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On the 24th at about 9:30 pm, was crossing an international bridge over the river great and stamping the passport to enter the United States . The funny thing was that I stamped my way out of Mexico and the border on the American side , The immigration officer asked me a single question : Where are you going ? And I said : Atlanta to attend the Olympics but I'm going by bike. Soon the agent looked at my visa and my passport stamped for entry to the United States. It was like a dream, but there had to show off all my luggage in front of four policemen and sniffer dogs. Okay, I was feeling a citizen of the world stepping in the land of Uncle San. There are those who speak ill of this country who do not like here, but the American people in general is a warm and healthy . When people will appear showing otherwise, but are the minority.

Passport stamped , back in Laredo in Texas , there were missing 21 days to complete the trip that lasted more than seven months in the city of Atlanta , the state capital of Georgia. The dream that seemed so far was running out if it's thanks to God. After having lunch in Laredo, I took Interstate 59 and follow road. The road was good, with no shoulder but urbanization around. Pedaling now at low altitude was more relief plan no major climbs or descents. After 9 hours cycling from Nuevo Laredo in Mexico, have added a total of 110 km until you reach the small town of Freer, 158 feet high and just over 3000 inhabitants. I arrived in town around 23:00 hrs and got support in a police station where he had a soldier who spoke Spanish . my calendar stamped with the stamp of the Police Department and began my journey already a little late 09:30 hrs.

After eight hours riding for highway 59, stopped in the town of Beeville, TX, with just over 13 000 inhabitants. Here I was received by the police sergeant who also spoke Spanish and he was generous enough to buy me a dinner ( burger) . The only condition was that I had to sleep in a cell because there was dorm and I had to leave before the sheriff arrived.

The sergeant woke me at 5 o'clock in the morning and asked me to give it away. In a matter of communication with the Americans, was on account of the Spanish language , gestures and dictionary. By the way they quite pascientes me at this point.

On Wednesday the 26th, cycled 95 km to the city of Victoria and here I was denied housing both in the police, as the firefighters. Then a nice lady pointed me to spend the night at a place called " The Salvation Army " ( Weapons of Salvation or the Salvation Army ). It was created from the church in 1865 by a couple of pastors to meet basic human needs including the pronouncement of Evangelio de Jesus Christ. Today The Salvation Army has been installed in 113 countries including Brazil and serves more than 175 languages.

Here breakfast is served at 5:30 pm and you must leave the premises until 8:00 pm having to return a maximum at 20:30 hrs, 19:00 hrs and dinner is served .   The site has showers , bedroom and closets for storing clothes.

My beloved reader who is interested in my web site and came up here reading my story , I encourage you to learn to read and speak English, because not everything you read in Portuguese , is well explained , even on the website . No matter what your age , learn English, which may open up many doors for you.

On 27 Thursday , rushed the building on pedaling downhill and walked 142 km to the city of Wharton still in Texas, with only 31 m altitude. Here there was no Salvation Army , then went to the police but I was denied housing, and there was nobody to fire suit me because they were volunteers. Now what once was and the way escurencendo my arm was barrca the 26th time in a gas station and there he spent a quiet evening. I woke up , packed everything and foot pedal . I cycled 112 km to the city of Houston and managed to stay at the Salvation Army with a dinner and a bath . Already the next day caught the Interstate 10 Freeway , where traffic of cyclists , pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles is prohibited, and cycled 147 km to find a Salvation Army in the city of BeaumontBut arrived too late.A nice couple from the city of Lumberg, Accompanied me up there and try to convince the doorman to let me stay there, but he said that is because of such a "The rules " that would not let me enter. Then I asked him to show me in my dictionary this gentleman who is " Rules ", and only then I understood. The establishment feichava at 20:30 hrs and 21:30 hrs I arrived so I had no way. Even the police were called and one of them spoke Spanish. At police headquarters I could not stay , it was then that the American couple decided to pay a hotel for me. I thanked them a lot and had a good night sleep .

On the last day of June, still in the Freeway I-10, passed by a bridge about 20 km which passes over a swamp and cost me a few holes in the tire. I fixed the cameras and tried to get stuck in the city of Lake CharlesSince the State of Louisiana, before 20:30 hrs to not go outside .

Even had time to find a laundry , for three coins 25 cents, soap and of course lots of dirty laundry. Then just wait 30 minutes and the clothes come out clean and almost dry . I found a Salvation Army and spent a quiet night here .

The next day I went to the city of Baton Rouge, Capital of Louisiana, where is located the Church of our beloved Pastor Jimmy Swaggart . Here I was staying two nights at the Salvation Army and enjoyed the day Wednesday to regulate the bike and fix camcorders pierced since I was asked a television interview . The reporter asked me in English and I answered in Spanish, because had American who spoke Spanish to translate the question. On July 4 , Thursday , the day of independence from the United States , cycled 138 km to reach the Salvation Army City New Orleans.

On the way , coming from Baton Rouge by the freeway I-10, was stopped by a police veatura I ordered off the road and travel on Airline Highway 61 West to arrive in New Orleans. As I spent the whole day riding did not accompany the comomerações Day July 4 . So far booked more than a thousand hours and 18 minutes cycling from Itajai.

When I arrived I was already getting dark and I had to welcome me at the Salvation Army , for here , entered, can no longer exit. From now on , I had to travel around the ancient roads more or less parallel to major freeways.

So I consulted my map and chose to take on board the highway 90 which is closer to the Sea Gulf of Mexico, and cycled 143 km in 9 hours and 43 minutes until you reach the town of BiloxiIn the state of Mississippi.

Below it there on Highway 90 , cycled more than 118 km to the Salvation Army City MobileIn the state of Alabama , where I spent the night . From here , was saying goodbye to the coast and took Highway 31 to get to Montgomery , the capital of Alabama.

What I 'm going to talk now, you need not be disgusted with me but I took the opportunity that would go through little towns that games are probably there would not be The Salvation Army, and wanted to do experience riding four days under sun and rain without bathing , without changing clothes before arriving in Montgomery. And there was me.

Woke up early, took my breakfast at the Salvation Army of Mobile, took a deep breath and pedaled 100 kilometers accurate I set my tent for the 27th time in a camping in the city of AtmoreWith just over 7000 people, up the hill with 86 feet high . My power in the United States was basically milk , cereal and hamburger. In the morning, broke down my tent and cycled another 89 km to reach the city of Evergreen where I set up my tent for the 28th time also at a campsite . Hence, 73 km separating my 29th camp in clover between Highway 31 and Highway 4. On my fourth day without showering, Disarm and my tent was continuing my journey, when suddenly the front axle was pro beleléu ( looks beleléu there) and my luck now a veatura police who rescued me and took me to a workshop in Montgomery for me to fix it. I had lunch there and continued to travel.

When going through an overpass , I saw the first sign for Atlanta, I got very emotional , but I gave one of John the arm and faced the Freeway I-85 even though the ban on cilcistas this road .

But my joy did not last long and soon stopped veatura a police officer behind me and very angry, told me several times, " Get off ". I asked him to show me in my dictionary , who 's this "get off " not let me ride here. I consulted my map again and decided to follow the highway until you reach U.S. 29 in Atlanta.

It was already 20:00 pm when I found a police station in the city of Shorter and there the police have authorized me set my tent for the 30th time in the yard behind where they had two veaturas desutilizadas .

The police did not speak Spanish, but still tried to ask them if they could take a bath, but they had showers and the way was looking at my fourth night without showering . My period of four days without showering burst, and was desperate to find a shower or even a river to relieve diaper rash . But my day July 11 was better and after cycling 97 km to hit town Valley. I found a fire house that made me take a well deserved shower at the right temperature .

U.S. firefighters were honored by my presence , they beat me some pictures (after a bath) and a Mexican friend called to help in translation. They also gave me financial support and to supplement, paid me a night in a hotel.

The Mexican accompanied us to the hotel where I would sleep , and he told me I would not go away the next day, because the firefighters would return in the morning with another lady from Puerto Rico to take me to do an interview in a local newspaper . It was Owner Christina with her daughter, Miss Alabama called , Vernalisa , and also the fire department. They viearam with equipping of City Journal and bound for the city of Lanett, 14 km from Valley. In Lanett , I was greeted by the commander of the police and the mayor, who had the honor of my presenceça in your city. In his room, he asked me to sit in his chair and the commander who was present, asked me what were the orders. And I said : Keep the peace and order . This is thanks to Mrs. Christina who translated everything that passed.   

That same day July 12 , Mrs. Christina invited me to go to Callaway Gardens Park to photograph the Olympic torch would pass through there towards the Olympic Stadium in Atlanta.

After the tour , Miss Christina, had the honor to stay in his house and the next day, we visited the Brazilian team of athletes who were housed at a university in LaGrange, Georgia State , and nearby. I asked her to take her my bike in your car , so I can take pictures with the athletes.

Here were part of the track team and our squad Basketball Femenino , which had the honor of having lunch at the same table , along Hydrangea , Paula White , Janet and the whole squad . All very nice , they were honored to meet me because many of them knew my story when they saw me on television in Brazil.   I also had the opportunity to meet the athlete Zequinha Barbosa and the marathon Galdino de BlumenauDefending Brazil in the Olympics in 1996 . And so my day was July 13 , along with our Brazilian athletes.

Another night I stayed at the home of Dona Christina , who treated me like I was a child, even washed my clothes. By the morning of July 14 , Sunday , I said goodbye to that nice family and was just two days in Atlanta. continued by Higway 29 and having just cycled 61 km was stopped by an American reporter in the city of Newnan . He asked me a lot even without an appointment and speak much Spanish , we communicated that way and he also had the honor to receive in your home with his wife and children .

           Monday July 15 , the last day of travel was being fulfilled . now missing just over 60 km to the Olympic Stadium.

   Continuing on U.S. 29 , extamente 16:00 hours I ended my trip in Atlanta at the GA Dome , a gym where I watched our girls basketball win over second place in the Olympics. My feeling when I arrived in Atlanta , was crying, laugh and jump for joy. First I thank God and because He brought me here without taking a scratch , healthy and 7 pounds slimmer.

My heart was overflowing with joy and happiness. There were so many struggles and obstacles to the realization of this project that God knows the details. I want to thank the Engineer Joseph Piccoli , Mr Acyr Osmar de Oliveira , the City of Itajaí , a special thank you for Language Schools Yázigi , Mr Charles Priess , the Unified Network of Education , its Jaime Corujinha Optics Valley , Leonel my cousin who accompanied me in some way in this fight and my uncle Edmund who had this idea.

Expect to give a tour of the city of Atlanta.

Adilson cyclist Joe