Some promotions

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

Day 2 June 6th 2009: South TN Border to Lula, Mississipi

I had the wierdest dreams last night. Gabrielle Union was on Top Chef and I met her at a party where she was diggin me. She told me she learned to cook on an aircraft carrier.
I left today at about 630 and entered Mississipi before 7. The road was smooth and empty. Even though 61 is a US highway I had it to myself.

I got to the casinos, thinking it was Tunica, only to find out Tunica is actually 14 miles further south. So I stopped at a gas station for a little 1/2 hour break. When I was outside laying underneath a tree, eating the left over of my spanish rice a janitor who had earlier asked me where I was coming from starts heading over to. Benny, insisted on giving me a grape Gatorade, a big bag of Doritos and and a big package of chocolate chip cookies. Why would a poor man like him spend no less than $5 on a complete stranger? I remembered that the world is filled with good good people, we only focus on the bad ones. I left there at about 10 AM and skated to Tunica where I stopped at the museum.

I sat on a bench outside to just catch my breath, but before I got up to go in an old lady came up to me and asked my story. Her name was Ethyl. She gave me a tour of the museum and when I got done, she told a man about my trip, and he said "Im all for it" Cool dude. She left me with him so we conversated. He gave me the best talk I had so far.

Richard was the curator, director and founder of Tunica museum. He was a Vietnam vet who did tactical airlift for the Air Force. He told me "not to quit, because a person is the sum of all their experiences". After the talk he asked me if I wanted to take a corner and sleep so I did for 1/2 hour. When I was about to leave he asked me to stay or to at least let him buy me lunch. I thanked him but said I had 20 more miles to cover.

Going through Tunica was easy but then headwind started to pick up and it made things so difficult. I had to stop for a break every 2 miles. I was losing hope until I saw a sign that said "See the light!, 12 miles to Lula" Ok not bad. The wind intesified and I became exhausted. I lost my willpower even though I was telling myself Im going to get to Lula. I threw all my shit to the side and collapsed down. Fuck it, Ill get a ride. A car pulled up and asked if I need a ride but for some reason I said no. I want to do this. I skated some more, then lost all hope. I ran out of water. I tried to get a car to give me a ride, but nobody would stop. I had to get to Lula, to get water. Before I knew it, there was a sign that said "Lula on right" down a sketchy little road.

Lula reminds me of Ghana, not because it was filled with poor black farmers but everybody came running out of their houses to ask what I was doing. I was a complete alien, just like the obruni i was in Ghana. Everyone was so friendly and chilling outside their houses. Everybody knew everybody. One kid asked me if I needed money, so he went to ask his mother for $20. They kept bringing me water and I ended up with 6 bottles. I went to the local park where all the kids gathered. I played a game of Uno with them but I was so exhausted. I had to go to sleep. I covered more than 40 miles. Their noise didn't keep me awake, it brought me comfort