Hasta Luego USA... It's been real

PALM TREES!!!

I have now been on the road for a total of 49 days. In that time I have managed to pedal about 4,000km from the the Northwest to the Southeast of the USA. I have crossed one international and five state borders, and if all goes as planned (though what ever does), I should be crossing my second international line later today.

The trip thus far has been one to remember to say the least; full of ups and downs, good days and bad. Beautiful scenery and some landscapes that were considerably less memorable.The states in which I enjoyed the scenery the most were Montana, Wyoming and Texas. But as I have said before what I will remember most about this whole trip is the wonderful people I have met and all the support I have been given from people on the road as well as those following and aiding my progress from a far ( both those that I know and that I don't..your help and support is greatly appreciated) .

 In addition to the approximate $2, 000 I have raised so far through the fundraising page, I have been giver around $300 from random strangers on the road, had multiple nights in hotels and meals paid for,even a few spare beds in people's own homes for the night. I have been in around 20 newspapers to help spread the word, and had countless people stop to aid me on the road. The list is endless in the ways strangers have outstretched their hands to help me on the way

While in Shiner, TX,I even got caught clearly in the act of trespassing (throwing my gear over a locked gate just outside of SHINER, TX). When the family who was out checking their cows caught me doing this and heard my story, they didn't get mad for what I was doing as one would expect.... they gave me an old house to stay in instead!..an very unexpected act of kindness I will never forget.

The last week has been a little rough.Though my tire problems seem to have been put on hold other problems have replaced them. I have started to feel quite lonely, being alone on the road 100% of the time.I had to camp in a very busy truckstop just off the highway after not feeling well, got stuck in a blockaded construction site barely making it out before dark; I got stung by a wasp not one but five times when it got stuck in my shirt in heavy traffic,  and the same day I almost went head first over my handlebars in rush hour traffic of the freeway in Harlingen, TX when I dropped my front wheel into a Storm drain.

I have spent the last day or two stationary in Harlingen, recouping and getting stuff organized for my entrance into Mexico I will be making later today. From here I will ride the last 25miles to Brownsville where I will be putting my gear on a bus to Tampico (as long as they will let me!). I feel slightly guilty busing this far but have been advised by a number of people that it is the best option to get out of the dangerous border reason... the goal IS to make it in one piece, so this is what I will do.

In the travelling world I am used to Americans get a bad wrap; marked as ignorant and coming from a land of commercialism. But travelling through the states in the way I have I can tell you that this is not the case at all; you have to be in a fairly large city to see the commercialism we connect with the USA. Most towns I have travelled through have been full of small private businesses and even a few one room school houses. Even Canada in my experience is much more commercial than rural USA, you have to be in a much bigger town to see a WALMART or similar stores here then you would back in Canada and I am happy to see that. I have thoroughly enjoyed my travels through the states, with many places I would love to come back to and many more I haven't seen that I would love to.

My entrance into Mexico is going to be a major turning point in my trip... a whole new trip in itself, really. I am entering an unknown territory both in landscapes and culture, one in which there is a bit of a language barrier so the loneliness is bound to increase even a little bit more. But I am excited!!! Even though I have been on the road for over a month it feels like my adventure is about to begin. THIS IS WHEN I WILL BE NEEDING EVERY ONE'S SUPPORT THE MOST.

I will no longer be able to be spreading the word and talking to newspapers to help raise funds and  support.I am asking that everyone do everything they can to help me in this matter. We may have gotten the funds up above the $2,000 mark, but there is still a very long way to go be for we reach our goal of having enough to get this learning center complete and give the wonderful people of LITTLE CORN the learning opportunities they deserve. So please, donate if possible, spread the word anyway you can.. we will also be trying to get computers and other supplies donated so if you have anyway you can help in that matter leave a message on here and I will get back to you.

Thanks guys, wish me luck :)

www.commonthreadz.org/stephsolverson