Day 4 June 8 2009, Helena to Clarendon (40 miles)

I got up at 557 although I was planning on getting up at 5. You know, sleeping on a bed was just too damn relaxing. I rushed to head out, always early before the wind picks up. I have realized that headwind is the worst fucking enemy on my trip. Not weakness, not low self esteem, not hunger, not water, not traffic. Fucking wind. It always blows in the opposite direction as me. If Im going west its blowing east if im going southwest its blowing southeast. And you can't do shit about it. It wears you out, cancels your speed and takes all the fun out of it. Yeah, fuck headwind.

At my first checkpoint, Poplar Grove, 6 miles west of Helena I stopped for a quick water break and an old man came up to me and asked where I was heading. When I said San Diego he laughed and said I have a long way to go. I said thanks and he drove away, which brings me to the next point. Fuck what your intention is, I want to bitchslap people who tell me I have a long way to to go. Oh really? I hadn't had a clue where San Diego was until you told me how far it is, asshole.

Enough bitching. People are awesome and thats no exaggeration. I have been humbled by the genorocity and kindness complete strangers have shown me. At Marvell, 3 more miles west I stopped at a gas station to refill my water, and an older black man was sitting eating his moring chicken sandwich. He asked my story and when I replied he said "So you must be one of the best". I walked out, and when it started drizzling, I went back inside and sat waiting for it to dry up a little. He came up to me, extended his hand and told me "Good luck man". I realized that his ring and pinky fingers were kind of curled up and I thought he had them cut off. Instead I felt a piece of paper and realized he was trying to give me money.

"Please, you dont have to sir"

He firmly repeated "Good luck" staring me straight in the eye, like I had no choice. I didn't want to reject him infront of all these people so I took it. When he walked out I looked and he left me $5. Why? Did I look broke? I wasn't raising money, this was a personal journey. Did he like me that much? The man was a farmer. I never even got his name or a picture. He walked out before I could say anything. It was an act between me, him and God.

Marvel was the last town before 18 miles of anything of any significance but farms. At a town called Postelle I stopped at "Shaddens BBQ, the Best in Phillips County" for a water refill. It was a tiny little beat shack. An old white man, black lady and black man greeted me inside and told me the hose was on the side of the building. While I was filling up the bottle, the black man came and and told me not to go because she was making me a sandwich. I refused at first, but when he insisted I stayed and talked. It was obvious the white man ran shit

"Go find my glasses from inside" He order the black lady

He have me his card and a sweet smoked turkey sandwich and told me to call them when I got to Cali. I took a picture and rolled. Into emptiness. I got to the intersection where I was planning on camping but decided to keep going 8 more miles to Clarendon. 3 miles down the road, my archenemy came into play. It was blowing straight from the west. 3 miles down I stopped at a Biker club/repair store. I was exhausted and ran out of water. There was a little patio area with a couch on the right side and some other chairs an old white lady and man where sitting on. When I walked and said hi, exhausted, neither even looked up. Cool. The kept doing what they were doing as if nobody was there. From their conversation I gathered he was a missionary in South America and she was also involved in some religous work. I asked the biker dude owner where I could get some water and he conversed for a little with me. He told me his son was a marine in Iraq and Somalia which are two pretty fucking intense places, but now he is going on a backpacking trip across Europe. Righteous. After chilling for 15 minutes I decided to get up and go.

Three more miles I felt like I was going to pass out and collapsed by a tree that was creating some shade on the road. A redneck in his 40s came up to me and told me to come rest by his house where he was sitting outside sipping on a big can of Miller Highlife. He brought me a giant cup of cold ice water. I was grateful. Jimmy lived with what I thought was his wife, but she said after I took a picture "If anybody asks, we are cousins not husband and wife" Haha, I knew it was coming. They insisted on ginving me a ride to Clarendon but when I told them I was trying to break record to get out of it, she told him "He is trying to accomplish something, Jimmy" I left and the last 3 miles went forever. I kept going because I wanted a Powerade at the gas station in town. A arrived at about 3 and set up camp at a local RV park a wildlife officer told me about.

I thank God for the strength he has given me so far. I look at the map sometimes and think, fuck I have a long ass way to go, but then I take my camera and look at the shots I have snapped. I have come a long way. The blackflies at the park were attacking in fullforce so I hid in my tent. A little jumpig spider came and started pouncing on them all. And then something else. A blue car pulled up by the tent and an old lady came up to me and said she was from some church and handed me $5. Again I tried to refuse but she said "Please take it" I dont even know why this woman gave me the money. She didn't know my story and I dont even know where she saw me. God has been kind to me and so have his beings and for this

Iam grateful.
Before I went to sleep the same car came up again and the driver this time came up and told me if I was hungry, the Lions Den was open and that it was all taken care of. I didn't take her up on the offer this time because I had to sleep, thank you so much for help whoever you are.

Day 3 June 7 2009 Lula, Mississipi to Helena, AR

Today was rough. I only covered about 13 miles. I was exhausted from yesterday. US-49 to Mississpi consisted of concrete slabs that were all laid out flat. Hit one, not paying attention, and you fly forward. It happened once, luckily the road was empty. I crossed over the bridge which was too tight, too steep and too crowded to skate so I ended up walking. By the time I got to the Welcome center 4 miles outside of Helena I was beat for the day. I chilled there for an hour talking to Pam. She was an older lady whose husband died a few years ago and she spoke to me about her struggles afterwards and then her personal battle wih cancer. She told me about a man who survived 7 surgeries.

"How do you do it?"

"The will to survive and keep going," she said "For me it was wanting to see my grandchildren, you have faith in the Lord, and thank Him for making it through everyday and pray you make one more"

I took inspiration in these words. If it weren't for all the wisdom I have been getting, I really don't know how I could keep going. I have faith in God and ask his help everyday, to give me the strength and I have made it this far.

I left the welcome center, skated 4 miles north and got to Helena where I treated myself with a nice hot shower, a foot long turkey sub, spicy Mcchicken, small fries and 5 chicken strips. Fuck yeah, I was hungry. And I took a shit in a toilet too, that was nice. The awesome thing about Arkansas, is every gas stations I have stopped in has fried chicken and its really good. Tomorrow I plan on covering at least 30 miles to US-79. May God give me strenbgth, physically, emotionally and most importantly spiritually.

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

the day before

Tomorrow I leave. I have been planning this trip for a month, now.It came to me when I was sitting smoking and I just google directions from Memphis to San Diego. And then I saw a link that said driving or walking, so I chose walking and then I thought, Im going to skate to San Diego. So here I am, about a month later and about to leave tomorrow. I have come a long way from Rhode Island to Memphis. I worked here and saved some money but it is time to continue the journey out west

This is what I am taking with me

• Black Diamond Sphynx Backpack 37L
  
• Eureka Solitaire Tent
  
• ALPS Sleeping Mat Thick
  
• Mexican Blanket
• 2 Yard Ghanaian cloth for towel
  
• 1 pair of pants
  
• 1 tunic top
  
• 2 pairs of boardshorts
• 2 Hanes cloth Tshirts
  
• 1 long sleeve shirt
• 2 sets of bearings, skate tool, extra bushings and nuts
  
• Swiss army knife
• Leatherman multitool
• Pepsi can Stove and fuel
  
• Food for 8 days which is alot, but only going to decrease and some other items in the picture.
  

Of course Im not going to forget my awesome skateboard. A Sector 9 Sidewinder Series skateboard with Gullwing Double Trucks, recently upgraded with Sector 9 Race Formula 77mm wheels. This is my piece of magic.

Im carrying about 25 lbs on my back not including my Canon Rebel XT, and a bottle of water. I have more than 1800 miles to skate but I have all the time in the world to do it.

What brought me here?
Well that is a long story, but basically I got kicked out of the Peace Corps after 3 months and I couldn't settle at home. I traveled around and ended up in Memphis living there for 5 months. I wasn't living an exciting life and I couldn't do it and I had to get out. I need an ocean and I need to surf. SoCal should do for a while.

Im scared of course, Im going solo, but Im excited and so anxious. Tomorrow is the day and Im ready, I hope you can join me on my journey.