look at it" Patrick blurts out

So I dig through my bag and give it to him. He flips through the pages curiously seeing the stamps of all the places I have been. I sit in the office for sometime longer while they carry on their work and while I wait for a deliberation like an accused waiting for the jury to walk back into the courtroom and read the verdict. I decide then to go to the bathroom. When I returned I sat for about 15 more minutes on my board, my back leaning against a filing cabinet, until Tao comes up with an awesome sounding suggestion.

"Oh I know where he could stay! Alice! She hosts exchange students sometimes. Maybe she would be interested in letting you stay. Then, because you are a guest of a tribal member, you wouldn't have to pay" He calls her but she doesn't answer. After about 30 minutes as I was eating some jerky and drinking some water that was generously given to me she calls back.

"Hey Alice" He talks some business with her first and then, the important stuff "Hey remember those students from Alaska you hosted a while back, would you be interested in doing it again?" Because she was on the phone so many things ran across my mind of what she could possibly say "Well I have this guy Omar Fahmy who is travelling across the country and wanting to stay the week here," "...Yeah he is here now...he is from Egypt...can you teach her to belly dance? (laughs)...he says you need to get your stomach muscles ready...(more laughs from all)...yeah...ok" And then he hung up.
"So Omar she said she would ask her husband and let me know. I know she will say yes though"

I waited for another half hour until an older Apache woman came in. Tao was her councilman from her district and told her about my story and if she was interested in hosting me. She offered Motel 6 by the casino saying it was $40/night. When she left Tao asked me about what I thought.

"Sometimes people don't really understand travel. Even I didn't until recently. Travel to me has become about learning about others which in turn teaches me about myself. If I were to stay at a motel how would I learn about the day to day activities of the Apache people, their culture and language. Through travel I have come to the conclusion that people are the same everywhere, except for the minor cultural differences which I am interested about"

10 minutes later Jameson who was sitting across from Patrick says that he spoke to Alice. She awaited me at 8PM. Since it was only 4 Tao suggested that Patrick show me around, then take me there. I thanked Tao so much, he gave me his number and told me if I needed anything to call. Me Patrick, and Jameson left in Patrick's white Chevy Equinox. Our first stop would be Patrick's real office at Game and Fish where he suggested I change and take a shower. I did and so many questions I had. Jameson did most of the talking. I could tell he was a respected man who knew lots about the Apache culture.

At Patrick's office we had some introductory but deep conversations. It started with the Apache creation story. (I want the reader to understand that this story was told me and I'm telling you this story which makes it already 2 degrees inaccurate so please if I make mistakes, it is my fault)

Apaches believe that God, Eucen, created the world. His son, Nayet Nazyiana was the slayer of monsters who killed off all the wicked animals of the earth. Eucen also created the first Apache, St Iglesia, or the White Painted Lady. She was told to gather water at a river and there she was struck by lightning four times and that was how life began. What really fascinated me about this story was the secret combo of lightning and water. In the 1950s an experiment was done by Miller/Urey which indeed theorized that when a small electric charge, representing lightning on pre-life earth was introduced to a water medium with inorganic compounds, the inorganic compounds formed into large organic compounds including the building blocks of DNA and certain amino acids. The Apaches knew this before science was even science. I also learned about the Gann, the 'angels' of the Apaches. Each represented an animal, the most important being the bear. They were human bodies with no faces in elaborate costumes and crowns.

Jameson and Patrick then took me to a place called the Holy Grail where some of the holiest ceremonies took place. There was a cactus at each of the four corners of the place. In the middle was a clearing with one tree in the center. Next to the tree, was an area with four 'crosses' that were painted black (symbolizing the universe and the beginning of time), yellow (representing the sun), blue (water), and white (wisdom and old age). The four colors were on each cross but each cross had a different segment painted a different color. You had to enter the area with the crosses from the east and great the sun and before exiting greet and leave back from the east. I couldn't take pictures of this holy place but I'll tell you that I no doubt felt an amazing energy there.

Patrick then invited me to have a hearty buffet meal at the casino and man did I stuff myself. He opened up to me a little and let me in on a little secret.

"You know, I have to tell you when you left for the bathroom at the tribal council, we joked that 'what if there was a bomb in his bag?"
"Haha, we let me tell you that as soon as I walked out I assumed just that. 'man they are probably gonna think I left a bomb in my bag'. But in all honesty I have never had any explosives training"
"We were joking, we just didn't know you and you are Egyptian"
"Man its all good, believe me at times I come to expect people to think this and say things like this. Don't think you are the first. Let me tell you something. When I intended to come into your reservation I wanted to know more about it so I asked people. The first was the librarian at Duncan. She strongly recommended I not go through at night because the Indians were 'crazy' and people have been kidnapped and shot there..."
"...That story she said probably didn't mention that, that missing white guy was part of a drug deal gone wrong. There were problems with the investigation because he was missing on our land and they didn't know whose jurisdiction it was"
"Exactly man, its a misunderstanding and ignorance. Its always more complicated than what people think. There is a reason. But anyway the woman at the Chamber of Commerce also told me basically the the people on the reservation are a bunch of crazy drunks. Did you think I thought that was true? No. Its just ignorance. Do you really think all my people are terrorists? Or even most? Even the ones that are, are terrorists for a deeper reason than what we know or think we know. All of us are pinned with a certain stereotype because of ignorance. Every race, even white people. People are the same everywhere, believe me. My people are no more terrorists than yours are drunk savages"

It was funny that even the Native Americans who themselves were called terrorists defending their land were now returning that deed upon me. It made me realize again that people are truly the same everywhere and it was the bullshit media that spread mistrust among us.

We left the casino and Patrick took me to my host family. When I walked in I met Robert, a much older man sitting across from a giant flat screen TV watching the MTV VMAs. I couldn't but laugh in my mind about the irony. Robert was a Choctaw and Alice an Apache. They let me stay in a trailer fit for kings this week. I have so much to learn, so many people to meet. I love the Apaches who have been so kind and hospitable to me.

Lyrics From the Pod

2009-09-15T08:46:00.000-07:00

Here it is, I promised some of my playlist. It has gotten me through the worst. Music is my life.
This is the first part.

"I remember long time ago, you left me standing in the doorway crying. I said please don't leave me, you just didnt pay me no mind, kept right on going and I had to find a brand new love. I said try me, you just didnt seem, kept on moving. I said it was a mans wrold but I stepped right back and gave you credit. Said it wouldn't be nothing without a woman or a girl but that didnt phase you baby. Even when I told you I lost someone. You said go on, go on, gon find yourself a brand new love. I kept makin it baby, then you wanna come back said you want me to take care of you. Just cant seem to reach you baby. I kept right on movin. Baby there was a time when you told me I was your one and only love. Free at last. Free. Free. Free. Im over you"
"Bewildered" by James Brown

"Where you get your colly, Mr collyman, the smell just a nice up the place. Is it an ital colly outta virgin lamp, the smell is as good as the taste"
"Collyman" by Bunny Wailer

"God has many names. Dont judge noone according to the name they choose. If they speak in love, it will bring understanding. God is love"
"Many Names" by John Brown's Body

"Sun is shining, weather is sweet"
"Sun is Shining" by Bob Marley and the Wailers

"Dont go on changing, tryin to please me, you never let me down before. I would not leave you in times of trouble. Ill take the good times, Ill take the bad times, Ill take you just the way you are"
"Just the Way You Are" by Barry White

"Im your mama, Im your daddy, Im that nigga in the alley. Im your doctor when you need, want some coke have some weed. You know me, Im your friend. Your main boy, thick and thin, Im your pusherman...Silent life of crime. A man of our circumstance a vicitim of ghetto deman. Feed me money for stock and Ill you trip for a while. Insecure from the past. How long can a good thing last?"
"Pusherman" by Curtis Mayfield

"Oh lord, please lord, good lord, got to give I strength to face another day"
"Poor Man's Prayer" by John Brown's Body

"Crazy, crazy. And my crazyiness is my choice. I scream it as loud as I can. Capitals-no, no, no passports. Borders - no, no, no blockage between humans and this is my guilt. No north, no south, your nationality is your heart. Go and love and the world will love you back. Cancel lines of height, erase the lines of width. No white, no black we are all from the same Earth"
"Magnoun" (Crazy) by Wust El Balad Band - translation of Egyptian lyrics

"They just keep holding me, wont let go. I need a hammer to hammer them down. I need a rammer to ram them down. They keep teasing me, provoking me, but this is all I know"
"Hammer" by Bob Marley and the Wailers

"Theres nothing you can do that cant be done, nothing you can sing that cant be sung. Nothing you can say but you can learn how to play the game. Its easy. Nothing you can make that cant be made. Noone you can save that cant be saved. Nothing you can do but you can learn how to be you in time. All you need is love"
"All You Need is Love" by The Beatles

"Everybody's misused him. Ripped him up and abused him. Another junkie plan, pushin dope for the man. A terrible blow, but thats how it goes"
"Freddie's Dead" by Curtis Mayfield

"Cold ground was my bed last night, rock was my pillow too. Talkin blues. But Im gonna stare in the sun, let the rain shine in my eyes. Im gonna take one step more"
"Talkin' Blues" by Bob Marley and the Wailers

"Cool down your temper Mr Cop. Put a smile on your face while passin through"
"Mr Cop" by Gregory Isaacs

"I said who you and what you wanna do with my people? I beg you let my people go and then we gon tell them so. You think that all is well? But I know you're living in hell. Yeah man we must break that spell"
"Living Hell" by Junior Kelly

"Shine eye girl is a trouble to a man"
"Shine Eye Girl" by Barrington Levy

"Oooowee it feels so nice it happens everytime. When the music starts to play, Im picking up a good vibe and I feel no pain"
"Good Vibes" by John Brown's Body

Day 103: September 14, 2009, Bylas to San Carlos (28.6 mi)

2009-09-14T14:47:00.001-07:00

Man did I have an adventure today! Im not even bothering to write it in my journal first, Im just gonna tell it to you now. So Im in the Indian Reservation now, chillin with the coolest people in the planet. Already met a few ladies and a few guys (of who Paul insists on being my guardian in my time here)

So the day started out with me really thinking of how Im going to convince a native community who mistrusts outsiders that I come in respect and appreciation and want to live amongst them and learn. I thought of the best way to do it. Befirending some skaters at the park or going to the tribal council and asking permission from elders. I didn't know. But I skated and todays skate wasn't too easy. Big hills, lots of ups and downs and the road seriously changed from at some points to Texas shitty, to the smoothest most silent shoulder I have skated so far. I saw my first cactus today ( I mean the kind that first comes to mind when you think of cactus, not prickly pear, agave or yucca...). Made me happy and I had to give it the salute. The day was seriously in the 80s at 900 and I was burning early on. But it was all good because Peridot was at mile marker 270 and I was at mile marker 273 at about 1020 and then it just happened again...haha

A big Nissan Titan pulls up ahead and an Apache girl sticks her head out and asks if I needed a ride. This was my ticket to introduce myself to the natives and I didn't heistate

"We saw you walking up the hill with your stick, looking like Moses going the other way this morning."
"Hahaha, yeah Moses...This yucca stem is my best friend. Its a paddle, a brake, a walking stick and a weapon against the dogs that chase me down the road"
"Im Michelle, this is Sue and that is Tina"
"It is a pleasure to meet you, and Im Omar"
"I bought you some things that you can have if you would like" She hands me a bag. Inside was a ham and cheese sandwich, a bag of Doritos and 1 liter of Aquafina
"Oh thank you so much, this is what I need right here" pointing to the water. I drank it all
"So where are you coming from?"
"Like where did I start today or where am I from?"
"Hehehe, both"
"Well today I left Bylas. Im Egyptian, but from Rhode Island. I started skating from Memphis"
"Woow, I Egyptian?! I always wanted to be with an Egyptian"
"Haha, well here I am"
"What if I want him too" Sue in the passenger seat blurts out
"Hey, I got a lot of love for everybody"
"So where are you going?"
"Actually today I want to go to Peridot and maybe live amongst the Apaches for a little and learn about their culture and language. I respect them very much."
"Wow, welll you came to the right place, we will show you around"

And that was that. Again, I feel so blessed it came to right to me, I didnt have to look. The kind ladies showed me around as they passed around 40s, clearly sort of intoxicated. They taught me that Peridot is actaully a precious green gem. Geronimo was the name of an old respected Apache leader. They taught me two words, "Akreya" which means thank you and "Tawotaya'a" which means how are you. They showed me an area where something called the Sunrise Dance Festival takes place, which is the coming of age ceremony for a girl that takes place almost every week. One had just finished, but they told me about an upcoming one the next week. Michelle also bought me a righteous, righteous Indian taco which was fucking delicous. The beans on the bottom tasted just like Egyptian "fool" my parents preffered breakfast. And then the good part. Michelle decided to go to the casino and buy some more alcohol. The intoxicated other ladies of course didn't mind. So we drove. At the Chevron Sue and Tina had a little confrontation and security had to be called after Sue walked away with the truck keys. On our way out on US-70 heading back to Peridot, at exactly mile marker 262 we were pulled over by an Arizona State Police Officer. Clearly he was called by the security. They quickly scrambled to chug the 40s that were open and hide the ones that weren't.

"Have you ladies been drinking today"
Michelle: "No sir", Tina (driving): "No sir", Sue: "I have"
"I can clearly smell the alcohol. It stinks in here"
I decided I should just stay quiet and see what happens. In the end Tina was arrested for driving under the influencem Michelle had a warrant for her arrest in Globe, AZ but the since she was a Native and he pulled us on the reservation he couldn't arrest her. The problem arose when who would drive the truck back. He wanted to tow us away. Fuck that I thought, so I shouted out to the officer "Sir, I haven't had a sip"
"Well why didn't you say something then. Step out and let me run you real quick"

He did, I was clean. I ended up driving the drunk ladies back with Sue passed out then waking up and asking me "Hey, why are you driving my truck?" I just laughed, what a predicament I got myself into. The officer was a real nice guy and it could have been much worse. I dropped the ladies back and continued on my journey. I kept thinking, should I go into San Carlos or not. At the intersetion with 170, the road that takes you into town I made a final decision to do it. Took the road and 4 miles into San Carlos.

Man the natives are awesome. Proud but kind. So far they have treated me well. There is a real problem with poverty here. Of course that leads to lots of drinking and lots of drugs so Im gonna have to really watch my shit, but I can handle myself. I think Im gonna hang here until the Sunrise festival next weekend and check it out, then bounce out.

Oh and I only got 80 bucks left. I left Austin with 300 and it lasted me this much. I gotta keep my shit tight for a bit and Im definately gonna have to get a job in Phoenix.

Day 102: September 13th 2009, Safford to Bylas (33 or 43 mi, most prob 33)

2009-09-14T14:29:00.000-07:00

Ok, Im starting to get sketched out. Today was too easy. And then something wierd, 10 miles - I don't know what happened to 10 miles. They just went missing. I feel like all this goodness is going to have to be balanced out by something real shitty soon. I just feel it. Its 953 in the fucking am and Im done for the day. It started with me geting up at my Budget Inn room at about 6. Had an apple and a banana and checked the weather channel; 40% rain. I left at 630 and the first mile marker I saw was 338.

Really a nice two nights of rest. I felt well balanced when I started the day. I was clean, its real good to be clean. I took care of the fungus on my toe that insists on coming back and bought some medicine for the tinea on my shoulders. I updated the blog with all the pictures and it felt good to catch up in that regard. I did nothing but lay in bed and stuff myself with food until I couldn't move and in 2 nights I took about five shits (sometimes on the road I can go for about 5 days without one shit, but I only have one meal a day, sometimes even none). Anyway I was thinking about how I wished I could watch Ace Ventura last night and while flipping through the channels, the first movie was on! I went to sleep a happy man. Oh. and I also Wal-Marted it and reloaded on DEET, denatured alcohol for the stove and a couple of packets of Knorr dried food.

So, first mile marker 338. Road was sort of shitty in Safford but it improved after Thatcher (which is really a part of Safford). Again a slight tailwind was at my back and a very gentle slope down. I still had to kick but every kick translated into good pushes. It was only 724 and I found myself at mile marker 325. The point is the next mile marker I came upon was 314. It was a glimpse from far and I didn't really believe my shitty vision. I got closer and closer and it still said 314. What the hell? Was I really skating that fast or did I just get telported by aliens? I still didn't believe it and thought that the Arizona DOT must have messed up, so I waited until the next mile marker...313. I was so confused so I took a break and decided to check my map. Safford was at mile marker 340, that was something I remembered. The next town was Fort Thomas and according to my map it was 23 miles from Safford which was supposed to be at 317, I know I hadn't passed it. Since 10 miles dissappeared it should be at 307. Sure enough it was and it was 8 something when I got there. Even more confused, I kept going. My destination for the day was Geronimo and it was 5 miles up. I got there at 840 and posed to the sign screaming "Geeeee-rr-o-nimoooo!" with two thumbs up. The town was deserted and less than a quarter mile long. Im not going to sleep here I thought. Off to Bylas and at exactly 9 I was there, the first town in the San Carlos Apache Indian Reservation. I really don't want know what to do with myself.

I plan on getting into the reservation and trying to live amongst the ntives for a few if Im lucky enough for them to accept me. The librarian at Duncan told me I would get shot and the woman at the Safford Chamber of Commerce told me how messed up the Indians are, and recommended I stay away. Fuck that, Ill find out for myself.

One more thing. I keep meaning to mention this but keep forgetting. On the second leg of my Arkansas skate, as I was skating on the empty road I came upon a Corrections Facility van with two prisoners picking up trash on the road. When one of them saw me, he stared at me with disbelief, tapped the other on the shoulder and pointed at me. They both couldn't believe their eyes. Freedom.

Day 100: September 11th, Duncan to Safford (43 mi)

2009-09-12T10:59:00.000-07:00

If I said that today was the best skate I have had yet would it be too much? Maybe, but who gives a shit. Today was perfect. Absolutely perfect. Take the Artesia-Cloudcroft day and multiply that by three, then take that and multiply it by two just because I'm in Arizona and thats how good I feel.

I guess Arizona doesn't like daylight savings time so I got into another time zone. The time here is the same as Pacific time; the sun rises at 530 not 630 so I was up and going at 6 after having a Snickers bar for breakfast. The day didn't really start easy. It was good 10 mile uphill skate/walk to about the Graham county line. But then...oh man and then, haha....man

A tailwind slightly hit and I pushed down and I really felt the energy translate into cruises. The hills down and the smooth roads, the mountains and rock formations. It was so beautiful. "Aaarrriiizzzooonnnaaa!!" The road, well, I had it almost all to myself. I don't know how fast I was going, not fast enough where I had to carve or stress but not slow enough where I had to put my foot down once. For 10 miles I just stood, watching the mountains pass around me, feeling the energy, the peace. I had to stop. It was only 917. I sat atop a little hill by the road, turned my ipod off, listened and looked. Wow. That was the only thought that came to me then, just wow. Every struggle I have had last week in New Mexico was eliminated at that moment. Every negative thought was canceled out at that point. Every thought of just quitting after the stresses I had to endure for the past week, fuck it, these last 10 miles just 10 miles changed it all. I remembered why I was skating. I sat and ate some peanuts for about 20 minutes, so happy. And it didn't end there.

I kept cruising when I got back on the road. All 20 miles left to Safford I was in awe, just going down and not a thought on the mind. Mental cleansing. Miles, who's counting them? The mile markers passed too fast. I got to Safford at exactly 1123. I'm so happy but after this righteous mental rejuvenation, I need physical rejuvenation. At the chamber of commerce I asked for a cheap motel around and the kind lady guided me to Budget Inn. And the kind Indian (not Native American) owner let me stay for two nights for $35.

Oh man. Peace entails so many aspects and everyday I get a little taste of it. No doubt this trip is an emotional roller coaster at times but it all happens for the best, this I'm sure of. It's days like this, that make it happen. My stuff is in the room. I'm gonna find a ride back up the mountain and do it all over again.

Day 99: September 10th 2009, Lordsburg, NM to Duncan, AZ (38 mi)

2009-09-12T10:14:00.000-07:00

A fine entry into Arizona. But again the day didn't begin with a good start. The road was Texas shitty, that bad. Cracks, roughness, you know-all the good stuff. I had to walk from early on US-70 west. I walked. The whole way until about 5 miles before the Arizona border, I walked. It took me until 240MST to get to 5 miles east of the Arizona border. It was long, hot, painful, but I'll spare the bitching today, because blah blah blah blah. It's hard, it's difficult, I feel like shit doing it, but when I'm done for the day, you know what? Its all good, because I made it through another day. Besides, I'm sick of writing about how hard my day was. This past week has been pretty repetitive, and I'm sure I've said all I can say. So instead, I'll share some of the thoughts that crossed my mind on this 8 hour walk.

Well my first thought happened to be with the first song selection my ipod gave me and it was "Body Moves" by Yellowman. When that song played, I remembered one awesome summer day. Me and Matt were supposed to be doing some landscaping but for a summer day, the waves were too good. Monahan's was breaking, solid chest high waves. We decided early on in the day that, fuck work, we could make up the lawns later, there is no way we would waste waves like this. So we went to his house, picked up our boards and had an amazing summer surf session. Nobody out. Just me, Matt, Beau and Sam. That was a good day and it put a smile on my face. I don't know why that song reminded me of that day specifically but I'm happy it did. We surfed until the late afternoon that day, not a worry on our minds, not even work. As a matter of fact our baby blue truck was parked with its trailer right on the dock, "A Cut Above Lawn Care", but we were taking care of the waves.

I wondered why people never picked me up, though I came to later realize that I was happy nobody even attempted to pull over, even when I stuck my thumb out. The feeling of getting there by myself is so much more rewarding. I thought, even if my own mother had passed me as I was on the highway, she would never even remotely think that, that was her own son. All the people that have approached me were the people that saw themselves as equal as everybody. Whether they were doing it for God, the country man that was confident of his land or the hippie that wanted to spread love (I only say hippie so you can understand the kind of person I'm referring to, though I really hate that word). It was never the upper middle class or upper class guy in his BMW, Range Rover or Porsche. Those people actually always tended to steer into a lane as far away from me as possible. They see me as a potential threat and for them the risk is too large. Our system as capitalism creates, a completely classist society. Inevitably we are judged by what we possess and a man like me looks like I ain't got shit. That is a sad thought, especially knowing that, that is the way my own mother is.

She cares too much about what kind of handbag she carries or what kind of car she drives, how many homes she owns. Her best days, she would come home and brag about how the clerk at Macy's loved her authentic Louis Vitton bag or a person somewhere told her of how young she looked because of all the creams she puts on her face. The jewelry she flaunts, I hate it. And she is kind to the poor, but too many times I have heard her talk down about them to me when they were not around. My mother, who I love very much, gets pissed me when I tell her that I just want to surf or I want to live in Africa. She won't speak to me for days, because she would be so frustrated with my wishes. It is never about 'Omar you can do whatever makes you happy', its always 'Omar go to med school, go to law school, go to business school' something thats only intention is to make tons of money. "I didn't invest all this money in you for you to be a skater". Thats what kills me, I wish I could just make them understand. Even graduating with a major in Microbiolgy/Entomology (because I love insects) and a minor in chemistry is looked down upon in my family. That is why Im doing this, and they have no idea about it. I do not need their negativity and doubts on my trip, in the same way my trip to Africa started and ended. While they think I have a good job in San Diego, I'm living and learning. Sure I'm not gaining financially, but I can look back since the first day and see the positive change, spiritually, emotionally and just becoming a better person the way I see fit. To them, that means almost nothing, but to me, you should only judge a person according to their heart.

A best doctor is an old experienced doctor, the best engineer is an old experienced engineer, and so on and so on and the best human being is the most experienced in life. It goes back to what the curator of the Tunica museum told me at the start of my journey "A person is the sum of all their experiences". Though I know I will never be perfect, because it is impossible to go through every single experience, I will strive to always be a better person, a better listener, to be more understanding. I know I will never reach that point, but that is the source of any person's humbleness, knowing that they will never be perfect. I know I am no better that anybody. It kills me to keep lying to my parents about my fake job in San Diego, but that is the only way to keep doing what I'm doing, maybe one day they will understand. That is something I strongly hope for.

"What the hell am I going to do when I get to San Diego?" That occupied some time, but I never came up with an answer.

"These roads fucking suck". Why in America, who people form so many countries see as a perfect place, does a road like this exist? All cracked, loose gravel, rough. Oh, then I remembered that money is being drained from our infrastructure to fund wars, private corporations that feed on disasters, kill people, buy weapons, test missiles for the sake of 'fostering democracy' and developing other countries. Sorry to get political but for me it all ties together.

The last five miles in Arizona were downhill, straight downhill. The road was terrible until Arizona, but at least I was going down. Aaaaah, Arizona, brings back good memories. So beautiful and indeed it is. And the road was smooth as butter. And the people in Duncan are so fucking nice! Every single car, no lie, either waved or smiled. Even the sheriff pulled me over skating through town and he is probably, single handedly, the coolest cop I ever talked to. I couldn't stop smiling at his accent and comments and together we shared some good laughs. He is such a good guy. Arizona, I love you. Eating acid here some summers ago, my first in the desert, completely changed the way I view the desert. I's so happy to be back in this beautiful place. I get such good vibes here, from the environment around me and the people that live here.

Day 98: September 9th 2009. Mile 66 to Lordsburg (46 mi)

2009-09-10T15:43:00.000-07:00

I would usually be ecstatic to have covered this distance, but as I stare at this puffy white cummulus above me, I'm trying to think of how I really feel.

Today was no easy skate. I would say it has been my hardest day since Tyler, Texas so far. The last 11 miles were daunting and brutal; the longest of any 11 miles I have ever skated. I woke up at 630 ate my chocolate chip cookies and was on the road by 7. Surprisingly, I felt good. My ipod started me off with "Sailin On" by the Toots and the Maytals; good choice. Exit 55 came up quick, I was there at about 810. It made me feel real good, and I thought at this rate I should get to Lordsburg by noon. And that's where I made my mistake. At exit 49 things really started to slow down. As usual the weight on my back was paralyzing, the sun was heating up and of course nothing else but a slight headwind was picking up. This time I decided I wasn't going to rest, but I would walk. And I walked and walked, pushing my bag (which was on top of my board) with a yucca stem (which is so much easier to steer and control than pulling it with rope). By the time I got to mile 39 it was already past noontime. My knees felt like they needed to be popped out of their sockets, my ankles were as swollen as plump peaches and the tendon that ran the length of my left foot was definitely sprained. I felt the need to pick things up, and feeling the push on my back giant 18 wheelers were giving me as they pass, made me hop back on my board. The next 5 miles were beautiful. I was cruising again and plenty 18 wheelers passed me, pushing me like I was being shot out of a barrel. I even pumped for a bit. When I got to exit 34 my stomach started cramping up, a first. It was 147 and I was trying to catch my breath beneath the shade of the overpass. I could see Lordsburg but it seemed so far away. I pushed for the next 5 miles with everything I had, but it seemed like I was going nowhere. I had to lay out and find some shade, but I couldn't so I just stopped on the side, underneath the blazing sun. It caused salty sweat to trickle into my eyes, burning them so that I couldn't open them.

7 miles I told myself, 7 miles, I can do this. But I pushed, slow soft pushes that just barely moved me. I fantasized about a dollar drink at McDonald's. I could refill it with Powerade, water, Coke, orange juice, whatever I wanted, however many times I wished. Oh the cold drink going down my cottonmouth, how refreshing it would be. But I was only next to a sign that reminded me I was 6 miles away. I pushed but I had nothing in me. I hoped that someone would feel for me as I now walked slow with my head held down, crouched like the hunchback of Notre Dame, since my shoulders couldn't life the weight anymore. I knew I didn't even have the coordination to steer my board.
"Why?!!!" I angrily screamed. "Give me a fucking sign! Give me a fucking break!" but who could hear me.

I was still 4 miles away and it was 330. I threw everything down and put my head down in disappointment and defeat. I had to keep going, for the sake of the dollar drink at micky dees, I pushed again. I could now see its famous "M" above all else. It said exit 22, but I was only at exit 24. 2 more miles. Push, push, push, breathe, "fuckkk!", push, push, push, breathe, "come on!!!". "I'm gonna get there, I'm gonna get there, I'm gonna get there" "Almost there"

Finally at 409 I was inside McDonald's, refilling my dollar cup for the third time with blue Powerade. Man it felt so good, the best Powerade I ever had. My fingers were locking up again like Tyler; I lost too much salts. Gotta rehydrate and rejuvenate. After about 13 refills with all the the different fountain drinks I headed to the library. A different problem uploading pictures this time. They didn't block my blog like Deming, but blocked pop ups so I couldn't post pictures. Fuckin ay.

The white puffy clouds are now turning into thundering, gray rain clouds. Tomorrow is a grand entry in Arizona. The real desert begins. Oh man I wonder what's in store. Arizona here I come, can you hear me calling?

Fuckin ay

2009-09-10T15:41:00.000-07:00

I swear I know my words dont mean shit without the pictures. But every library I get to they have some kind of block. either no uploading pics onto the computer or a pop up blocker or my blog is completely blocked. Some new shit everytime. I really want you guys to see what I see, it makes it that much more real. I just entered Arizona and life feels good!

Day 97: September 8th 2009, Akela to Mile 66 on I-10 (35 mi)

2009-09-10T15:29:00.000-07:00

11 miles short of my destination I intended. 5 miles short of my minimum miles per day. Man I feel like shit. Honestly, I didn't take the day seriously from the start, so I feel like I got what I deserved.

I didn't feel like getting up at 630 so I slept in for about another hour. By the time I got a move on it was about 740. 18 miles to Deming, I didn't think it would be bad. The road, NM-549, fucking sucks and it took lots of effort to push on. Early on, it wore me out quick. Sore legs, knees in particular and a terrible aching back. It was a stinging paion in the area between my spine and the lower part of my left shoulder blade. Always in that same spot. Besides the soreness on my shoulder, the pain made me so angry I had to literally throw my bag off my back. By the time I got to Deming it was 1110. The sun was picking up and I had to take shelter. I was on the road again at about 2, but the sun hadn't let up by then at all.

I took refuge in the shade again untill 330 but it was still hot. This time, I couldn't relax. I just walked. Fucking walking takes forever. By 530 I only covered 3 miles. The road was rough, the sun was hot. But then in the distance I noticed a storm coming from the northwest. I could see lightning and it made for some awesome views. I couldn't help but watch. I took some pictures, decided I needed to bust ass. A headwind from the but none do justice to the true beauty I witnessed. I really do believe that New Mexico is the land of enchantment. I got back on the highway and storm was pushing real hard but I was pissed and determined. Its dark now, 8:04PM. I just got in and Im worn out and dissappointed. It would be nice if I made it out of New Mexico by Friday, I still have more than 70 miles to the border. No messing around tomorrow, if my body cooperates that is.

Day 96: September 7th 2009, Las Cruces to Akela (40 mi)

2009-09-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

The days get longer and longer, rougher and rougher, tiring and more exhausting. Im really getting spent on this journey, my body refuses to give. Nonetheless, I accomplished my minimum 40 miles today, though not without a struggle.

Eric kindly let me stay this morning until I got everything I needed in order. When I left it was an overcast, cool morning and it was about 8ish. Eric lived right off Picacho which took me straight to the interstate. But I was stressin all about the interstate; I really didn't want to take a long detour and I really hoped I wouldn't get pulled over. 5 miles into the interstate, not even 1 cop. Maybe it was because it was Labor Day, maybe because I got lucky. All in all I was stressin because of the wrong reasons. The shoulder on the interstate was terribly rough, of course not Texas rough, but rough enough where most energy was exerted on pushing. I doubt I got over 8 mi/hr today and I did work for that little speed.

At the exit for Las Cruces Airport, I saw a road that ran parallel to the interstate. I checked my map and it turned out to be NM-549 and it supposedly ran all the way to Deming. I got all excited having this empty road to myself but it was no smooth road. I would have gave it a 6/10 in rideability (Texas chipseal of course getting a 0/10 and I-10 being a 4/10). NM-549 disappeared for a bit and took me back onto I-10. It would start again, according to the signs in 10 miles. It seems like all traffic was divereted onto this part of I-10 because of a Border Inspection Station. Looking as suspicious as I do, I was surprised to pass with no problems.

"Hey guy, whats your deal? Where are you skating to?"
"San Diego"
"Thats a long way. Are you a US citizen?"
"Yes sir"
"What do you have in your bag, your stuff?"
"Just my stuff"
"Good luck"

And that was that. It was about 1120 when I got to exit 116, where NM-549 would start again. There I found an abandoned building I would use to relax in until the sun went down a bit. I got back on the road at 4, but a strong headwind had picked up by then. It fought hard against me but I had 14 miles to go. At 540 I finally arrived at Akela, which reminded me of a town built for filming movie scenes, with all its fake 'buildings'. I intended to skate to Deming but my back and shoulders are really really hurting. I need to lay out. And I did, again underneath some mesquite bushes.

Las Cruces

2009-09-08T10:24:00.000-07:00

It was really chill in Las Cruces. I saw some epic places and met some of the nicest people ever. Eric is a very kind man and at 19 has his own place which deserves lots of respect. Here are some pictures (which I can't upload now because Deming Public Library is blocking access to my blog).

Day 93: September 4th 2009, Aguirre Springs to Las Cruces (25 mi)

2009-09-06T11:34:00.000-07:00

It was another completely draining day. I don't think I have anything left. Exhaustion has really set into me. The day didn't start too well. Although I had a hearty oatmeal breakfast and a beautiful sunrise, I had to walk 7 miles uphill and downhill on a sketchy, windy mountain road to get back to 70. It put the day at a real shitty beginning. I didn't feel like taking the curvy road so I decided to take a short, straight line through. It worked but it was a painful, frustrating way to start the day. I kept getting stabbed in the leg by all kinds of thorny, desert shrubs and it was no fun. It took alot of work to dodge the fuckers and the constant movement of my bag on back put too much pressure on it. By the time I got to 70 it was already 1037. My back was really hurting from the weight which must be in the 30 lbs by now. The extra water and 3 extra books don't help, besides the 4lb sleeping bag pulling down on my back. It takes alot of discipline to be patient and fight through the pain. I'm not at that level yet; I threw my bag down a couple of times, angry at the pain it was causing my shoulders and back.

And where I got off was more uphill through the San Augustin pass between two mountain ranges. It wasn't that long, but it was pretty steep. I had a stem from a yucca cactus I used as a walking stick and as a brake going downhill, dragging it on the concrete as hard as I could (as a matter of fact the tip sort of caught a flame). It was not a fun ride downhill. The shoulder had tons of loose gravel over it, and the road was packed with traffic. It was also pretty steep, as steep but not as long as the down from Cloudcroft. I had to stop myself at the on and off ramps to the highway. I was drinking water just to ease the wight off my back. The pain is torture. At 230 something I was on top of the I-25 overpass looking over Las Cruces.

"I made it to another citttaaaaayyyy!!"

310 I was in downtown Las Cruces so grateful to be in another city, to relax for a couple of days, to get cleaned up and rejuvenate. At 634 Eric calls me up and we meet at the intersection of Alameda and Amador. Eric seems like pretty cool dude.

Day 92: September 3rd 2009, Alamogordo to Aguirre Springs Campground (47 mi)

2009-09-06T11:12:00.000-07:00

What an exhausting day today was. I didn't even leave until 730; I planned to camp out White Sands National Monument only 15 miles away. But things changed when I got there. This stretch of 70 is full of military installments: Holloman Air Base, Fort Bliss, a Laser testing base, and of course White Sands Missile Range which is bigger than Rhode Island and Delaware together. The problem arose because they were going to test a missile the day after, so no camping was allowed tonight. So after checking the place out, I had to leave before the sun broke out with full force, but I didn't leave fast enough.

I was out on the road by 1025. The desert sun was really starting to beat down at 11 and after 5 short miles I was feeling it. I was downing a 1/2 liter of water every 3 miles. There were no refills for the next 50 miles so I had to conserve the 4.5L I started with. I couldn't find shade anywhere. There were not even any mesquite trees big enough to create shade. I collapsed by a little one, but the sun was still beating down on me. I was still drinking water even though I was laying out so I made myself stop. Then I closed my eyes, but the bright sun was penetrating my eyelids and burning my legs. I swear I started to hallucinate.

I don't know what it was but I first noticed it when I was looking through a hole in my sweater that laid over my head to shield me from the sun. The hole looked like a rainbow downward spiral. I would open my eyes and zoom in and out into it and it felt like I was going in deeper and deeper. There was an intense light in the middle of spiral, surrounded by a ring with the colors of light spectrum. Before I knew it I was fast asleep. I started hearing an eagle screech above me but I kept opening my eyes and not a bird was in the sky. The eagle kept soaring and hovering over my body. I woke up to it diving down on me then ripping my heart out of my chest with its sharp talons. It was a pretty shitty dream, I was checking myself to see if I was ok.

By then I checked my watch and it was 210 at about mile marker 197. I had to get a move on. Luckily a thick layer of clouds now covered the sun and a cooler breeze was coming in. It was still hot but there was a slight headwind. The headwind cooled me off but it was slowing me down and exhausting me.At mile marker 172 I ran out of water. I was getting real tired and when I licked my lips I tasted a heavy layer of salt. I had no idea where Aguirre Springs was. It wasn't on either of my maps.

Two younger guys pulled up and asked if I needed a ride. They were from Atlanta and they were roadtripping to LA. They dropped me off at the intersection with Aguirre Springs road which turned out to be just a couple miles further west. I thanked them, and they kept going. Another three mile skate to the Aguirre Springs gate. There, I could reload on water. And when I got there it was 4 more miles to the campground up the mountain. I got here at about 655 and now its time to sleep. No energy even to read. I'm so glad tomorrow is Las Cruces and I'm finally going to chill for the weekend. I'm so exhausted.

Day 91: September 2nd 2009, High Rolls to Alamagordo (about 12 miles)

2009-09-05T12:17:00.000-07:00

Not too much to say today. It was a beautiful nonetheless. I walked myself down the mountain, still freaked out about yesterday's incident. I really didn't want to push my luck and get killed today. As much as I hate walking, this was one special walk. Its so beautiful walking down this mountain. At the same time it was pretty weird. In a matter of hours going down the mountain I saw all the ecology I have been in, in the past 6 months. Pine and conifer forests, to seasonal forests, to small desert trees to flat desert. Temperatures at the top were in the low 60's at 8 this morning and in the 70's at the bottom during the same time period. It must be pretty cool living in New Mexico, when you want to escape the heat drive up, when you want to escape the snow or the cold drive down to the desert. Still, there was no ocean.

One cool thing though, was as I was walking down, I saw a tarantula hawk, which are pretty big wasps that are parasitoids of tarantulas, meaning that the mother hunts tarantulas, paralyzes them, then lays her eggs in them. The eggs hatch into larvae inside and they feed on the insides of the spider until they are down, where they molt into adults. Anyway, this tarantula hawk was being attacked by a swarm of ants and he was helpless. This was the male. The female it seems had already been killed. They kept biting his leg and would pull away but they wouldn't give up. It was a pretty cool sight to witness knowing that tarantula hawks have the most painful sting of any wasp, I would never fuck with one, but these tiny little ants didn't care. It was a matter of survival.

At the end of the day I took shelter behind some mesquite trees, the only source of shade in the desert. I really begin to feel the heat at this elevation and it hits hard. I'll let the pictures to the rest of the talking.

Day 90: September 1st 2009, Cloudcroft to High Rolls (6mi)

2009-09-05T11:40:00.000-07:00

No rush this morning. Like I said New Mexico is going by too fast for my liking, so I'm slowing it down a notch to take it all in. My plan for today was to get up whenever, take the time to discover Cloudcroft and Lincoln National Forest and get some updates on the blog and try to find a place to stay in Las Cruces. So I did.

I stayed in my bag until 835 and it felt great. Got up, repacked what I didn't need, covered it with twigs and grass, marked it and made my way into town taking a different trail this time. When I got in town I came across a shop that had a longboard hanging through the glass so I went into High Altitude to check it out. Inside, I asked the guy about the road to Alamogordo.

"Dude its gnarly man, I wouldn't skate it, but if you are going the other way, you would probably be pushing"
"Yeah, I already came from that side, What about after High Rolls?"
"Thats when it gets real gnarly"
"Hmm, and the shoulder?"
"No shoulder man and the road is busy. You'll also get into a tunnel after High Rolls"
"Word man, well I appreciate it"

I didn't know how seriously he took his skating but his opinion was an insight nonetheless. So then I went to the library to get some things done online. And I met Charlotte the librarian who took her job way too seriously.

"Ok, you have to sign here saying you won't use the computer for any terrorist activities" asked the 40 year old something in her hi-neck wool pullover and her blue scar around her neck. Terrorist activities? That was a first for me, usually it was pornography but she didn't even mention that although it was written on the form. So anyway, I signed. "And you can't plug anything into our computers, no cameras and no USB drives," obviously pointing to my camera, also a first but it was all good.

So I took to the computer and started working. My solar charger wasn't charging on this overcast day so I plugged it into the computer. Now, the computer room is a room thats about 300 feet from her desk which faces it. Her line of sight, however, is blocked by a bookshelf. Every 10 minutes or so, she would come into the room and check what everybody was looking at like little kids. She saw my drive one of the times, immediately told me to unplug it, pointed at my face and signalled with her index finger for me to follow her like a kid in school.

"Follow me, I need to speak to you outside" When we walked outside she stopped and turned to face me. "Did I not say you can''t plug anything into our computers"
"Yes you did, but..."
"No buts" cutting me off
"Its my solar charger and I need to charge it."
"I thought I made it clear, please go" pointing toward the door
"Im sorry" I said, although I was pissed at the way she talked to me
"Im sorry too"

I went back, gathered my stuff and as I walked outside she said "Good luck". That was that. It was only 1. I went into a little restaurant got myself hooked up with a little burrito and thought it was time to move on. I took the Trestle trail again and got to my other stuff. I would take the Switchback trail which would put me about 4 miles east of High Rolls. The rest would be on US-82.

Back on 82, the road didn't seem too steep. There was indeed no shoulder but I thought, fuck it. Ill skate and carve the shit out of it. Horrible idea. I put my board down and without even one kick I was already cruising at 5, 7, 10, 15 eventually till I knew I was going in the 20s. I was trying to carve as hard as I could, but I had to get out of the way for cars and thats when I would lose the control I had. 2 miles into it, I felt I was going too fast for comfort especially with all the weight on my back and no protection whatsoever. About three cars were coming up and there were four behind me dragging. There was also a sharp right turn ahead. I tried footbraking, but I was going too fast to be on my board with one foot and I felt the speedwobble on my Gullwing double trucks. Right then, I knew I would have to bail and I knew I was going to have to take a shitty fall, I just had to find the best place to do it.

About 200 feet ahead was a little gravel parking lot on the right. That would be my target and when I got up to it fast I turned into it. I tried running off my board before the truck coming the opposite direction was too close, but no luck. I flew forward on my right side and, no shit, I slid about 6 or 7 feet. It was so dusty from me sliding, I could barely see the road behind me, like a tornado had just whipped up the dry dust. Surprised I could still get up, I got up immediately after the train of cars behind me and infront of me stopped to see if I was ok. Frantically, I searched for my board but it was nowhere to be seen. I was terrified it had been runover. The old man in the gold truck coming up the mountian stepped outside to see if I was alright. He must have been so shocked that I got up so fast, he was staring at me in disbelief.

"My board" He pointed to other side of the road and there it was in the steep grass, unscathed.
"What are you trying to do, kill yourself" telling me like there was no way he could understand what I was doing.
"We all have to die sometime, Im sorry about that and thank you for not running over my board."

I checked myself and I escaped with nothing but a scrape on my knee. The long sleeve I was wearing protected my arm and I instinctively knew to lift my head. I started laughing crazily about how the hell I just got away from that. Im so lucky or somebody is really looking out for me. I wondered what it was like to witness a fall like that. I just couldn't stop cracking up like a madman. I would just walk my dumbass down this mountain into High Rolls which was about 2000 feet and less than 10 miles from Cloudcroft. I set up camp underneath a pine tree, next to a fast moving stream. Ill never forget that gravel slide, I wish somebody was behind me filming.

Day 89: August 31st 2009, Artesia to Cloudcroft (91 mi)

2009-09-01T11:56:00.000-07:00

91 miles. 91 fucking miles. I skated 91 miles today, Holy Shit, I can't believe it. Im ecstatic, thrilled, in disbelief, souped. I want to think of more awesome adjectives but I keep zoning out on my skate. Man it was epicer than epic. What a fantastic day, one of the greatest of my life. I slept like a baby in my new sleeping bag. So comfortable and I dreamt I was in Phoenix. I was stressin about today. I knew I was going into the mountains and I was dreading the uphill. People kept psyching me out, telling me "oh wait till you get to the mountains, its gonna be hard" comments along those lines. But how awesome today was.

It started at 635, and I woke up pretty calm, no rush. I even had oats in the morning instead of my usual breakfastless days. I was on the road by 640 departing Artesia. At one of the town stoplights an old man came up to me while I was waiting at the the light and asked me where I was headed,

"San Diego"

"Ppppfffhooo, Im going to pray for you"

"Thank you, thats all I need"

And off I left Artesia. Perfect weather. Upper 60s, clear blue skies and a slight tailwind. Emptiness. The road was clear. The shoulder was little small but still rideable. I wanted to push to Hope, a town 21 miles down the road, but didn't expect to get there until noon. Through more boring flat lands I pushed, and for some reason I didn't mind. I zoned out thinking of nothing. Just the next push and the next breath through the nose. And after 1.5 L of water and two breaks I found myself in Hope at 10:22. I was so surprised I was there that early. I stopped into the Hope store for a cold drink and asked the wise man behind the counter when I was going to start going uphill.

"You've been going uphill. You've gone up more than a 1,000 feet"

I was so surprised so I checked my map which told me Artesia was 3000 some feet. The sign for this town said it was 4,000 some feet. Damn that was probably the easiest uphill Ive ever skated. And it only got easier. He told me that the greater inclines are going to be about 20 miles from Hope but its going to be more up and down than just up. The next town was Elk, 40 miles west and I didn't think I was going to make it there today but at least I was going to skate the next 13. I left hope at 1045.

10 miles out and I still hadn't faced any intense inclines. Nothing like Hill Country. I could see the mountains in the distance but still it didn't feel like it. At noon I was already past NM-13, my checkpoint for the day. That's when I decided Ill keep skating until I got tired. But I wasn't even trying hard. The wind was at my back and I was going down and up and for most uphills, I didn't even have to try that hard, just enough to maintain my momentum. I was screaming at the top of my lungs. I didn't even need my ipod. The sound of the wind was all I wanted to hear. The mountains were just what I wanted to see. This was more like the New Mexico I was awaiting.

"Im free mothafuckas!!! AAAAHH!!" as if I had just gotten out of jail. I was cruising at 15 mi/hr and I wasn't even kicking for it. My wheels where doing all the work. I was just observing around me and I didn't want to stop. No worries, no thoughts. My legs started hurting from standing still, numbing up so I pumped. It was so righteous. At 520 I was already in Cloudcroft, the highest town along this stretch of US-82 and the pine and conifer forests made me think I was back in Rhode Island, not the desert. Im so ahead of schedule again. New Mexico is going by too fast so I decided I was going to take some hiking trails and camp here for the next couple of nights. I found the perfect one.

Switchback loop is a trail that goes along and around the steep 6% grade part, west part of Cloudcroft, part of the Lincoln National Forest. I would take it to avoid the steep mountain part with a tiny shoulder. Otherwise I would require the whole road to carve as hard as I can. 84 miles to Las Cruces.

And that's the feeling of freedom I can't explain. It is an amazing natural feeling. Nothing holding you back. Just you rolling. Having the weight on the back is no doubt exhausting and makes it a little less fun but it only adds to realness of it. The feeling of repacking everything in the morning and leaving no trace behind of where you cooked or where you slept then moving and cruising onto an open road to a new unknown. A feeling of no obligation to anything, just making it to the next stop. Not having any idea of whats about to happen next, just leaving yourself to fate or the will of God or whatever you want to call it, just letting go. Those are the things that give me goosebumps and make me scream. Those are the things that put a stretching smile from ear to ear on my face. Those are the feelings that not a single soul can take away from me. No asshole boss making me do something I don't want or disrespecting me and no asshole director threatening to send me home if I don't conform to some stupid rule that makes no sense. That is being free.

Day 88: August 30 2009, Lovington to Artesia (39 mi)

2009-09-01T11:33:00.000-07:00

Fuck! I hate being cold. My cover is doing me no good anymore. Again I couldnt sleep because of the cold. At 1 AM I got up and put on another long sleeve layer I had and my socks, but little difference it made. Waking up cold made me so damn angry. I packed my shit in a minute at about 615 (the sun rises in MST at 6) and warmed myself up by skating. What a shitty, miserable night it was. I was too pissed to do anything but push. Sunday, this early, not shit is open and nobody was out on the streets. The cold weather in the low 60s killed my ipod battery and my solar charger had nothing left in it so I had no music.

In lovington, I got onto US highway 82, which would take me straight into Alamogardo, 174 miles west. US-82 started out as a one lane, no shoulder road and flat. Smooth, but on a one lane each direction its pretty intense to skate. This sucks, I though, I didn't think New Mexico was going to treat me worse than Texas. The landscape is so boring, just flat dead desert grass and scatterd shrubs, not even any cctus. I didn't see any mountains either. Just oil rigs, oil rigs, Halliburton trucks and oil tankers. What the fuck is this?

I skated on the road, moving out of the way for passing vehicles which was very frustrating. I couldn't get sleep last night, I was cold and I hate being cold. New Mexico roads and landscape was not what I expected and then I couldn't even have a smooth skate. What the hell is going on?

"Man, you gonna get yourself runover this early on this road. Where you headed?" asked a brown man in a Halliburton truck
"Somewhere along this road man, where's the shoulder?"
"It starts at Maljamar, Ill give you a ride there if you want"
"Cool"

So I did. Daniel talked to me all about how shitty work was because the "fucking tree hugger Obama" was bringing businesses down. I heard the same thing from Mackenzie, whose brother worked on an oil rig and Marco who also did the same. For a while he sold some "devils dirt" and made some easy money, but then quit when he found cops looking into his house from a parking lot across with theri binoculars. His supplier who got caught with $30000 in cash and a half ounce of that shit was doing 10 years. We arrived at Maljamar at about 725. He wished me luck and we parted ways.

The whole town of no more than a 1000 was still asleep. I was on a hill and could see plateaus in the distance. The sun was coming out and the heat picking up. Smooth, wide shoulders awaited me. Aaaaaah, finally. Without my music it was hard to skate but I found myself in the zone and pushed and pushed. Some nice hills gave me some good speed and I found myself in Artesia at 1130.

Artesia exists because of two other oil, or 'energy' corporations are headquartered there, Marbob Corp and Yates Corps. I was completely exhausted when I arrived. I wasn't going to skate anymore today and there was no way I was going to sleep cold again. I went to the local Wal-Mart and bought myself a $10 sleeping bag. Finding a place to carry it was the issue. I ended up hanging it from the bottom using bungee cords.

I stopped into a couple of motels in the area to try and get a room, but nobody really wanted my poor looking ass in their rooms. In their own words "watch out, you look like a wetback, you'll get trouble around these parts". Im not even Latino and I don't want no trouble. Unfriendly assholes, but I know how it is. Egyptians are the 'wetbacks' of the oil rich, arrogant Middle East. So instead, I ended up in Artesia RV park. There they had a toilet (yes!), electricity (hell yes!), and showers (FUCK YES!). Thats all I needed anyway. Today Im going to relax and dream about the Pacific.

I remember that last fall surf session in Rhode Island, before leaving for Ghana. Hurricane Hanna swell brought us big waves. Im talking avergae sets of 10-15 feet with a 20 foot monster every once in a while. And I caught my biggest wave ever that day. Going down it felt like forever but when I rode it to the end and over the back I stayed standing on my board for some seconds, threw my hands in the air and screamed as loud as I could "Aaaaaaaah". Sean Trees looked back at me and gave me the look of 'you motherfucker, that was my wave'. It gives me the most gigantic smile reminiscing. I can't wait for that feeling again. Im only skating the hills so I can surf the waves.

Day 87 Part II: Hobbs, NM to Lovington (22 mi)

2009-09-01T11:28:00.000-07:00

The road, I shit you not, right at the border completely changed. The rough gravel shit turned into a shiny road. Oh Texas, why did you have to be like that?? Marco dropped me off with $20. Thank you man. I swear I can make money doing this :P.

But seriously, Hobbs was a lot bigger than I thought and very uninteresting. I skated my out via NM-18. There were still some scattered signs of fucking Texas chipseal but hopefully its because Im only 5 miles from the border. NM-18 was mostly smooth but the shoulder had lots of loose gravel, which I had to be wary of; one wrong move and I would fly forward. I made it a lot faster than I expected into Lovington, New Mexico. Reloaded on water and a blue Powerade, I found a spot underneath a mesquite tree. Its 730, the sun is setting and Im exhausted. 66 miles skated, wow. I wont even bother to set my tent up. The wind is blowing and it seems likes its going to be another cold ass night. Im dreaming of waves...

Day 87 Part I: August 29th 2009, Lamesa to Seminole (44mi)

2009-09-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

What a full exhausting skate it was. Had another cold night. Shivering, I kept waking up. I didn't want to get up at 630, it was too cold. I stayed underneath my half ass cover until I tended to my skate at about 730. 44 miles to Seminole and nothing in between. I prepared for the one shot.

Early on I was making good headway. The road wasn't ideal but the cool weather in the mid 60s helped. Average speed: 10 mi/hr and thats mostly kicking on flatland. But then the sun came out in full force by 10 and it began to slow me down. By 11 I had covered the first 31 miles with little problems. Just a couple of 15 minute water breaks. I expected an arrival at Seminole by noon, but that wasn't the case.

At 1115 I started feeling real dizzy. I put my board up and started walking and it all started becoming hazy to me from then on. I remember collapsing by the Seminole electric station. When I opened my eyes again it was noon. I had aout a half liter left from the two I began with. I decided to push some more. Two more miles and I again I began feeling dehydrated. Again, I put my board up and walked with my head hung low. I saw a house a little further up on the road and decided to reload on water there. It was no more than a half mile but it felt like an eternity. By the time I was walking up on the driveway I was down on my knees asking a little Amish looking girl "water, please". Immediately she brought an cold Dasani which I destroyed in one gulp. I laid in the shade for 20 minutes or so then left with 20 more ounces. By then I was still 10 miles from Seminole and decided I should play it a little smarter. I took refuge underneath a tree and slept until 130. When I woke up I was so hungry, but I had to keep moving.

A second wind came upon me and I slowly pushed the last 10 miles to Seminole, arriving at 235. I treated myself to my favorite sandwich in the world. A footlong turkey from Subway on wheat, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, ranch, oil and vinegar. Add to that a medium drink (which I refilled about 5 different times), 3 double chocolate cookes and of course Mrs Vickies Jalapeno chips. Stuffed, I slept some more until about four. Then it was time to find a spot to camp. I walked outside of Seminole to more shitty Texas roads until a Mexican in a red truck pulled over and asked me if I needed a ride. Get me the fuck out of this state, I thought. I hopped in and off we rode, 30 miles to Hobbs, New Mexico.

Day 86: August 28th 2009, ?? to Lamesa (8 mi)

2009-08-31T12:09:00.000-07:00

Before I start on what went down today I have a couple of notes I have been meaning to wrote. First, my skate tickets in Austin. One was dismissed and the second, I had to perform 8 hours of community service sorting recycling at Ecology Action Center of Austin and it was awesome. The work they do there is great and I was proud to do what I did. Second, on the skate between Roscoe to Snyder I stopped at a gas station in a town called Hermleigh and while I was changing a woman came up and gave me $10. She told me that her son travels around alot and she understood, so I had to give my thanks. Finally the mileage in parentheses is the mileage I have skated or walked not including any hitchhiking I did. So here is what went down today...

Lightning. Howling coyotes. A shrieking hog that probably got taken down by the same coyotes. A mooing longhorn. Those are some of the sounds I heard last night. 3 cars passed on the overpass above me last night. Its not as lonely as I would like, but Im getting closer. I can feel it.

7 am, again on the road. Empty, rough roads and I only had a half liter of water left when I woke up. Late night thirst can be as intense as skating midday thirst. No need to skate and waste precious energy and sweat. Ill just take my time and walk with my new genius technique. The first sign I got to said 16 miles to Gail. Hopefully, I thought, the water would last me until then. But I walked and the sun came out and I walked on this desolate road, and I walked some more. The roads didnt get any better. It seemed like they had been newly paved, no smooth tire tracks to ride. 8 oclock, 9 oclock, 10 oclock and still no sign of Gail. Not even from the high hill overlooking the west. It was beautiful, breathtaking. This was the landscape I longed for. I was in awe. But it was deadly. I ran out of water quick although I tried hard to ration.I started stressing, but I kept finding leftover water as trash on the side of the road. The hot sun turned them as hot as piss and they were only a couple of small sips each time, but it was water nonetheless. 1145 and I was in desolate land. No more water. And the next sign that came said 10 miles to Gail. Fuck I thought, I have been walking for more that 3 hours and I only covered 6 miles. This sucks. I tried holding my empty water bottle up and pointing to it when ever the rare occasion that a car passed, as if to say need water, but nobody even bothered to slow down. So I tried a new tactic. I thought, everytime somebody pulled up, I had the bag on my back, so I gave it a shot, hoping it wasn't my last option. And just like that a white Honda Civic passes me going in the same direction, then turns around and asked if I needed a ride. I would not refuse. But before I get into what happened, I would just like to share some thoughts.

When I began this journey I had every intention to make it a pure skate. I realize that this is not that case anymore and it makes me sad. Texas roads have beat me down once again. Maybe this journey is a different kind of adventure. I want to skate, I want to badly. I love the feeling of travelling on my board but I can't on these fucking shit roads. Even Ghana and Egypt have better highways than this shit. I suck at walking. Today while walking in the middle of the desert, I realized that I am indeed crazy. As a matter of fact, somthing in me told it to myself, without me even meaning to say it. "Omar, you are a crazy motherfucker". Mackenzie told me, 'Dont force things"

He was getting married tomorrow and was driving from Albany, Texas to Lamesa where his soon to be wife was awaiting him. Lamesa was where she was from and where the wedding would take place. He was 23 and they met in Angelo State. There first date as he so concisely put it was 'awkward'. Three years later he was getting ready for their wedding. It just happened and he couldn't be more excited. There is a difference between pushing for things to happen and forcing them to. I stay away from the latter. When we got to Lamesa at about 110, Mackenzie told me he was taking me out to lunch and he wouldn't take no for an answer. We got off at Barron Hall, I think it was, where the reception would take place. Inside, his fiancee Lacy, her mother Joy and some others were setting up for the big day. They were such kind, nice people and even though they saw me as dirty, sweaty and as haggard as I was looking, none of them even looked at me with nothing less than a genuine smile. I helped set up a little and when lunchtime came we went to eat some Mexican food. This was the only shot I managed to get of both of them. I thanked Mackenzie for being so kind, and even though he told me that I was more than welcome to stay, I thankeded him again and said that I must be on my way. May they have a happy and blessed marriage. Congratulations to both of them, their families and friends.

Goddamn shitty Texas roads. So damn rough it hurts to walk on them. I have two fucking blisters on my right foot and and old one on the left foot has appeared again after recovering from a nasty fungal infection in Tyler. I left Lamesa in search of a good place to camp. Woo! For once, the shoulder was smooth and the road was rough. So I came up with a rhyme I sang while cruising.
"Rough, rough road oh cant you see, here I am feeling free, there's no way you can stop me, no way just let me be."
And so I kept singing my song for about 2 miles until I found an old abandoned farm house. A bat flew out as soon as I walked in. Then I noticed a giant hive of honeybees, this far south, probably Africanized killer bees. Aggressive motherfuckers. I went around back and set up camp next to the shed. I hope the road stays smooth to Seminole.

P.S. Heres one for you Pepsi. I found an empty Jungle Joose can laying out in Lamesa. I thought only you, Meghan and Sarah Whaley drank that nasty shit, but I guess not.

Day 85: August 27th 2009, Roscoe to ?? (38 mi)

2009-08-28T12:57:00.000-07:00

I couldn't sleep last night. Too many thoughts, too many ants kept crawling on me and biting me. Sleeping next to railroad tracks doesn't help either. Fuckin assholes pull their horns so goddamn loud and it only echoed more underneath the bridge. Then I was cold, then it drizzled so I had to get up at 3 in the AM to move my shit. Bad spot on my part. Then I got up at 645 to bats hovering over me. "Guano!"-Ace Ventura

Again I was on the road by 7. No need to say, the road was terrible, unskateable, at least the shoulder. But the road itself was rideable at best. The tires had smoothened out the shit gravel to where I didn't lose all my speed. 30 minutes into riding the tire tracks a Texas State Trooper pulls me over.

"Weeow!"
"What are you doing skating in the middle of the road?" asked a confused young light skinned black cop
"Im sorry sir, Im going to San Diego. and the shoulder is too rough to ride."
"On your skateboard?!" he asked in shock and disbelief
"Yes, sir"
"Let me see some ID." I hand him my license "Rhode Island?!"
"Yes, sir"
"Hold on a minute" After running my license he gets back out
"We got some calls from people saying you were skating in the middle of the road"
"Thats not true sir. Im just riding the tire tracks all the way to the right. like I said the shoulder is too rough to ride"
"I dont care. For your safety, you can't skate on the road. What you are doing is pretty cool. I can't tell you not to skate, well I can, but I won't. Just do me a favor and stay on the shoulder, for your safety"
"Yes sir, thank you for being understanding"
"Best of luck to you"

So I had to take the rough shoulder. I walked, skating as much as possible 8 miles to Wastella. I was exhausted by then and it was already 10. I stopped in a little 'grocery store' straight from the 50s next to a house owned by a Mexican couple. They kindly refilled my water and gave me a delicious fat slice of homegrown watermelon. After a 15 minute break I kept moving and then, LORD BEHOLD! The road (US-84) turned perfect! I held my arms out as I rolled and screamed in happiness.
"YES! FUCK YES! THANK YOU GOD!"
And so it was, 28 miles all the way to Snyder. The cruising gave me some more of good Texas skating. And all the farmland it turned into rolling hills. For the first time since Memphis, I was pumping on the highway and the feeling that overcame me was sensational. The scenery before Snyder reminded me of the French countryside and it was gorgeous. It brought me good vibrations all the way there.

I arrived in Snyder at about 1215 and hit up the library, cooked some food and cooled down. The weather up to this point was surprisingly cool. The sun stayed behind a thick cover of clouds, until 130. And a cold front that was making its way from the northwest brought a nice cooling headwind. It couldn't have been better. 28 miles wasn't enough for one day. Lamesa, my planned stop for the next day was 64 miles west. I had to cut into this distance as much as possible today.

I left Snyder at 330. US-180 was another shit Texas road so again I rode the tire tracks, only to be pulled over again. This time by the two county sheriffs in their big white truck.

"You can't skate in the middle of the road like that! People called you in"
"Im sorry sir, the tire tracks are the only part I can ride in"
"Are you skating across the country or something?"
"Yes sir, sort of"
"Whats the reason? Are you on a mission?"
"Just a personal journey"
"The reason I ask is because we a guy walk for veterans who passed through here, but he was only going to Lubbock. You have an ID son?"
"Yes sir" Again after checking he gave me back my ID
"Just stay on the shoulder son. I know its smoother but you never know if someone can't see you or their tire pops and they swerve out of control. Stay safe and good luck"
"Thank you sir, have a good night"

Skating on the shoulder wasn't gonna happen. Walking with my bag on my back and carrying my skateboard and water sucked. And then it hit me! I had bungee cords and I had rope. I would come up with my most genius invention so far. Put my bag on the board and hold it down with the bunjee cords. Then, I would tie the rope to the trucks and voila! I could let my board do the carrying and I would just drag it. It worked like a charm and I walked. And walked some more, but it felt good walking. I wanted to try and cover as much distance as possible by 7. And I did. Then somewhere along the lines I lost one of my 1 L water bottles. It must have slipped of its strap. Fuck. But it was cooling down alot and I felt a nice tailwind. The road was so quiet. For minutes at a time there would not be a single a soul or a single sound, just the wind blowing on the grass. I couldn't find an appropriate place to camp by 7. It was time to get some distance covered. I unstrapped the bag and skated, again riding the tire tracks on the empty road. The wind was behind me and I was rolling downhill. Aaaah finally, I spotted a little bridge about 3 or four miles from the Borden county border, I could sleep underneath. What a day, I dont even know where I found this energy. Tomorrow I start my day with liter of water. I hope it gets me to Gail.

Day 84: August 26th 2009, Spicewood to Llano (42 mi, and then some)

2009-08-28T12:06:00.000-07:00

My shitty Wal-Mart wristwatch changes the time on its own. According to it, it was noon when I woke up. The sun however, was not even on the horizon yet. No time for breakfast, stretches then, bust a move. Of course this is Texas and I was greeted by nothing less than the shittiest roads. 30 minutes into my skate a white truck pulls a u-turn ahead and waits.

"Hey man, you need a ride, thought I should help a fellow skater out."
"Fuck man, these roads suck, unskateable. Can you take me to the intersection with 281?" I had heard the road quality improved at that point, 8 miles ahead.
"Hop in man"

So I did, and after some conversating it turned out Al joined us for a couple of Monday night sessions in Austin. I recognized his white truck that followed us around as he taught his young son to bomb some pretty intense hills. Small world. We got to the intersection, I departed and he left me with his card.

"Let me know when you get to San Diego man, Ill come visit"

Things drastically improved when he dropped me off. The road was flawless. Big hills, smooth surfaces, wide shoulders and epic scenery. It gave me goosebumps. There were certain parts where there was no shoulder but the road was empty enough to be skated. I covered 30 miles in no time on the best skate I have had in Texas so far, probably the best since Memphis, and got to Llano at about 1130. Even though it was pretty hot, I learned that maybe headwind wasn't my enemy anymore. It was blowing slight enough where I could maintain speed and strong enough to keep me cool. In that 30 mile run, I consumed only 1 L of water.

I took a break in Llano and decided I should keep moving some more. It was too early to set up camp. Besides, the road still looked good. And so it also looked on Google maps all the way to Brady, 51 miles ahead. A mile outside of Llano, the fucking shit roads reminded me that this is still Texas. Terrible gravel, no way to skate this shit. It was faster and less draining to walk. The sun was out in full force now and it was taking its toll. I made it about 10 miles outside of Llano on empty 71. Every 5 minutes a car passed. Why oh why, did I not just set up camp? But who cared, I was going to be on this road anyway tomorrow. Right then with that thought, a Ford F-150 pulled up ahead, I got happy.

"Want a ride to Brady?"
"On these crap roads, Ill go as far as you'll take me on this road"
"Im headed to Sweetwater right on the Interstate, by Ablilene"
"Oh yeah?" I took my map out and searched. He saw my highlighted path
"You're headed to Big Spring?"
"Nah, Im actually going to San Diego"
"Well you wanna get in?"
"Yeah, sure"
"I don't have any room in the front but if you can handle the wind you got the truckbed"
"I can handle it"

On that ride, I had so many thoughts, bad ones. Especially the thought that I was cheating, again, or deceiving myself. Here I was taking another ride, more than 200 miles and I am supposed to be skating. So I have to apologize to all the people following this blog expecting to read about me skating not hitchhiking. I am sorry to all the people who told me my journey was an inspiration, I have failed you. Texas has beat me. Its roads take all the fun out of skating and it is so frustrating. I wish I had reached a point of discpline where I could just keep pushing through it, but I honestly can't. So many times I tried and it just brings me down, physically and emotionally. I hate these goddamned roads because they fucked up my skate and I am so disappointed in myself for giving in like this, but I'm nobody special. Austin was such a high, I should have seen a new low coming my way. My advice, do not skate through Texas, don't even take a roadbike. If anything, take a mountain bike, because the road is rougher than a mountain trail. I can't wait to get out of this fucking state and onto some skateable roads.

I got dropped off at a gas station on exit 247 on I-20. It was about 3. The kind old man with the ponytail never even told me his name. He offered to buy me a bus ticket to San Diego but I refused. He did insist on giving me $20, this time I couldn't refuse. He said he was taking care of his mother's will who had just passed a week ago in Sweetwater and she would be proud of him for giving me a ride and some funds. And I am sure that she is looking down on you smiling, kind old sir.

I had to accordingly change my route and after about 30 minutes of figuring it out, I would skate 8 miles to the town of Roscoe, 2 miles northwest of the interstate. The interstate was smooth as granite countertops. All the open farmland meant no appropriate spot to camp. I found myself laying out underneath the US-84 bridge next to some railroad tracks. I dont even feel like setting my tent up tonight. Some homeless person must have slept here not too long ago and he left a jacket I could lay on. I'm just going to sleep. From what I can see the road looks shitty for tomorrow. God give me strength.

Day 83: August 25th 2009, Austin to Spicewood, TX (39mi)

2009-08-27T11:37:00.000-07:00

Another hot, dry, uphill, chipseal road day in Texas. No doubt, today was a hard day. I got up at 600 but it was still too dark. I got up again at about 645 right after sunrise and made my way out from Barton Springs. Initially I thought I should take 71 from COngress, but decided it would be too crowded so I took Bees Cave Rd, which turned out to be a fantastic decision. Beautiful hills; you could see Austin from and wide smooth shoulders. Awesome start, but things got shitty when I got to 71. The shoulder was tiny, not even wide enough for a bicycle so I had to skate, again, on the rough ass right lane, keeping a lookout behind me. About 5 miles into 71 at about 1045 a white truck pulls ahead.

"Hey man, what are you doing?"

"Skating" then I look into his car and find Palmers surf wax, the only wax worth using "You surf?"

"Yeah man, I paddleboard, originally from California"

I hopped right in

"So I saw you skateboarding and thought, oh man this guy is taking a beating"

"Fuckin ay man, the road sucks"

"So how are you financing yourself on this journey?"

"Well I was working in Austin for a bit, and saved up enough to get out"

"Well, if you are interested, I got a job for you"

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, Im building a house, right up the road, if you pick up the trash around the site, Ill give you some cash for it, and you could spend the night there"

"Ill take you up on that offer", I couldn't say no to money

"Now listen, if anybody asks you say you are working for James. There have been some robberies in that neighborhood and the neighbor is a military man. He wont hesitate to shoot"

"Damn man, well I dont feel like getting shot today"

"He keeps a look out at night"

"Well I don't want to get shot tonight either"

"Don't worry about it, just don't go on his land. Oh, and there is a delivery coming at 1, Ill be back between 1 and 4."

He dropped me off at the house, which was right off of 71, showed me my water source, what to do and the neighbors land. It sounded sketchy with the crazy neighbor and the 'delivery', but I couldn't refuse the easy money.

"Dont make me regret this" he made sure to point out leaving

"Trust me, you won't"

I got to work for the next hour and passed out for a little. It was the perfect place to escape the midday heat. When I got up to the sound of a truck pulling up on the gravel driveway, it was about 230. And it was the delivery. I was kind of dissappointed when it didn't turn out to be a clever drug operation, but just a legitimate door delivery. They dropped the doors off, he came back for the signature, checked out the site and gave me an easy $30.

"So you are spending the night here?"

"Nah man, I gotta keep moving, but I appreciate you doing this"

"So where you headed?"

"Eventually, San Diego"

"Man listen, all these houses I build, its all on credit. If you want Ill get you a free airplane ticket to San Diego right now, Southwest Airlines"

"Man I really appreciate it, but this is the way to travel, Im just taking my time."

"Alright man, well good luck"

Back on 71 things didnt look any better. I hoped that maybe, just maybe the road would turn smooth. Wishful thinking. 10 miles and I was drained. I stopped inside a Chevron gas station for a drink, and when I was about to walk outside, it was pouring like a monsoon. Wet roads, big hills, and smooth wheels make for a dangerouos combo so I hung out inside, ate some fried chicken until the hot Texas sun came out and dried it all up in 45 minutes. I couldn't tell where the hell I was. The attendant told me I was already in Spicewood. An old man said that it was 15 miles more north up on this road. My torn ass map didn't help and when I tried to decifer its location it appeared to tell me something completely different. And not one sign on the road.

It really puts you down when you can't visualize your checkpoint or target for the day. It just seems like an exhaustin, never ending skate but I zoned out and kept pushing. Then I decided to call a friend and find out when I was exactly on the map. After some confusion Spicewood was 4.6 miles more from where I was. Not bad, I could handle it. At 645 I set up camp on a dry creek bed right off of 71. The road looks smooth for tomorrow.

Day 81: August 23rd 2009, The Long Hard Road out of Austin

2009-08-24T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have been having a surge of emotions since yesterday. The first is anxiety. I am growing more and more fearful of hot, dry, barren west Texas and the desert. I have to escape the heat as much as I can, so therefore I am adapting in two new ways. The first is that instead of carrying one 1L bottle, I am carrying 3.5L. This is a significant weight addition, but with constant daily 100+ tempratures, and a barren desert, it becomes a matter of survival and not comfort. The second is that I plan on doing much more night skating so I have bought a reflector for this purpose.

The second feeling is a feeling of sadness. I am so sad to leave this awesome fucking city. Austin, Texas is a beautiful place in every sense of the word. The people, specifically the ladies, are gorgeous. Young beautiful women are everywhere. Everybody here is so cool, open and accepting. There is a great loving vibe in this city that makes it like no other place I have been. Austin sneeks up on you. There is always something to do and always somebody new to meet and before you know it you end up spending two months here. But I have no regrets, I just wish I could take this place with me. With an ocean Austin would be the perfect place to be and this is why I must leave.

The feeling of genuine friendships here is so awesome its like leaving family behind. And I see Chris Collins, aka Pepsi, as nothing less than a brother. For the past two months I have had the great fortune of living with one of the kindest, most generous, most respectful and coolest people I have ever known. I feel so blessed that it was in my destiny to end up with him.

I have been watching the Young Guns surf movies and looking at some pictures of waves I brought with me to remind me of the goodness that awaits me on the other side and I am anxious to leave. It is depressing to leave this awesome city but I remind myself constantly that with the end of one adventure is the beginning of a new one. I wonder whats in store for me next.

P.S. I erasing the subtitle of this blog. I just feel that its not really how I feel and until I can word it properly I am going to leave it blank.

The Arrogance of Humans

2009-08-11T16:13:00.000-07:00

I was reading my most recent book called Future Man? by Chris Morgan and I came across a sentence that just prompted me to write this whole entry.

"Intelligence. This is the major factor which sets apart man from all other creatures and has enabled him to obtain control over them"

Fucking humans are so arrogant. Do we really think we control some creatures because we can put a fucking monkey behind a cage, tie a dog on a leash, raise cattle for food, or outsmart some fish by catching them? Please. The control we have is so minimal it is almost negligible. How can one think we have control over creatures or nature? That's why we keep fucking ourselves, because we like to think we have control over nature. Example given:

Because I'm an entomologist Ill give the insect story. Everybody hates mosquitoes. How great it would be if we could kill them all. In the early 1900s we did well in that regard. Yeah, we killed off Anopheles quadrimaculatus, for example, the main transmitter of malaria in North America to populations low enough where malaria was 98% eradicated in our continent. Aedes aegypti, the main transmitter of yellow fever, was also eradicated to low levels and yellow fever was almost eradicated, especially with the development of a vaccine. Then everything was perfect. Because now, we had control over the creatures and the environment. We were now mass producing cars which were perfect compared to horses, since their shit never had to be cleaned and didn't spread waterborne diseases. New pesticides allowed us to control pests and almost eradicate yellow fever, malaria and other insect transmitted diseases from most of the North American continent. In the 1920s yellow fever campaign largely targeted the habitat of the larvae of Aedes aegypti, it's main transmitter. We were beginning to give cows hormones and different supplements to increase milk and beef production. Earth was becoming a utopia. And oh fuck, how could I forget the most important invention of the the 1900s, DDT the most perfect chemical ever invented, so cheap and so efficient. Crop production was up, pest numbers down and North America was booming. This was the period from about 1900-1960. Like Mr. Morgan said, we had control on our environment. But nature wasn't about to take our shit. Nature is so much smarter, more patient and so much more destructive when it came down to business. Fast forward to 1999.

A new disease pops up in New York City. Coming in from JFK Airport, a patient was admitted to the hospital after going into a coma. After a brain scan, it was clear that some sort of new virus infected his brain cells. The patient dies a few days later with an unidentified disease. A couple of months later a new virus is identified by the CDC in North America, West Nile Virus. Its not that serious in most cases, mostly affecting immunocompromised individuals and has been moderately controlled but that's not the point. West Nile Virus (WNV) is just one virus and it came from another continent and now its here to stay. Just like that it found a place to settle and the perfect mosquito to spread it.

Just like the non-native Ae. aegypti that we targeted in the early 20th century, since it spread yellow fever and dengue, and almost killed off, two more new species popped up in the late 80s and 90s in North America. One was the Asian Tiger Mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which was first recorded in the 1980s. It survived in tropical climates coming somewhere from southern China. The larvae were brought in by mistake trading tires with China (In the case of Ae aegypti it was brought in water barrels during the slave trade, also by mistake). Inside the tires some rain collected and the lady Asian Tiger mosquitoes found a perfect opportunity to lay some eggs. They entered North America through Houston, Texas. The mosquito since then spread up north to Connecticut and as far west as the Lubbock area of Texas.

Through New Jersey, in about 1998, also in tires, came another mosquito, this time a sub tropical one, Ochlerotatus japonicus (which has no common name but for the sake of making things easier we will call the Japanese Mosquito). Together they teamed up with West Nile virus. The Japanese mosquito from the north and the Asian Tiger mosquito from the south. They made for a pretty good combo and now West Nile Virus (along with other important native vectors) has spread to every state except Hawaii and Alaska. In our perfect world how could we let that happen? Did we suddenly lose control?

We can call ourselves more 'lucky' than 'in control', that although WNV spread so fast, so much it is not a very serious disease and its mortality rate is relatively low. The Japanese mosquito turned out to be an efficient vector of the virus along with a native species in the north. In the south, the Asian Tiger mosquito, turned out to be an efficient vector of the virus too. But we might not be so lucky in the future when a more serious one comes along.

Back in the early 20th century the engine was being improved and sold to the public. Horse carriages in North America and Europe were being replaced with the internal combustion engine. We were in control for a little bit and we thought it was perfect. Too many diseases like cholera, dysentary, giardia and cryptosporidiosis were spread from horse shit draining into sewage and eventually drinking water. Now that the horses were off the streets, it would be easier to control those diseases since there would almost be no shit on the streets. Cars didn''t have to shit. Then in the 70s we began to discover that all the shit coming out of our mode of transportation was harming the air we were breathing. In the late 90s we began to realize that maybe the car wasn't so perfect anymore, and that's not a story I really need to elaborate on.

Also in the early 20th century new 'perfect' chemicals were being developed and they absolutely helped us control our environment, at least temporarily. Products like DDT, Dursban, and Carbaryl were so cheap to produce and so effective in killing anything with a nervous system, farmers couldn't say no. Food production boomed and human population rose. Again we were controlling our environment. Then in the 60s Rachel Carson published Silent Spring. Of course in the beginning we were so shocked; in disbelief at the the idea that our control of our environment was slipping or maybe even non existent was so far fetched, that her book was ignored and her reputation down the drain. Some years later, we began to realize the effects, maybe she wasn't so wrong. The EPA was created, DDT was banned and then Dursban later and most recently Carbaryl. But newer, more improved chemicals are constantly being developed that we don't really know the effect of, but are used anyway to create the illusion of control.

The need to control our environment all arose from our need to expand and our population to grow. Pesticides were developed so that more food could be produced. Diseases were controlled so that manpower wouldn't be wasted. The internal combustion engine helped us spread those foods and ideas over a much greater area at a much greater rate, We were getting so good at controlling the creatures around us, we began to actually inject genes into bacteria. The genes would be incorporated into the genome of the bacteria and whatever the message of the inserted gene was would be made into protein by the bacteria. This technology, called recombinant DNA technology is how we now produce most insulin for diabetics.

But it all came to bite us in the ass. After accidentally bringing in those two new mosquito species, we helped a new virus spread across the nation. And all that shit that was sprayed on Ae. aegypti, to control yellow fever and dengue, well it helped kill it off, but we are now learning that there are rising deaths from yellow fever in the Americas and Florida, because of this new efficient vector, and a newer resistant strain. The cars polluted our air, the pesticides mutated our children, and so the pattern continues.

Humans, as Agent Smith once told Morpheus, are like a virus. We consume to develop ourselves with no consideration for the environment around us and we give nothing back. We focus on nothing but ourselves because we are too worried about control instead of harmony. We must lose our arrogance in thinking we can control nature. Temporarily, yes, its possible, but Nature wont ever let up, ever. And when it hits back, it hits hard. I hear people always complaining about mosquitoes, although every pest species of mosquito was created into the pest it is by us. Most of them are non native species that were brought in by our irresponsible quest for development and growth. Almost every pest is non native or has become so because of us. It follows that pattern and that's the problem, is that its a pattern of slow destruction. That, for some reason, we refuse to respect Nature. We are just taking from it as much as we can for the sake of us, draining every resource. We know what happens to a virus when in runs out of host cells, its spreads to the next and if it cant it dies off. Nature isn't going out without a fight and its either going to win or go down with us.

Day 61: August 4th 2009, Less Talk More Skate (Austin, TX)

2009-08-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

I got another skateboarding on the sidewalk ticket today. Thats two. But I got my first paycheck today, finally. 3 weeks without cash is rough, but its all good now, so tonight its time to celebrate.

Anyway, I realize I have been talking and living to much and not skating. But believe me, this trip is far from over. Its just on pause. It will never end until San Diego. Again I'm talking, so Ill be quiet. Next time, Ill be on the road.

"Im going, going back, back to Cali, Cali"

Day 55: July 29th 2009, Skateboarding Ticket! (Austin, TX)

2009-07-30T15:15:00.000-07:00

So yesterday on my daily skate to work from St. Edwards Dr to Downtown via Congress. I got a ticket. How fucking ridiculous?

Every weekday I skate to work. I leave at about 1025 and usually get there at 10:50. The ride to work is the best start to any day. It is all a downhill ride from Oltorf and Congress, even though its a main road. Once I cross the bridge into Downtown, I take the sidewalk and skate six streets north to work. On the sixth street (6th street), this time there were three cops socializing on the corner of the street. I saw them from further but honestly, I wanted to test my limits. One of the cops, immediately after seeing me, sticks his arms out and steps in front of me.

"Hey! Get of that thing! let me see your ID"
"Sir, I'm just going to work, right around the corner"
"Skateboarding on the sidewalk or the street is against city policy"
"So where can I skate then?"
"On private property"
"Well I didn't know that, Ive only been here for three weeks"
"Well now you know"

He didn't hesitate to write me a ticket. He walked up to his bicycle, opened the pouch in the back and took out one of his many little ticket booklets and wrote me a ticket, a ticket promising to appear in court on August the 5th for "skateboarding on the sidewalk".

This made me think about something. I wonder if its a competition between all the cops who can finish the most little booklets first. And I wonder what its like needing new booklets.

"Hey, Cindy, I need you to order more ticket booklets for next month, summer is the season for tickets!"

Tommy from ALC had told me about getting tickets, for going 70 on a 45. For "not having lights while riding at night" and even for "not having brakes" on their vehicle. Yes, it was that fucking stupid, but I had to see for myself

Some things I gotta say and do

2009-07-28T18:32:00.001-07:00

I know that the days are all messed up. I'm trying to figure out a way to sort them chronologically but I can't figure it out, unless I cut the posts, delete them then repost them. Second, I have been wanting to post my ipod playlist, it has been what has gotten me through the good times and the bad. Finally I want to post some of the best books I have read. All soon to come.

Currently I'm still in Austin. I got a job at Jimmy John's Restaurant on 6th and Congress. I take phone orders, do the after lunch cleanup and go home. I still skate every day to anywhere I go. The daily skate to work for example is 3.2 miles downhill and 3.2 miles back uphill. Unless I'm going somewhere with people my skateboard has been my only mode of transportation, and it makes me happy. As of right now my next leave date will be August 24th to Spicewood, Texas.

Day 46: July 20nd 2009, Easy Money (Austin, TX)

2009-07-28T18:28:00.000-07:00

Tommy and Dorian weren't there and so the session was kind of hectic and we ended up splitting into two groups. I stayed back with the second group and hit West Ave once more. After West Ave, we usually hit a 7 eleven on the way to the second spot. It was about 11Pm and when our group got there, the first were on their way out. Every time I have gone, there would always be a bum or two hanging out there, wanting to conversate with you. That day was different. A tall white guy in a backwards new era hat comes up to me in a dirty wifebeater.

"I can't believe these kids man, they thought we were going to jack them, fucking idiots", shaking his head an anger and looking at me then down
"What?"
"These kids, I don't know if they are your friends, we asked them to roll our beer to our hotel on their boards for a $100 and they thought we were going to rob them"
"Oh no shit?"
"I'll give you a $100 if you transport our beer to the hotel on your board"

'The offer sounded too good to be true, but I could easily take this guy if I had to', I said to myself, so I told him fine

Inside the 7 eleven, I see my friend Nate helping the tall white guys friend with the beer, so I went inside. The white guy's friend was a Mexican in a wife beater and he looked drunk enough to make bad decisions but not drunk enough to be acting rowdy.

"So whats the deal man? Let me see that money" tapping his arm and pointing to his pocket
"You're worried too? We won't hurt you man"
"I'm not worried about that, I want to see if you got the money, or else Im skating"

The white guy was stacking 6 cases of 24 bottles on the counter. The Mexican took me outside, stuck his hand in his right pocket and pulled out a wad of 20s. I didn't need to see more. So I put my hand on his money telling him I didn't need to see more, we could take care of business later.
"Alright man, we have a deal"

I realized I couldn't fit all the beer on board alone, this was going to be a team effort. He was unrolling his cash now and counting out the 20s.

"Here's a hundred man" I wanted to keep it to myself, but there was Chase, a friend of Nate's, standing next to me, so I tried my luck at more cash.
"What about my friend man? He needs some too"
Without any hesitation he handed me 5 more 20s "Heres another hundred man, and tell your friends they are fucking idiots"
"Haha, fuckin word man, I will, they are. For two hundred dollars Ill roll your beer anywhere in town."
"It just a couple of blocks down the road"
"Even better"

Four guys, me Nate, Chase and one of their friends ended up rolling about 12 cases of beer to his hotel that night. I split the $200 amongst us so I ended up with on $50, but we all definitely had big ass smiles on our faces and I know that I needed money badly.

The smiles faded quick when we got to our 3rd spot and there were two cops talking to a couple of guys from the first group. We decided to turn onto a side street and watch from a dark alley. Later we found that those same two guys Adam and Justin received tickets for skating on the sidewalk. We ended the session earlier than usual that night, so me and the three beer transporters stopped for a drink.
Tomorrow would be my exam at Jimmy Johns

Day 45/46: July 19th/20th 2009, Ciara (Austin, TX)

2009-07-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to leave Austin on the 13th of July, early Monday morning. I had spent a week there and spent too much money. Staying longer could have been dangerous. I had told Chris that I wouldn't go to Dubstep at Barcelona on Sunday night early the previous week. I had been searching for a job that whole week, popping into every restaurant and speaking to everybody I came across about any opportunity, but nothing had shown up by Saturday. Accordingly, I planned to be out on Monday and keep moving. But Chris kept pushing me to stay for Sunday night. I had gone to dubstep at Plush the previous Wednesday and it was a good time, but he kept saying that Barcelona was alot better. At the same time Tommy and Dorian from Sundae Skate told me that they would hook me up with griptape and some used wheels. The problem was that they were in a garage race in Houston and wouldn't be back until Monday. I had to wait until then to get the gear from them. So I thought, fuck it, I'll stay until Tuesday morning. On day couldn't hurt. That way, I could get the gear and check out Barcelona.

Sunday the 12th came and I decided I would have another Barton Springs day and so I did. I spent about 5 hours that day laying out in sun, diving into the cold fresh water, until about 3 or 4 or so. When I was heading out I noticed a tall attractive brunette with hula hoops and a skirt walking in. I was looking, she was looking and smiling, then she waved. I smiled back, made nothing of it and kept walking, thinking about how sexy she was.

Eleven came and were pregaming at Josie's, Chris' girlfriend. Then we headed downtown to Barcelona crammed like sardines into Alyssa's Altima, four in the back and two in the front. The music was awesome, I couldn't stop myself from stepping. Slowly the place crowded. When I had got there there was no more than 20 people, now there was around a hundred. Among the crowd, I noticed a pretty hot girl dancing. She still had that bikini top like the girl I saw at Barton Springs earlier and a similar skirt. It was too dark to recall the face, but I had my hunch.

Anybody who knows me, knows my game can be pretty weak with random girls at a bar. I can dance my ass off and conversate, but initiation is pretty hard for me. For some reason, that night was a lucky one
"Hey you were the chick with hula hoops at Barton Springs earlier"
"Yeah!" she nodded excitedly while still dancing
"I saw you walking in, I had the skateboard"
"Yeah"
"What was your name?"
She answers but I was to busy thinking about the next move, it didn't even process "What's yours?"
"Omar"
I move closer to dance with her. She does too but then extends her arm out, as if to say I shouldn't get closer. Normally I would have backed off but I approached again. This time she walked away. Fuckin ay, I thought. I kept dancing, loving th dubstep. From the corner of my eye I noticed her coming towards my general area and then dancing, her back facing me. I got a second wind and remembered the back to back dance that always got the women. I started backing up on her and moving with it to the music. Sure enough, she turns around with a smile on her face
"You just won't give up"
I just raised my arms and rolled my lip as if to say, "I don't know"
"Im just here for the music" she said
"So am I"
The next thing I know is her grinding up hard on me and us making out. When Chris comes up to me and tells me its time to go, I respond and tell him Ill find my way home. At 2 the lights come on and the start to kick people out.
"What was your name again?"
"Ciara and you're Omar"
"Word" I can dig a name like Ciara I thought

She had to get the key from her friend Paul and we ended up going to his house for a bit. From their conversations, I gather that they worked at the same place. When I asked her what she did, she told me she was an executive chef at a place called the Daily Juice. She was very passionate about this place, and the kind of food that was put out. It was refreshing to see. But she kept speaking about how she healed people with her food, I took it figuratively, but she was saying it literally.

"I heal people with my food, you are what you eat. Everything is processed somehow in your body."
"Yeah but what do you mean heal?"
"Like I healed a guy with a brain tumor with my food"

I didn't really ask about the details. I knew she must be a little crazy but I didn't want to find out how crazy yet, I just wanted to end the night right. After smoking a bowl or two, we headed out. When we arrived at her spot
"By the way I'm taking you to my place"
"Cool, just don't kill me"

We went inside and made out a little more.
" You are such a beautiful boy, I see this energy around you"
I didn't say anything back, but I was a little freaked by the energy comment.
"I noticed it at Barcelona, and its this halo around you" telling me while she stared into my eyes sitting on top of me.

I didn't have time for this shit. I wanted to get to business and that was the bottom line, although in the back of my head I couldn't stop telling myself that there had to be some meaning to me being here with this girl. However, all the dick thoughts, easily conquered the brain thoughts. By the time we were done and ready to sleep it was 6 in the am, Monday morning, still dark, but the sun's light was coming through.

I couldn't sleep that night although I got some good loving which would have usually put me to sleep like a baby. Instead I stared at the ceiling, thinking about how I was supposed to be getting up at that point in time, getting ready to hit the road to my next stop. Instead, I was laying next to this chick. I remembered that night on July 4th, walking through the city coming down and randomly running into the group of girls from Alfred, NY. The girl whose eyes I stared so deeply into warned me that Austin has its own way and may be sticking around. I told her that I doubt it, but I was wrong. The only thing I could think of, was maybe there was a reason for me to stay in Austin. I didn't know what it was and it made it harder for me to convince myself to stick around so I tried to absorb myself in my surrounding environment. There was graffiti on the walls, pretty paintings of some trippy shit. There was a drawing of a flower hanging down, but all kinds of stigmas, pistils and petals were arising from the middle. There was also a life sized drawing of what looked like the dancing shadow from the ipod commercials, except that it was an alien with different shades of green circles filling the inside. Above me, there was yarn hanging down randomly. And the wall next to me had a map to find oneself. I knew I could learn alot from this girl and I couldn't stop thinking who this crazy girl was that just popped into my life and changed all my plans. I managed to close my eyes to that thought and get some rest. I had to, the sun was already out in full force at that time.

"I can't believe there's a beautiful boy laying in my bed! I love my life!"

My sleep was interrupted by her enthusiasm for me and life and her massaging my back. For a couple more hours we hung out, knowing that at two she had work. I decided that morning that I should stay in Austin and see how it would work out. One more time, I would try and find a job. At about 130 she dropped me off back at Chris'.

I decided to give downtown one more shot and if it wasn't meant to be then it wasn't meant to be. From St. Edwards drive I skated to MLK to the Jimmy Johns Adam first picked me up at in Austin to check if they were hiring. Sure enough, at the spot I first landed in Austin, they gave me an application and take it to the downtown location; they were hiring. On 6th and Congress, I walked into the Jimmy Johns and asked for the manager. He looked at my application and told me he could start me the next day if I memorized the menu. And just like that, the first place I stepped into, I immediately got offered a job. Again I couldn't find the reason of me being here, but I went with the flow. I went home and memorized the menu.

It was a Monday and Monday nights were ALC meets. That night was no different, and again I couldn't wait to go skate around downtown Austin with 30 other people.

Skating is meditation for me. It cleans out my mind; drains it of every thought. When I skate, I focus on nothing. I'm just skating. Nothing comes to my mind, the only thought is blank. The next push is not a thought, it is a feeling transmitted to my mind

Day 32, Monday July 6th 2009: The Austin Longboard Club

2009-07-23T17:08:00.000-07:00

I took the opportunity on Monday to reload on some equipment for the trip. The first priority was getting new shoes. My Osiris Diego Cleavers held up with me awesomely. I got them last summer and took them to Ghana and used them blowing leaves in Rhode Island, then on this trip. But now, their lifespan is complete, having a hole right through the sole. The soles, by the way, were so smoothened out that it was slippery being on my grip tape. So I went to no Comply skateshop on 12th street. There, Elias hooked me up Emerica Jerry Hsu's. Sweet.

Also needing to be replaced were my shit wheels from Sector 9 and please take this recommendation from me, don't ever get the Sector 9 Race Formula wheels. They are awesome for speed but they are so poorly put together, the chunk up and break in pieces, even though I did almost no slides on them. Thats when I decided to hit up Sundae Skates, the only guys that actually supply legitimate long board equipment in Austin. And when I say legitimate, I mean legitimate. The company is run by two friends, Tommy and Dorian, both who are under 21. After hooking up with Dorian and talking to him t was very impressed to see this little success of two young guys like these, in these times, running their little business from their house with a passion. It was impressive and inspiring to me. Dorian ended up giving me really good deal on my new Orangatang In Heats. The wheels looked and felt good and I was happy with my purchase. He also hooked me up with a proper kingpin, since mine was almost dragging on the street.

Dorian also happened to sort of run the Austin Longboard Club and told me about the Monday night meets at Wahoos. I was absolutely down I said and would see him later. I left Dorian's to head over to Chris' who I would meet for the first time after his July 4th weekend at his ranch 45 minutes from Austin.

Chris I gathered, from our conversations was a really cool guy. These feelings were reinforced when I actually got to conversate with him. Besides, he fed me a sweet hockey puck steak and a delicious baked potato. That was all the energy I needed for the meet later on. At 930 I skated from his house off of Oltorf down Congress to Wahoos on 6th and Rio Grande. When I got there I met four other guys, all who were there for the first time. I thought "wow, this might be a pretty big session" since it was only 10. And it did. About 40 other people showed up and we took on the streets of Austin. Power in numbers and it was epic. This had to be done again

New subtitle

2009-07-19T14:12:00.000-07:00

I have gotten alot of questions about my old subtitle which people kept misunderstanding. I do take part of the blame because I wrote it down, in the rush that I was to make this blog. So this is the new title. This is how I really feel about my trip and this is what it has become.
The old title:
"Im skating on a solo trip from Memphis to San Diego, hope to get away and become at peace"
The new and improved one:
"Im skating on a solo trip from Memphis to San Diego, being free on the road, bettering myself and spreading love over a distance of 3000 miles"

Days 30& 31: July 4th& 5th 2009: Belmont and Barton Springs, Austin

2009-07-18T12:01:00.000-07:00

The morning of Saturday July 4th was slow. I got up late, hungover from the accumulated beer of three parties. It was around 11 am and everybody else was still asleep. I decided to go skate around Austin and find some food, so I did, taking Bike Path 31. These bike paths are not actually paths, but lanes, sometimes not painted on side of a road. They are all however very well up kept and labeled, I was so impressed by the city. Austin, after all, is where Lance Armstrong is from.

Anyway, I ended up eating a McDonald's and when I was done I decided to keep going downtown and check out the skate parks. I made it to downtown and made a quick run through of the infamous 6th street. Somewhere on 6th and Guadalupe I heard good Jazz coming from a bar and it called me like Jumanji. I stopped, turned towards it and peeked inside. I felt like I was under 21 when I was peeking in for some reason and didn't think I could get in although I wanted to. I don't know why, but I didn't even bother looking at the name. I moved on attempting to find out what else is good in Austin. I came across Wahoo's which I heard from Adam and Carla was a wannabe surf, taco restaurant. The first thing that came to my mind was the good food of Surfin Tacos which went out of business last Christmas. I missed it and had to try so some similar food. It was however, closed that day, but I was sure to be back. I made a run on 6th going as far west as Lamar and as far east as the interstate when I decided I should head north Guadalupe and see what else was good. On my way back to Guadalupe I spotted two BMXers, one with really short dreads and a massive star of David across his chest and stomach, the other looking regular.

"Yo, you guys know where the skatepark is?"
"You are lookin for the skatepark too? We are from D.C."
"Oh, word?"
"Yeah man, we sessioned all night and passed out 9 this morning. It felt like we slept forever but we just slept for half an hour"
"Hahaha, and you are still in search of a session?"
"Yeah man, Austin is an awesome city. Actually we are also looking for a Wal Mart to fix his tube and our car, then the skatepark"
"Damn man, well good luck, Im gonna head this way"

I never found a skate park so I called John M, my other host in Austin and asked if he was down to skate. He was, so I headed to the south end where we met up on S 1st St and went to his house.

The first thing I realized when I walked in was the studio with the righteous DJ equipment. Besides being an engineer and a skater, he was also in a band called Laserzzz and they were legit. The artwork was and I got to watch a filming of one of his shows later on that day and the place was packed. Outside, he had constructed two miniramps, one a little bigger than the the other. The smaller one was smooth but made out of some kind of metal. the problem with it was that If you took a fall, that metal absorbed all the heat of the hot 100F Austin sun, and you got burned like falling on a hot iron. The bigger one was made out of wood, but the coping was uneven and the vert on one of the sides was a little indented. I preferred the bigger one. I laid outside after our session and stared at the sky and the trees. I couldn't believe I was in Austin. I guess it hit me when I was looking at the cactus in the flower beds that were surrounded by pebbles instead of mulch earlier. From here in on out I am in the West I thought. Austin was the gateway to the west. East Texas was too similar to Arkansas, but this was the landscape I longed to see. I cant wait for the desert, the green open deserts of the southwest. I couldn't wait to get this feeling of freedom on those roads. My thoughts were interrupted when John, and his girlfriends parents came and I got up to greet them. In the beginning, it was without a doubt one of the most awkward situations I had ever been in.

Angela, John's girlfriend didn't help comfort me. She reminded me of Kate Siravo, my boss in Surfin Tacos. May God forgive what I am about to say because my only intention is to portray how I felt, when I did, and not to insult or offend anybody at all. My impressions of Kate were always as a psycho white woman. Her father was the health commissioner of all New York state and they lived in Long Island. She told me how hard it was for her growing up in Brooklyn, but her attitude towards material objects and people, which she treated like material objects, made it seem to me that she was always provided with everything she wanted when she wanted and when she didn't get what she wanted she went crazy. And in fact she went crazy on me many times, offending me personally infront of the other employees, my heritage and my ethnicity. But I understand why she did and so I am not angry, but she is just a person I cannot respect. Angela to me, spoke with that same arrogance and although she was well traveled I feel that she didn't really gain any humbleness or understanding through her travels. She talked to me with that arrogance in her voice and I came around her parents and her feeling nervous and scared. What I was wearing didn't help either. All I had were my boardshorts and my ex-white now yellow, sweaty, dusty tanktop. Here I was again, with the situation I feared the most, with these upper class white people in the south with my out of place terrorist brown ass.

When we sat in the living room everybody was focused on John's show so we didn't really do much talking, but when we gathered around the table the questions really started coming. I felt like I was Borat sitting around a table and learning about the culture of upper class Americans in the south.

"So Omar, where are you from?" Angela's mother asked
"Rhode Island" I tried to counter those Borat feelings
"Oh. I thought you were from somewhere more exotic that that"
"Well, I am Egyptian"
"Oh so you're Egyptian then"
Then John's dad jumped in
"So you are a first generation American?"
"Well its kind of complicated, but I guess"
"Have you ever had a burger before, Omar?" he asked
"Haha, yes I have" I answered with a smile
"What about jalapeños? They are really hot" Angelas mom asked
"I actually love jalapeños, I put them on everything and would love to have some"

I guess they were confused by this Egyptian eating hamburgers and having tried jalapenos before.

"You guys can really dance, you should teach me some"
Angela's mother's confused look turned into a big smile "Oooooohh, after dinner we should teach you the Texas Two Step"
I wasn't really serious about the lessons so when she offered, I thought what did I get myself into. I tried to think of a way out but she kept bringing it up on her own accord there was no way. I should just do it. After dinner was done she couldn't wait, she immediately put on the record. When the music played we really started to bond. Her husband would do a move with her and then tell me to do the same. I did well, they were impressed but it was time for me to leave. It was getting dark on this July 4th night and it was time to party. I said my goodbyes to these nice people and headed over to Adam's a couple of streets down.

Adam wanted to eat mushrooms that night and there was no way I could say no. So we went and picked them up. When we got home we both had an eighth to ourselves. We ate them at about 930. When he ate them, he went up stairs and showered and I chilled with John downstairs. Somewhere along the lines of the conversation with John the reflection of the ceiling fan on the TV kept distracting me and I kept turning my head to the left to keep looking at it. Half an hour in I was feeling the effects. John spoke but I was in another world. The ceiling fan also cast a shadow on the wall infront of me that I couldn't take my eyes off of. But most of all there was a silver mannequin across from me on the left and all the reflections off of it were moving, phagocytosizing everything like an amoeba. Jaime came downstairs and when I made a comment about it he asked me something about "poooosy". Our minds were clearly in different places. Adam came downstairs and I guess he was feeling the effects too. He was waving his arms in a swimming motion screaming "aaaaa--ooooo--uu--hh, aaaaa--ooo-uuu-h" with a huge smile on his face. We were both feeling it and it was time to do it. We left and thats when it really hit me.

Crossing the S 1st bridge into downtown, I felt like the kids in "Detroit Rock City" when they arrived in Detroit staring up at the big buildings. They had so many lights on them, so many colors. There was a step building with a blue light that went around the top of every step. The was a building shining purple, blue, yellow, green lights from the ground up on its side. The was a building that was the Owl Building, and from a certain angle the big clocks on the top looked like eyes on an owl and they followed me everywhere. Carla's VW Taureg felt like airplane and although there was five people in it, I felt like I was riding first class on a 777 jet.

Carla stopped at the first bar she came across. I had no idea what it was called at the time but the music called and it echoed in my heart and pumped in my head. As soon as I walked in I felt like I was in the jungle. There were banana trees and palm trees on the inside of this open roof bar. I was looking at everything as if I was looking from above with my head tilted at an angle although my head was completely straight. There were mist machines and I felt as tall them, but even if I stretched my arms all the way up I still wouldn't have been able to reach them. I was watching everything, it seemed like, from the lens of a slow motion camera. I heard everybody speak around me and felt everybody's presence.

The music was still calling but I was standing by the bar watching a trailer about "Ice Age". I pointed it out to John and told him "Look man, its the jungle again". I kept hearing "pssshh" sounds like giants pipes emptying steam at 10 second intervals. I didn't know where that sound was coming from. I walked towards the music and there was a projector with intense visuals. I took a seat and watched with maximum attention. Every once in a while though, I would forget the visuals and the music would overtake my full attention. I listened to the music and nothing else around me existed, I was lost on another planet. I started moving in my seat but I found that I had unconsciously gotten up and started dancing. And I danced my ass off that night. It was just me and Adam on the dance floor the whole night but we didn't give a shit. This was music made for the man on the trip specifically. When the bar closed, I wanted to keep dancing, Adam's friend Amber Lee told me they were heading over to the gay bar to keep dancing. I was down.

When we walked outside, I noticed that this place looked so familiar. I turned towards the entrance and remembered that entrance. It was that same entrance I was peeking into earlier. That valet stand looked so familiar and I recalled that I was standing exactly at this spot when I starting feeling the Jumanji call of the music.
"Adam, what is this place called?"
"Belmont"
"Word to Belmont"

The first thing I noticed walking into Rain, the gay bar, was a black shemale staring me down at the door. For some reason it didn't phase me although I was on mushrooms, I thought maybe I would freak out easier, but I didn't and maybe it was because I was coming down. It was raunchy in there. Guys were humping the shit out of each other, grinding up on each other like gear wheels. However, as soon as I stepped on the raised, white dance floor things changed. I felt like I was on top of a cloud. I closed my eyes and danced my ass off again. When we were done I had done some work. My shirt was soaked like I had just skated 40 miles in the middle of the Texas day.

We left and headed home. I don't really remember the details of what happened except me walking around Austin still tripping, but still coming down. I don't know how but I ran into a couple of girls that messed with my tripping mind. None were from Austin and one was from Alfred, New York. Seems like a whatever town to you, but I was so struck by the coincidence that I sort of lost my breath and lost my ability to speak. Without a doubt, the response was made more intense by the psychedelics. Alfred, New York was the town where Peter Jenkins started his walk across the United States. I finished his book A Walk Across America a couple of weeks ago, the book that was given to me by one of the librarians in Arkansas. i never got their numbers or even their names, it was just a random run into in Austin, where the world is made 20 times smaller, but I will never forget looking into the eyes of one of them. I will never forget that face.

When I got home I found that I had a text message from my old friend Sarah B. Sarah was a student at UT but lived in Houston for the summer and coincidentally she was in Austin that weekend. The last time I saw Sarah was in 10th grade when all the international schools of the eastern Mediterranean (EMAC) were at my school in Kuwait for a volleyball tournament. Her school was in Dubai. The last time I saw her I got arrested by Kuwait Police and it was quiet the unexpected adventure. I hoped things would be a little more peaceful nine years later in Austin.

Sunday was a peaceful day. Me, Adam, and his friend amber Lee decided to skate/bike to Barton Springs. Barton Springs is a natural underwater spring that runs underneath Austin. It was a bout a 3 mile skate from Adam's house in the burning hot sun, but after the night before's experience and busting a sweat there was no better feeling that diving into he water. Skating there and jumping into that 60F water with the natural vegetation on the bottom was the closest thing to surfing I had done since last January and it felt fantastic. The water felt like the summer Gansett ocean but even better because the air was hot. There was something rejuvenating about those springs, when I came out I felt like a new man.

I planned to leave Austin the next day, Monday but I had heard about the Austin Longboard Club meets on Monday nights so I decided to stay and check it out. Adam was leaving to San Francisco on Wednesday so I contacted another Couchsurfing host, Jane and changed places that night. Staying with Adam who was at the bottom of my list, turned out to be my best couchsurfing experience yet. I really turned to love Adam, Carla, John S, and even Jaime

Day 29: Saturday July 3rd 2009, Austin: The First Day

2009-07-16T19:32:00.000-07:00

I called Chris but he didn't pick up. I called John M and he was in a movie. So Adam it had to be and how glad I was it was. He met me half an hour later on MLK and Neuces in his green Chevy Trailblazer.

Adam was gay, which I was cool with but still had some reservations on staying with him, only because of my ignorance. His body, the way he talked and walked reminded me of my Asian friend Jenna. He looked a little Asian and I came to find out it was because he had some indigenous Mexican blood in him and that made him that much cooler to me, also because of my ignorance. I met his roommates Carlita an all around fine woman, and her boyfriend John S. who reminded me Sean Trees. That night, we waited on Carla's cousin who was coming to spend the weekend in Austin from Brownsville, Texas which was four hours south, on the border with Mexico.

When the doorbell rang I caught a glimpse of him and I couldn't help but smile. He reminded me of my uncle Wyle in RI except he wasn't fat. His deep Mexican voice cracked me up, the stereotypical sound and look of Mexican guys in Mexican soap operas. He dressed of what reminded me exactly as the guy clubbers in Spain with his pumas, jeans and expensive shirt. Jamie, was the definition of a man, the definition and picture you would see in a book. When he got settled we had some parties to tend to. I only feel the need to say this because at my first one I met Neil, another man from the South County of Little Rhody. I must say that seeing him gave that Rhode Island look all away. He was one of the younger SK guys and he filmed all the videos for the Old Mountain Field crew. We knew the same people and he lived also off of Allen Ave, that hill I miss bombing so much.

My first day in Austin, bringing back those good times and creating even better ones. Everybody said this place would be awesome and for the rest of that night it never fell short. On the way to every party there was at least one out every seven houses with people standing outside drinking beers and having a good time and not once did I ever see the cops pull up and bust one down. That was the spirit of Austin, the love Austin shared.

Day 36: Friday July 10th 2009, Reflections on Tyler From Austin

2009-07-16T12:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since I said anything so here I am attempting to dish out all my thoughts. First I should say that my mustache has gotten so long it itches my nose when I try to sleep. I didn't want to shave but for the sake of a job I did. I'm keeping the hair though.

Tyler was a trip. Everything happened so fast so unexpectedly I didn't know what to think so I kept any feeling until this point. Kristin, the girl who picked me up let me know that although I should stay, she had to go to Dallas for three days with her family. I agreed, there was more to Tyler than Kristin, and I thought I should get to know it. I ended up getting to know her roommate Ashley S. and her roommate's boyfriend John R; and how glad I am that I did. Ashley S. was a 20 year old girl who got a settlement worth tens of thousands after getting hit by a car. She bought a home with that money in a neighborhood where her sister and her parents also lived in and that was where I stayed. Her neighbors were as opposite from her as the magnetic fields. On one side was the neighbor Chad and his family. Everyday I woke up and sat underneath the Norway maple in her front yard, I would hear Chad and his family cussing each other out, telling their dogs to shut the fuck up, blasting Lynyrd and Paul Wall but basically just getting very rowdy as early as 10 in the am. On the other side were her quiet Mormon neighbors who were so inconspicuous you would never know they existed although they owned the only non portable home in the neighborhood with an in ground pool and a wall as high as the house itself.

Ashley S was the hippie of the neighborhood, for the lack of a better phrase. Hung from the ceiling of her porch were spinning peace signs and chimes. Inside were the big posters of Jimi, Bob Dylan, Bob Marley and Pink Floyd. The house looked like it hadn't been cleaned in a year. All kinds of dishes with old stinky molds filled up the sink. Empty beer cans lay everywhere and ash filled the living room table. Beads also hung in every hallway and doorway. She spoke of adventures with her different neighbors and wanted to create a show she called "The Hippies and the Homies" about her life in that place. I was all for it, I thought it was an awesome idea. Ashley S had a boyfriend like every girl in the south I came across above 16. I guess people like to settle pretty quick down here. But anyway her boyfriend John R, was the murder in the Bentley dog case. I was buying a sandwich with him one time and the cashier told him that he looked like Johnny Depp in "Blow" and I couldn't think of a better description. He rocked a combo between Kelso and Foremans hair in that 70's show and he loved the tight jeans and converse sneakers. He also never stepped outside without his Ray Bans aviators.

I'm so glad I got to know John although my first impressions of him as a dog killer were not so high. What kind of person just backs up with his car on a dog? He didn't mean and it happened for the best. I learned alot about Tyler and Texas in general from John He told me about the book Smith County Justice which told the horrible atrocites commited by the Tyler police department against its citizens. Tyler was a town of the have and have nots as it was so simply put to me once. Those who didn't have, didn't have shit and coincidentally they were black and latino, who knew? Tyler I gathered was a really messed up little place but sometimes the best people come from the most fucked up places and I was lucky enough to get to know them.

Through John I met all his friends all who were some of the most loving people I have ever known. There was Jesse, red headed with a small ponytail and a red goatie. He loved his tie dye and festival shirts. What I loved about Jesse was that he greeted everybody with a hug. He was a man that could really put a genuine smile on your face while you told yourself "man the world isn't really such a bad place". His girlfriend was Delilah, a beautiful name on an all around beautiful woman. If Pocahontas was really as beautiful as she was made to be, she still wouldn't have shit on Delilah. There was also Caleb. Caleb looked like Ryan Sheckler when he was fourteen. He rocked his old school vans and punk jeans and his accent sounded like he was from Newport Beach, California. Caleb snuck a very special gift in my bag without me knowing one night and it was the type of gift that goes a long way in my book. Caleb's girlfriend was Kait. Kait was a very shy girl around me and she never really left the comfort of her boyfriend. There was no doubt that they had something special going. Also Logan, who I always viewed as the peaceful warrior was one of my favorites. His brown hair stretched to his shoulders and he had a full beard that looked like Jerry Garcia's except that he wore black full frame eye glasses. Lauren was the baby of the group and she was pursuing a degree in journalism. She reminded me of Jennifer Connelly in Blood Diamond. One day she'll go to Guatemala like she would love, help many people and do great things.

When I was in Tyler I enjoyed sitting underneath the Norway maple in the frontyard, closing my eyes and reading. I finished my 5th book since Memphis and my 28th since the beginning of my journey in January. The Kite Runner was without a doubt one of the best books I have read so far. It gave an insight on how fucked up Afghanistan is and how much worse it became under the Taliban, as if there was any room for that. I really recommend that book for anybody trying to get an idea of what Afghanistan was really like. I ended up trading that book with Lauren for a book called Everything is Illuminated, a fictional book about the Holocaust.

Tyler was a blast but during the end days I was itching to be back on the road. It was time for me to keep moving and I strongly felt it in my gut. Because I had told certain people that I would be in Austin on Thursday July 2nd and it was already Wednesday July 1st, I had no choice but to accept the ride from Ashley S and John R on Friday. I really wanted to be in Austin for the 4th of July. Also, an old friend, Sarah was going to be in Austin for the weekend and I couldn't wait to catch up with her. Besides, ever since I was in Little Rock, people have been telling me to go to Austin and I was willing to take the dip down through Texas to check it out. Thursday came quick and we partied together one last time.

When Friday came it was time to go. Pulling away from the house in Ashley's golden PT Cruiser, I realized I would probably never be back at this place again. I would miss the sound of the AC that rumbled the house when it ran, the aroma of inscents, tobacco and herb, and that coffee grinder her grandfather had made.

I began to reflect on my trip during the four hour ride to Austin. Ashley S had asked me an awesome question once and I kept thinking of my answer the whole way to Austin. If it was good enough, if it was what I wanted it to be. She had asked me "have your travels increased or decreased your faith in people?" I remember spitting my answer out without any hesitation. "Oh, I love people" "People are awesome. I have come across so many good people so much more than bad."
"Good, that gives me hope in the world"

I kept thinking about what she said and what I replied with. I realized that what the world really needs is a little hope. Its not the bad place its made out to be. I realized how much peaceful the world became to me when I stopped reading and following up on the news, even if that peace was just an illusion. At least it wasn't so messed up in my head. And when the world seems so fucked up to a person, the world becomes destined to be fucked up. It becomes a manifestation.

I remember my father once telling me that "the problem with the world is that people do not feel each other's feelings". People just want to live, whether they are in Kandahar, Afghanistan or in Tyler, Texas. People are inherently good, it is a certain environment that forces people to become bad and even then hope is not lost. And once you treat people how they want to be treated, they will treat you twice as better and then you can treat them four times as better and so on, then life really becomes good. Conflict exists because people keep excusing hate because of a hate before it and before it and so on. If people just stopped and looked, thought and forgave, understood then treated their enemy as if they would like to be treated maybe things would change.

When we finally got to Austin I told John R who was driving to drop me off anywhere downtown, and that I would find my way. I had three potential hosts, Chris, John M, and Adam. Personally I wanted to surf with Chris the most. If Chris couldn't come through John M was a skater too and if he couldn't come through then Adam would do. I told John R to leave me on MLK and at the 7 eleven there we took a group picture and we parted ways. Here's to love in Tyler and to new adventure in Austin.

Day 34: Wednesday July 8th 2009: Its been a long long time

2009-07-08T11:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a while since my last update, and in case you were worrying, do not fret, I am doing absolutely perfect. I spent the last week in Tyler, TX and I am spending the July 4th week in Austin which I am absolutely loving. There is something about this city, an energy, a vibe that is just all love. July 4th was another epic night for me and the weirdest shit happened but its too deep for me to get into right now although I promise to eventually share it.

I have so many thoughts in my head right now all in a jumble, all in a mix. I haven't written for more than a week now but its only because I'm so busy living I can't get an outside perspective yet; I can't organize the feelings. For now, I'm running real low on cash so I'm trying hard to find a job in Austin. But if I can't then I'm going to have move on, on Monday until I get to Las Cruces, NM a little more than 600 miles away and hope I can find a job then.

But until then, I have been skating and skating and Austin has a legitimate skate and longboard scene. Monday nights, the Austin Longboard Club meets at 1030 and I joined. It was an ill session with at least 40 skaters hitting the slopes around Austin; power in numbers, we stopped traffic. The funny thing is they have a restaurant here called Wahoos, just like Surfin Tacos in Wakefield. They have all these surf pictures and stickers everywhere, except that none of them surf, but they are all ill longboarders and street skaters no doubt about. That is the meeting spot for the longboarders of Austin though.

So check out http://sundaeskates.com/, run by two balls to the wall 18 year old downhill skaters, Dorian and Tommy, who have hooked me up with so much good shit, the word awesome would do them no justice. Until then love, peace and respect. Do what you love and love what you do and like Rob Thomson says on his website "Dream it, plan it, do it". Nothing is impossible if you really want to do it

I FOUND IT, I FOUND IT!!!!!!!!!

2009-06-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Its Saturday June 27th, 620 am and Im having awesome thoughts and awesome vibes, still coming down from a most epic roll. Im in the back of a Golden Cherokee on the way back to Tyler, Texas and everything Im writing now I wrote in my head on that long 3 hour drive from Sulfer Springs. Let me tell you how I got myself into all this,

"Yesterday was a late day 10 am on the road. I spent two nights in Tyler and I wasn't planning on it at all. At Ryans, I didnt want to wake up early. I was dreading the upcoming day; 23 miles to Frankston and 22 to Palestine. I was completely worried about how the heat would affect me especially because of the very late start. I was expecting a completely miserable day, burning heat and shitty roads. But even as soon as I started the day was getting better and better. A slight head wind acted more like a cooling mechanism than a hinderance. The heat was taking minimal tolls on me. The roads were ideal, smooth giant shoulders and nice rolling hills. I was making serious progress and expected to get to Frankston at about 130. About three or four miles from Frankston the car Im in right now, pulls up. When it realizes that Im too far back, it busts a hard u-turn and pulls up to where Im at. I was pleasently surprised, 2 beautiful young women asking me to hop on. They were heading my way. But first they asked to take me on an adventure in the woods. In the spirit of going with the flow I went along and was curious to know what was coming next. We adventured and they invited me out to a rave that night. I was down. But something so weird happened on the way to her house.

I saw dog food and asked the driver, Kristin, if she had a dog. She was telling me all about this little puppy and was so excited for me to meet him. In the middle of our conversation her phone rings and as Im looking through some pictures of Amy's dog I hear "He's dead!?" and then Kristin tossing her phone and tearing. Bentley was dead.

What the fuck I thought, what kind of shit did I get myself into. The next 10 minutes passed like an eternity. She was coming to assumptions and I asked her not to assume until she could find out what really happened. We pulled up her driveway and there he was. Inside two white trashbags, laying there, flies hovering over and blood on the driveway. He had been run over by her roommates boyfriend, as he was backing up and snapped the poor dog's neck. Poor Kristen was sobbing and I didn't know what to do. I tried to put myself in her situation and remmbered how worried I was when Goose ran away a couple of times. She cried inside and I sat by the lifeless body. I said my prayers and ended up burying a dog that day. Digging the hole, laying the body and resurrecting the tombstone. I was so confused after. This was my destiny though and I made a choice and there was reason I made that choice. I had to keep going until I found that purpose.

Why did I get kicked out of the Peace Corps when I did over something so damn dummmmbb? And all the events that culminated after led to this trip where I was in search of a missing something. I saw purpose in me being here. There was a reason I had such a hard day before getting here. There was a reason Ryans' roomate wasn't there although he was supposed to and I ended up staying two nights even though I didnt plan on it. There was a reason I left at 10 am that day and not my usual 6am. There was a reason Kristin and Amy were passing by me when they did and there was a reason her dog died today. All these thoughts I couldn't escape. At first I was worried, worried that I was getting sidetracked on my trip, I was being distracted by two girls on an adventure. I was losing my purpose of this trip. But like a true adventurer I wanted to go with the flow and see where it would take me."

We headed to Sulfer Springs later that night and what a spiritual night it was for me. Just amazing all around and epic in every single moment. I will never forget the sights, sounds and feelings I had on the night of June 26th 2009. They say that the best adventures are best kept untold and so I shall leave it at that. Amy was taking pictures that whole day, but for some reason she lost her camera even though she planned so strongly to bring it that night. I dont see coincidence, I see purpose. Like the perfect adventure this was, the images from most perfectest adventures are only embedded in the minds of those who lived it. There was a reason her dog died in the beginning of my day with them and by the end of the day I found new life in myself. I found what I was looking for!! That missing something. That peace! I really found it. I had been asking God for a sign like this all along and for me it couldn't be clearer. I know the purpose of this trip now, it is to better myself. That is the way to aquire peace; to enlighten oneself.

I felt so much love that night, from complete strangers and it was so mutual. Picked up on the side of the road and now a connection like this. Wow I am so extremly ecstatic, so overwhelmed. Now I get to spend this week back where I never even wanted to be, with beautiful hearts, even though they may not know it yet. Last night was the beginning of someting very special for me, I believe it so strongly that I can see it. For the first time in my life I can see what I am really capable of. Nobody can deny the energy that was present last night, flowing through all of us and enlightening me so much. Not many experiences can be called life changing and even less with complete stangers but I couldn't be more satisfied with the people that have triggered something in me. Any true adventurer will go with the flow, but only the luckiest of them all have what they want come right up to them. Forever I will be indebted to my awesome, beautifully hearted and spirited new found friends, here in Tyler, Texas where I thought adventure would be so unlikely

Day 20 June 24 2009, Gilmer, TX - Tyler, TX (39.1 mi)

2009-06-29T09:18:00.000-07:00

Today was my hardest day so far, although Im sure Texas will have many more in store for me. I wanted to leave real early; 530 am - be on the road. I was too comfortable asleep in the dark, under my blanket. I didn't get up until 530, by the time I packed and did my stretches I was on the road by 6-615. The road started out smooth, real nice. Seven miles to Pritchett and I got there at 645. Awesome timing. Then things started to fall aprt. The next 8 miles were shit Texas chipseal road. It took me 2.5 hours to get the next 8 miles to Big Sandy. In between I ran out of water so I was in search in the empty Texas road. So I found a Baptist church in search of a faucet. One round around the chruch nothing and back to the beginning. It was 815 and the sun was already punding down hard on me, like an iron on the back. I was feeling down. Time was passing but miles weren't getting covered. Then I saw that little hidden faucet, right where I had started making rounds. Nice, a full bottle and a big hill down. Then the road turned to gray. Yes! Smoothness! You see here is the thing about Texas unless anywhere else I have been. When the road is dark it usually means it is newly paved. This is no different in Texas, but the thing about newly paved in Texas is rough ass chipseal. Gravel stuck on to smooth road to create the roughest terrain on the planet, not even good for road bikes. The gray colored road, as I found when I got to the top of the hill was under construction to become rougher than ever. Less than a mile ahead, I could see the dark road agaim, brand new chipseal, for God knows how long.

It was brand new Chipseal all the way to Big Sandy, 6 miles ahead. By 915 I was there and the sun and heat were taking their toll on me. I squeezed my soaked shirt and it started dripping. I still had more than 20 miles to go. Luckily the road was as smooth as anywhere, all the way to Tyler, but the heat was unforgiving.

Every five miles or so I had to stop and lay down in the shade where I would just collapse. Although I was making good speed I was getting tired quick. I felt dizzy and was losing much more fluids and salts than I could take in. My chest was feeling tight, like somebody was squeezing it in giant bearhug. I could feel my heart pushing the force my chest strap of my backpack. I tried breathing techniques but it didn't help. The sun was only intensifying. I lost more and more water. I started to turn onto the road helplessely as I was getting more blurry. Traffic was getting pissed. Then a town I hadn't even recognized on my map called Winona came up after a long downhill. Powerade time. One liter, one gulp and then some shade. 17 miles to Tyler and it was 1042. I had to keep moving. I got 3 miles to the interstae and couldn't breathe again. I decided to lay down for as long as I needed underneath a tree. I had to get drier. I was soaked so was my map which was in my camera bag, but the heavy sweat soaked through my shirt and my camera bag into my map. In the burning hot sun, it tool less than 5 minutes to dry. At 1130 I decided to keep moving. 10 miles to Tyler, 8 miles to Tyler, Tyler city limits and on to highway 271.

2 lane, high speed, smooth. Up big hills and down big hills. Everytime I got to the top of one I hoped I could see the city, but after 5 or 6 long ascensions, nothing, not even a sign.
"Where the fuck is this place?" I was exhausted again, the sun really drains you, and I needed some more rest at 1251. But I had to keep pushing. I could see buildings but they weren't getting closer, I didn't expect Tyler to be this big. I slammed my water bottle on the ground in frustration after trying to stop myself from doing it several times and took my bag off "Get the fuck off my back!" "AAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!" "Where is this goddamn city" I kept seeing signs to downtown but it was nowhere to be seen. I gathered everything I had left in me and moved. At 157 I finally arrived at the Chamber of Commerce right in downtown. I didn't have the energy to even walk through the door, my head hung low outside and I was breathing hard and dripping filthy sweat all over. I walked in at it was obvious that nobody wanted my dirty homeless looking ass in there. I asked for a map of Tyler and where the library was to check out my hosting situation in Tyler. Four blocks down, on an uneven downhillsidewalk with a sharp 90 degree right turn and a fire hydrant right in the middle, I busted my ass hard. Being so uncoordinated and trying to push myself to the limit, my wheel caught on curb as i was turning hard and I flew forward, by 30 lbs on back taking me even further and slamming me down even harder. I got into the library dripping sweat and now blood. Again, nobody was happy to have me. First the asked for my ID, then a form, then 50c then somebody kicks my board from infront of me and cuts in line. Man fuck Tyler, people are so unfriendly here. I got on the computer and found out that Ryan was happy to havee me but got out of work at 9pm so I had to find something to do for the next hours. I went into Wendy's and chilled. then I started getting extremely terrible finger cramps. In my left hand, then my right. For intervals of 10-20 seconds my fingers would be locked and burning. I lost so much salts (potassium and sodium) in my sweat that my nervous system was now messing up, the signalling wasn't working. Rehydrated, I devoured two large fries and realxed and read.

At 915 Ryan calls and picks me up. He was such an enthusiastic person, so happy to see me and we went to play some 4 square where I whooped some ass. There was about 20 other people. When we were done one of the guys there, quite possibly one of my favorite people in the world, he turned out to be, came over. His name was Bushcalily or Bushman as I called him. His giant red beard made him look like the definition of a southern mountain man. We had deep philosophical conversations that night and I found that he had left me a signed $5 bill and bings me a book I will treasure forever, "The Art of Shen Ku". Not many people know Bush's real name but I was lucky enough to find out through him. Maybe Tyler wasn't so bad after all

Day 19 June 23 2009 Linden, TX to Gilmer TX (43 mi)

2009-06-25T12:34:00.000-07:00

Somebody tossed my board into the water and I was lost in the woods. After finding him, I can't remember how, he got a good ass beating and thats what I woke up to today. Damn that sleep in that bed was so good, I forgot that I was in the middle of a trip. After cleaning up, and packing I went downstairs to find Jerry and his pancakes ready to eat. Fresh, fattie pancakes made from scratch. Country fresh eggs from his daughters. A big plate of bacon. Three fantastic meals at Jerrys, man he was so good to me. He decided he would give me a ride back to to the highway I was on, where I would take the 155. On the way there he gave me some advice which I was very glad to hear.

The first was that don't think because somebody was hosting me they were doing me a favor, it was a mutual benefit since the host was living a journey through me. The second was that, after reading my blog and seeing what I had said about donations, he asked me to accept them and try to fight. I thought about what he told me the way to Gilmer and now I can respond. On the first point, Jerry is just an awesome man and him saying that he benefits from hosting me just showed me how good of a heart he really has. I can't comprehend how somebody 'benefits' from hosting me. On his second point, I have to say that when I initially try to reject somebody's offer for money I see it as a sign of humility and humbleness, two traits Im working on and that are slowly disappearing from this earth. Im not trying to be arrogant. I would love to get free money to keep me going, but one, im not going to ask for it and two will at least try to show some respect and appreciation when receiving it.
But thats just me

We said our goodbyes and so I began my day. 155 started out smooth but hilly which was fine as long as the road was smooth. Then it gradually got rougher and rougher. So much friction cruising down a hill it number my feet. And so it brings me to my next archenemy, Texas rough roads. Fuck Texas rough roads. They are almost as bead as headwind. And so the road went all the way to my first checkpoint, Avinger. I had started out on that at 630 am, I arrived at 830. 13 miles in two hours, terrible. Thats 6 miles an hour, I usually get 11 or 12 mi/hr. I didn't rest long at Avinger, I had to cover more distance before the burning hot Texas sun came out in full force. 11 miles to the next town, Cedar Springs. The road improved that section and I got there at 10. Still no time to waste. A quick refill and 17 more miles to the final destination of the day.

Things get so difficult at the last stretch. The road completely fell aprt it was like skating on a gravel driveway. The sun was kicking in, I needed a break. I took refuge in a little structure creating some shade and dide the "dead corpse posture" for the next 2o minutes. I tried to visualize. Visualize Gilmer, visualize the back pain moving up my spine through my arms and out my finger. I got attacked by ants but still kept trying, which brings me to my next point.
What is up with ants in the south?! They are aggressive little motherfucker. They are so peaceful up north. Down here, anywhere I lay I get ants trying to bite the shit out of me. And Im not talking about fire ants either. Man these ants got some issues they need to deal with

Anyway, I busted a move. After 8 miles I was beat. No water. The road was terrible and I couldn't skate. I walked, kicking my board infront of and even it didn't want to move. The road was just pebbles. Why does it have to be one or the other? Headwind or shit roads. I hoped for a ride for the next 7 miles. And Ha! A white Mazda 3 coming the opposite direction pulls around.

"What are you doing man?!" a young guy with aviators asked
"Skating..."
"What if your wheels go? Do you have an extra pair?"
"They won't, I have extra bearing though, you skate?"
"When I was a kid, where are you from?"
"Rhode Island"
"Yeah right, let me see some Rhode Island ID"
I handed it to him and he looked on with disbelief
"Where are you heading?"
"Gilmer, you heading there?"
"Yeah"
"You wanna give me a ride?"
"You have any weapons on you?"
"Ha, nah man"
"Get in the back seat"
Phew I though. I got a ride but fuck I hate myself for cheating. I feel terrible

"My wife almost ran you over up the road, she called me and told me about this crazy guy on a skateboard in the middle of the road, then I saw you"

"Ha, Im sorry man, the road here is terrible, I cant ride the shoulder so Im trying to skate on the parts smoothened up by cars"

We talked some more and he told me how big Texas was, 858 miles across, which would take me 20 days at 40 miles a day or so.

"Im in no rush man"

"So heres the deal, I can take you all the way to Tyler if you want, Im heading there to work"

The thought corssed my mind. It would make life easier. What if the road didn't improve? The heat? But Im supposed to skate, fuck hitching, anybody can do that, Im trying to prove something to myself. I need for once to accomplish something. I already feel horrible for taking this 8 mile ride another 40. In the end, fuck that. I plan on skating there and getting there tomorrow. The offer was tempting, very, but I couldn't

"Nah, thanks man, I appreciate it, but I gotta skate"
"Ok man"
"So whats your name anyway?"
"Chad, I work for Texas Roadhouse, a famous steakhouse around here and I pop in when nobody knows and tell them what they should and shouldn't do"
"Cool"

So we get to Gilmer and he gave me 4 free entree certificates to that place
"This place is all around Texas man, should keep you stuffed until you get out of here"
"Thanks man, I appreciate them and the ride, and tell your wife Im sorry"

So we parted. I loaded on drinks and skated outside of town and found a nice little spot off the side of the road and took a deep nap. From here 155 looks smooth, lets hope things don't change for a while.

Day 18 June 22 Texarkana to Linden, TX (42 mi)

2009-06-25T11:45:00.000-07:00

Texas is hot. Brutally hot. It was still dark when I got up. I waited for Nate to get ready and he wasn't too excited, probably because he was heading to work. I rode with him where he was carpooling with Aaron and another guy, Jobi. I said my goodbyes and we each went our separate ways. Nate and Aaron are awesome, I really hope I can run into them at some point again.

Through Texarkana I passed and on one of the streets to 59 a prostitute tried to stop me at 630 in the fucking am. Not now baby. Kept moving and busted my ass on the railroad tracks. I got into Atlanta at 945 and decided to rest at a McDonalds packed with blue collar Americans. Every head turned toward me with suspicion. I set my shit down, went up to the register and they weren't serving lunch yet, I went to sit. The booth infront of me had a family and the man turned around.
"Hey son, do you need something to eat?"
"No thank you, Im waiting on the lunch menu"
"I was just offering"
"I appreciate it"

I guess he took offense. When 1030 came around, the lunch menu was on and I ordered a large fries and a McChicken. Good energy. I left at 11 and off to Linden. I was on the shitty Texas chipseal now. I heard everything was bigger and better in Texas, obviously not the roads. The vibrations were so hard they number my legs. Then a small gray Toyota truck honks at me coming the opposite direction and minutes later pulls up ahead of me. When I near, an older man pops out, extends his hand

"Jerry Harp, how are you doing?"
"Omar, nice to meet you"
"Im a cross country cyclist, and I had to pull over"
"Oh, haha, Im skateboarding"
"Do you need a ride?" I had a feeling he was testing me
"Im trying to cheat"
After talking some more he took my blog and name down.
"Are you I-ranian?"
"Haha, no Im Egyptian"
"Oh ok"
He told me he had to get something in Atlanta and would drive by me again and if I needed a place to spend the night I could take him up on the offer. Hells yeah. About 7 miles later he pulls up, gives me his number and tells me to call him when I get into town. I arrived there at 130 and my phone had no service. I called Jerry from an Exxon gas station and 5 minutes later, ha! there he was.

Jerry turned to be awesome. He was living with his wife Martha. The first thing he did was take me upstairs to a comfortable room. Then he let me shower. Then after reading the blog and finding out I had pasta and sour cream in Little Rock and loving it, he made me the bombest sour cream pasta, with bacon, avocado, carrots, peppers and a little spice. We talked. He had cycled the country on different occasions and was so impressed by my distance covering. "40 miles a day?! you could easily cover 100 miles on a bike". "You survive on $7 a day?! You put me to shame, I spend about $25" At $25 a day I would be broke by the 40th day of my trip. Id have to get a job to keep going. He then felt the need to show me around Linden, the attractions, and his family. Hell yeah

First we went by the oldest courthouse in Texas, the Linden courthouse and its confederate memorial which is present in about every town in the south. Then we went to Music City Texas where a blues festival had just been underway. I learned that Don Hindley of the Eagles grew up in Linden, fuckin awesome and he funded this nice little place. Then we visited his daughter who happened to live right across the street. She was nice but he saved the best for last his sons house and the trophies inside. He wasn't at the house at the time I was there but I met his very nice daughter in law and he showed me the biggest elk head I had ever seen. His son had shot the sucker in Colorado with one arrow! I shit you not, the trophy, from the head to the neck, not including the antlers was as big as me. I wish I got a picture but I was so busy staring at its massiveness, it didn't even cross my mind. We headed back home where a Chicken Dorito casserole was waiting on us. Oh my god, it was so fresh and so good. Its been months since Ive eaten a home cooked meal like that. We relaxed, drank some homemade wine and 1030 I decided it was time to go to bed. Jerry insisted that he wake up the next day and make me pancakes even though I was getting up at 530 and he usually got up at 930.

3 days in Texarkana

2009-06-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

I was more impressed with this place than I thought I would be. On Friday I hit up the skateshop in the AM. Igot back and rested then played a drinking game before going to Fat Jacks. Nathan's crew consists of some really good people, all chemical engineers, non locals, working at paper mills. My favorite was Aaron, maybe because he had a miniramp that he built, maybe because he skated or maybe because he was a New Englander. I have no idea how all these people ended up here, but there is no doubt they make it cooler.

Saturday was a full day. Frisbee golf in the am, then a work dinner for the people of Nathans company. I was scared being around all these old southern white people, to be honest. What would they think of this punk looking brown man. Especially when they found out he was an Egyptian, so I just kept my distance, watched from afar and stayed cool. Those were of course my prejudices because when I got to meet a couple of them, they were really really nice people and the mill manager actaully teamed up with with me, Nate and Aaron for a couple of games of shuffle board, although me and Aaron got our asses whooped twice. After eating some catfish, we took a tour of the mill and I discovered how paper was made. I took some pictures but some of the employees got pissed because it is a 'secret process' so I won't upload any of those pictures. It turned out to be an elaborate, expensive and I was impressed. Then we went to guy named Joel's house who is another awesome guy for a couple of games of beer pong. I totally lost the skill because I didn't last. At Joel's house I also became familiar with the graffiti of Banksy. I recommend everybody to check his work out (www.banksy.co.uk). Its political and very clever.

Sunday was a day of rest. Tomorrow is Texas. I know how hard Texas is going to be especially the Western part. Long, very fucking long, dry, hot and dead. If I can get through Texas I can make it to the end. It will require patience, dedication and lots and lots of strength.

Day 14 June 18 2009, Hope to Texarkana (33 mi)

2009-06-23T11:05:00.000-07:00

My camera is being really fucking stupid. First it gives an error 99 every four pictures and now it won't upload my pictures onto the computer. I hope its not a serious issue, because that would really piss me off.

Anyway it wasn't the easiest day but it wasn't the hardest of days. I left the motel later than usual, 830 after a heavy breakfast made up of a fresh waffle the size of my plate (righteous), raisin bran cereal, a danish, a donut and some orange juice. Since my motel was off the interstate I had to go back to highway 67 through heavy construction on a connecting road. As I was going down it, the sheriff coming the opposite direction saw me and stopped me. With a stern look on his face and pointing at my board "You better get that thing off the road" as if I had brought a new alien invention on to earth. Its called a skateboard and Im travelling asshole. Before I had a chance to say anything he drove off. I was pissed. When he drove off, I continued and at 9 I was on 67. 8 miles to a town called Fulton. At 1030 I got there, not bad timing for wind that has been blowing from the s/sw at 5 to 10mph for the past four days. I stopped into a trucker gas station and I got the dirtiest looks. There was a woman working alone inside and two truckers outside. As soon as I walked in, the both walked in after me to see what I was up to and to protect the lady incase I tried to steal, kill or rape her although I left all my shit outside. When I asked the woman where I could refill my water one of the truckers jumped in and said "Right there, outside". Cool. I paid for my Mountain Dew and went outside. I decided to rest until 11 but the whole time I was being watched through the big glass window. It was time to go. I passed farms, farms and farm. Cow farms, corn farms, chicken farms (which stunk like ass), and hay farms (if thats what they are even called). When I saw the hay I decided to stop and check out how they are rolled into big rolls like that.

If you are interested you can keep reading, if not, I understand. But what happens is that there are two tractors each pulling a different machine. The first one is pulling blades that chop the tall grass in smaller pieces and the other machine oon the other tractor ate it up. When the machine was full it spit the big roll out. Thats how simple it was, but I wonder how they did it back in the day.

Time to move and so I did. The heat was kicking in and it was past noon. I ran out of water quick, but still 18 miles to go. Then like that a trucker coming the opposite direction honks his horn, hangs his hand and tosses me a cold Lipton citrus green tea. Oh what a booster it was after chugging it in one sip. Thank you brotha!! I got to Texarkana at 145 and as I was checking out downtown I came across a Circa sticker and I could smell something was good nearby. Then behold, right next to it was the Darkslide skateshop. Fuck yeah, so I went inside. At first they thought I was a homeless bum and tried to kick me out, but when they found out the story behind the bum all the kids came an listened. Inside was the park and they let me pump around for a little for free. My man Hunter and Aamon, thank you dudes. I skated, waiting on my host, Nathan to get out of work. The shop was pretty sweet. Even though it offered minimal products and all kids hung out there, and it was owned by a mom, she defnitely hooked it up. To the left was Fuel TV and two comfortable ass couches. There was also a bar area, which didn't serve alcohol because the skateshop was on the Texas side and the Texas side of Texarkana was dry. Through a little door was the skatepark. Wooden ramps and nice little bowl. On the left was a door that led to another smaller park and a stage that bands play on every once in a while. Hell yeah, except for the alcohol, I think every skateshop should be set up this way. At 430 Nathan called and came and picked me up. As I was putting my shit in the back of his Honda Pilot I saw an Arbor longboard and another shorter longboard by a smaller company and his trickdeck. FUCK YEAHH! I knew it was going to be a good three days in Texarkana.
Later he called his coworker Aaron, from Maine, representing New England in the south baby, and we longboarded until dark down one of the steep hills of Texarkana. Man my legs were beat, but it was a sweet session.
Hellz Yeah!

Day 13 June 17 2009, Prescott to Hope (16 mi)

2009-06-22T13:45:00.000-07:00

Again I'm ahead of schedule. A host has agreed to have me in Texarkana and seems like a really cool dude. The only thing, is that I told him I would be there on Friday, its only Wednesday. I can get one more day but two wouldn't be cool. So I decided to into Hope early to check it out and relax before the final Arkansas push tomorrow.

The day was easy. Again, freedom. Empty smooth roads. I was still rollin although my wheel was still missing a chunk. I blasted my music, and rolled own the hills slowly carving. "No Woman, No Cry came on and I couldn't help but sing as loud as I could help but sing it as loud as I could in the emptiness. It brought back good memories and goosebumps. Ah man, the last time I heard that song was two weeks, before leaving for Ghana. A local band reggae band, Soulshot, was playing at the Ocean Mist that night and they closed up with that song. I was with three of my closest friends.

Then Barry White's "My First, My Last, My Everything". It put a giant smile on my face and I looked up to the sky and said "Oh Barry White we miss you man, I hope you are lookin down on me and seeing the happiness your music brings to my soul. Rest in peace forever, brother." As soon as the song ended my ipod battery died. Oh well thats why I have my Solio. After 2 hours of skating I got to hope at 910. This was the birthplace of Bill Clinton, so I decided to check it out and went to the visitor center.

Hope is an unimpressive little town. I don't know how a US president could have grown up there. And so did Mike Huckabee. I walked around and after I saw everything there was to see, including Bill Clinton's first home. I decided to find a cheap motel, since I really had to take a dump and didn't feel like digging a cathole today. So I looked until I came across a Super 8 motel. I went inside and while I was booking a room the manager came came and asked my story. When she found out I was skateboarding she was so excited since her 7 year old grandson was a 7 year skater. "Oh he is going to be so happy when I fell him about you" Then she gave me a special discount. Thanks so much to the ladies at Hope Super 8 motel, they were all wonderful ladies who only put Fox News on TV ;). Today is rest. I can't complain. Love, Peace and repect.

Day 12 June 16 2009, Caddo Valley to Prescott (41 mi)

2009-06-22T12:52:00.000-07:00

I woke up extra early as to not piss off the rangers who let me camp there. I bounced out after a deep morning meditation and a Trailmix bar. Feelin good. Through highway 67 I passed then after 3 or four miles I started to have more upper back pains and shin pains on my left leg. Then the wind started picking up early getting me real pissed. It started blowing straight my direction. And then more hills. The wind was blowing so hard I was forced to walk uphill and kick my way downhill. It got riduculous. Pain and strong headwind, it couldn't really get worse. Then as I was passing through Henderson State University an undercover state trooper in a gray Dodge Magnum pulled up next to me and told me I had to get off the road. It was 630 in the am I thought, wasn't it too early for you? Go find something useful to do. But thoughts were thoughts and my actions didn't really speak for them, so I just got off the highway. I waited for him to pass and then got back on. Less than a minute later beyond a hill I heard his sirens and saw the lights speeding away. Perfect, now I can skate, something good is keeping his ass busy. Later, as I was passing through downtown Arkadelphia, which is a busted ass filthy town I saw five cop cars including Arkadelphia police, Henderson State Police, the county sheriff and state troopers. ThenI heard one of them scream "I seeeee you, get down now!!!" They all ran towards the voice. I hung around to snap some pictures and see what was going down. I was hoping to get some police brutality on camera. 20 minutes passed, more cops came and nothing was happening except them running around like clowns. I couldn't wait around longer, it was time to keep moving. At least he now had something to keep him busy for a while. Now it was just me and the howling headwind on empty 67. Then I remembered I hadn't said a little prayer I say on the road
"In the name of God, I am in your hands. There is no God but God, there is no other power but God the Almighty, most high. Oh God prevent me from giving or encountering darkness, humiliate or be humiliated, fool or be fooled. I put my faith in you and rely on you. God give me the strength to finish my journey."

And so it was, 3 miles later the wind almost completely died down and I was cruising. Through Gum Springs and Curtis. Then I got to Gurdon at 945 where I searched for the library. I saw an old black man who was staring at me and smiled. So I decided to ask him
"How you doin sir?"
"Im fine son" with a big toothless smile
"Aaaaah, Im just lookin for the libree" in my accent
"The what?" all confused
"The libree?"
"Im sorry I can't understand you"
"The libree, you know with books"
"Oh!, The lie-brah-ree" laughing loud "Its down this road on the left
"Thank you so much sir"
Damn was my accent that confusing?

The librarian asked about my trip and then gave me a book, "A Walk Across America" by Peter Jenkins. It turned out to be an incredible book I couldn't stop reading. It told the story of Peter Jenkins, who decided to walk across the country with his dog and a whopping 65lbs on his back over a period of two years. I was inspired. 17 more miles to Prescott. Empty roads and I was cruising at at least 10 mi/hr, down hills and blasting the music, singing as loud as I could. Nobody could hear. Freedom. I felt the breeze on me as my wheels rolled. This is what this trip is about, this feeling. After 11 miles I came across the Little Missouri and decided to dive in and cool down. The sun and humidity were brutal and my shirt was soaked. My drinking water was hot as piss in my hands and the sweat in face burned my eyes. Then more long hills. I had to get to where I was going. At 410 I finally got there, chugged a vitamin water and found a place to camp behind a mill away from everyone. No more cops pulling up on me at 10 at night and waking me up. Just 15 miles to Hot Springs tomorrow. Again Im a day ahead of schedule and found a host in Texarkana. When all seems perfect, I look at my back right wheel and find a good chunk missing. Fuck, solve it tomorrow, at least I can still roll.

Day 11 June 15th 2009, Benton to Degray Lake outside of Caddo Valley (about 45 miles)

2009-06-17T10:29:00.000-07:00

It was really foggy this morning and visibility was very low. About 50 feet ahead. My bag was way too heavy and in the quest for a lighter backpack I tossed some shit. I got rid of one pair of boardshorts which were too big for me anyway. My bigass mapbook; I just ripped the pages I needed and tossed the rest which was at least a pound. I had some date fruit cockroaches kept getting into and tossed that too, another two pounds. I had an extra lamp and knife, I left those in Little Rock. Im really hoping to ease the back pain.

Leaving Benton was confusing. I took River St which dead ended onto a river, but not according to google. So I had to turn back around and get to the interstate where I got into AR-229 a two mile ride which eventually connected with AR-67. I got there at about 730 although I left at 630. Only four or five miles were covered and I had to step up the pace. The highway to Glenrose was very hilly. Long uphills and short downhill bursts. I still had a while to go. At approximately 1030 I got to Malvern and was exhausted and drenched in sweat. I was so happy to get there I decided to pose next to the sign. I took a little break and headed to the library to settle my shit with Eureka.

At the public library a young woman came up to my computer and asked if I was travelling after she saw playing around with her 4 year old daughter who was fascinated by my skateboard. After we talked for a little bit I was introduced to her husband, Sean who turned out to be a really cool guy. It turned out through conversations later that he had walked all around the country. He called himself a wanderer and had lived in many places including South America and the Pacific Islands. I overheard him talk about mushrooms so I asked what he was all about. He said he was going to pick some up at a cow pasture later and I could come along if I wanted. Fuck yeah, so I did. First he had to get his sandals from his house. On the way there he asked why I was yawning so much and I said I didn't have a good sleep because of my busted ass tent and was trying to settle things with Eureka. He offered me one of his. When we got to his house he brought his tent out and gave it to me. I tried it out and it was easier to set up, lighter, bigger on the inside and it was freestanding which meant that it didn't have to be staked to the ground. Perfect. His wife also gave me a bag of vegetables including an apple, onions, peas, tomatoes and cucumbers. Fuck yeah. Then off to Hot Springs we went where the farm and mushrooms were.

On the way there we were conversating some more when I found out he lived in Yellowstone. He also made some money on the side by working as a tour guide. I knew a guy a did the same thing a while back in my town in Rhode Island. I asked if he knew Freddie Dawson, old man Freddie. He knew him! What a tiny ass world, and he said "It usually tends to be that way" Freddie if you are reading this, I miss you man I hope things have improved in your life, I know you were going through some harsh times when I left to Ghana. We picked a big bag full of mushrooms, some being the biggest I have ever seen, some fresh peaches and blackberries. It was a trip and he asked if I wanted to eat some tonight. Aaaaaah. As much as I wanted to, I had to focus on my trip. Tomorrow wouldn't be a good day if I ate some. On the way back to Malvern he bought me a chicken kabob that was fried with onions and potatoes and it was fucking delicious. And so I covered the next 20 miles to DeGray Dam and settled in a spot called Lower Lakes recreation area at about 517. At 730 Clark county sheriff came up to me and hasseled me because I was camped. He had a small little mustache and was kind of chubby. Slowly walking towards me

"How you doin?" in his southern accent

"Im ok"

"The weather is hot"

"I guess, its ok right now. Any problems, sir?"

"Yeah well I saw your tent. Im going to have to call the park ranger and see what he says. There is no camping allowed here. Do you have an ID?"

"Yeah" I reached in my pocket, opened my wallet and handed it to him and so he went to check things out. He came back 10 minutes later and handed me my ID back

"Let me tell you, next time don't set your tent up during the day. If I hadn't seen you, you would have gotten away with it"

"So I have to be sneaky about it now? I set my tent up and let everybody know my intentions. Im not trying to cause any trouble, just passing through and will be gone early in the morning"

He wouldn't have it

"We will wait for the park ranger, he should be here shortly" So we waited and waited and he never showed up. After 20 minutes I got up to take a picture of the lake behind the dam at sunset when I spotted the sheriff driving away. I quickly ran up to his car

"Hes supposed to come"

"So what does that mean?"

"You can do whatever you want to do"

"So I can stay here?"

"Whatever you wannado, leave or stay, I don't care"

"Ok" I was so confused

"Be safe"

"I will"

That was that. Fucking cops. They are all a bunch of action junkies that find out when they become cops, most work consists of doing paperwork and they hated it, so they always tried to find some shit to do, even if it was hasseling people who never did shit. But in reality I have passed many cops in my journey so far, almost all who have never even said a word to me.

I was asleep at 1010 when I was awaken by bright lights coming down the road. I had a feeling it was the park ranger. His white Ford truck came up passed me then turned back around then he shined his bright flashlight on my tent and in my eyes.

"Are you the park ranger sir?" approaching the truck and the old man in it

"You can't camp here sir"

"Why not? Im just passing through and leave before 6 tomorrow"

"This is not a camping area sir"

"My map says it is"

"Please sir dont lie to me, this is my job, Ill show you my map"

"I swear Im not lying"

"Show me your map" We walked over to my map and I unfolded it

"This is DeGray Lake, right?"

"Yeah"

"Look it says I can camp, right here in this Arkansas State Highway map"

He looked closely "Hmmm, well let me show you mine"

"I know you are not lying to me sir, I know you are right. I just want you to know where Im coming from."

"I understand where you are coming from, but I will take you somewhere else" he emphasized

"Sir its 10 at night and I was already asleep. Now I have to pack again and then unpack one more time"

After some thinking he said he would let me stay if I left early, then another ranger car came up

"Now you are gonna have to go"

God damn it, I thought. So I went to my shit and began packing. When I looked up and saw him talking to a lady ranger I overheard her say "Well I don't have a problem with it" Without even hesitating. Man I love women, so I walked up

"So whats you story?" she asked in a very friendly tone

After telling her what I was about we ended up talking about skiing and laughing about skateboard falls even with the old man. He smiled every so often. She was a very nice woman, completely understanding. He was a grumpy old man who believed so strongly that somebody was going to come and harass me or kill me.

"Im not worried about it"

"You should be, I dont trust anybody"

"Well I have my knife"

"We will let you go back to sleep" she cut him off and so I did

Tomorrow is another day.

Day 10 June 14th 2009, Riverfront Dr, Little Rock to Benton (29.2mi)

2009-06-17T09:53:00.000-07:00

Waking up and making myself leave today was so hard. I woke up at 930 after partying with some wine last night. I couldn't even party because I was thinking about my journey. After getting up I had a deep meditation session to find out if I should leave or not. On one hand I felt pissed. It was rainy outside, I didn't have my tent pole and I hadn't ask Sophie to stay for another night to wait for the pole and better weather. On the other hand I planned on a leaving day and had to stick to it no matter what. After meditating and searching for the energy in me I googled my route out of Little Rock. Whether I was going to leave that day or not I still had to know the route. After the search I got up and felt extremly positive for some reason. There was even some light poppin out of the clouds. I struck a good compromise; wait for the aprtement office to open at 1PM and hope my package was there. If it did, great, if not it was time to go. Im sure Sophie would have let me stay an extra day but asking her last minute was not cool in my book, especially that here boyfriend had just arrived from France the day before. When 1 came around I went to the office and didn't find my package. Fuck. I hoped my tent would hold up for just a couple more days. It started to drizzle again. I hugged Sophie goodbye and left on the wet streets and humid sticky air. It was at least 94 degrees outside and with the humidity, my body couldn't wait to sweat. Even my water bottle which was in the freezer immediatly started to feel considerably warmer.

I wasn't happy and couldn't concentrate. I took a couple of falls on the slick ass street. I just wasn't feeling it. The calf muscle wasn't cooperating either and I bought too much food in Little Rock and bag was weiging me down and the back was already giving me pains. But I left and had to keep moving. To Benton, I had to make it. Leaving cities sucks. Too much traffic, tight roads, steep hills. All these factors forced me to walk, especially with the wet roads, I couldnt risk going too fast and hitting a car or busting my ass. When I finally got out of Little Rock via AR-5 I was happy but found my watch had broken off during one of my falls. I was really beginning to feel the pain even though I had been relaxing by the pool for the last two days, this wasn't how it should be. The mental effect was beginning to drain, but I had to control the mind. I saw little funny sign that said to believe in yourself. I stopped in a WalMart in Bryant, the town right before Benton, and got myself the same $7 watch I had and a 6 inch sub from Subway to raise my spirits.

It took forever to get to Benton, which wasn't my intended final destination anyway. People in cities, at least bigger ones, get so pissed when Im on the road even though Im skating the breakdown lane. So many people honked their horns from far away. "Get off the roaaad!!"

I wasn't even on the road assholes, you are just too scared to drive past me. I hate cars on the road as much as they hate me. I finally got to Benton then got lost trying to find a way out. It was getting dark and I had to find a place to camp. So I settled at the UALR campusbehind the football field underneath a big tree. The tent took a while to set up and didn't work as good as it did. But it still got the job done. Then as I was laying in it the back pole snapped too. Im going to fuck Eureka up tomorrow and will probably shop for a new tent in Texarkana. For now I had to find a safe way to get back on 67.

Some promotions

2009-06-16T08:34:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to promote some websites if you care to check them out

First, when I first Googled walking directions from Memphis to San Diego I thought I would skate instead of walk. That was the initial trigger. But I wanted to find somebody who actually did it to see how possible it was. When I came across Rob Thomson's website through a forum I was completely inspired. He has biked from Korea to Switzerland, skated from Switzerland to England, Florida to LA, across China, and New Zealand. He is the real man and gave me some good advice on my trip. Now his journey has become a Guinness World Record.
http://www.14degrees.org/

Another guy that did a skate across the US is a phenomenal longboarder named Adam Colton
http://whoisadamcolton.com/

My local skate surf shop in Rhode Island, they have hooked me up consistently and they are fucking awesome. Respect to Peter Pan
http://www.gansettjuice.com/

I was lucky enough to witness the beginnings of Egypt's first skate community. Now they have grown into a a whole shop that promotes Middle East skateboarding and sponsors tournaments.
Check them out at
http://skateimpact.com/

I was also lucky enough to witness the humble beginnings of the URI Surf Club with about 10 members. It has grown and know they hold surf competitions at least twice a year. The president Rachel is busting her ass for it, respect to her
http://www.urisurfclub.com/

Good music? Hell yeah, you can see the orange sticker on my board that says 'the attic'. A local band from South Kingstown, these guys fuse funk, reggae, jam, and all kinds of good shit into some awesome music. I like to represent them everywhere I goCheck them out at
http://musicfromtheattic.com/

Lastly I want to promote the blogs of the Peace Corps volunteers I was with. The work they do is amazing and they live in very humble conditions. I know what they have been through and they deserve much much respect. Some of the ones are Adam Martyn, Danny V, Kimmie in Ghana, Adam in Ghana, The Adventures of Kirsten and JJ, Two years and Three months.
http://www.peacecorpsjournals.com/?showcountryinfo,gh

Thats it for now, I have another 16 miles to go. Love, peace and respect
Omar