Projeto Rodas Livres

Easiest thing!

Now I’m getting fit!  As I have the support (thanks Izabel Lopes) of ACM Centro, the gym in wich I first started making short water marathons , I’m taking full profit of it and going there every morning.  So, in the next 3 months, from 9 to 11 am,  you can find me working out, something quite important for someone who intends using his body as an engine for pedalling 100 km a day for 5 years in a row.  This was a gift!

Heeelp !!!

Another gift I’m receiving is a Spot Satellite Messenger, a tracker that will allow my family to follow my steps real time, via internet, even if I am in an area where there’s no cellular signal.  And, better of all, it will assure international emergency response support, in case of real need.  It can save lives… Isn’t that lovely?  This gift is being offered to me by my dear friends Silvia & Marcos, from Loc 7 Equipments, São Paulo.

Where am I?

But there’s still more…  Geléia, the most adventurous of my comrades has promised me an GPS, which will allow me not to get lost when I’ll enter in a big city.  Thank you all, my friends.

And thanks aswell to Helen Lloyd who, kindly, answered me about my fears of riding in some places of Africa.  She pedalled alone across the whole continent and wrote me this:

Photo by Helen Lloyd

“I had no security/safety issues biking through Africa. I don’t think there are really any addition security issues travelling on a bike than any other kind of travel. On the whole, the locals are very friendly and outside of big towns/cities, theft is very unlikely. Obviously some countries are volatile, so keep up to date with news etc (check the foreign office website for info too –  to make sure you don’t end up in a tight situation).  Ref. safety – in some countries the major roads are a bit risky with maniac truck driver (Nigeria!) so if you don’t feel happy, just take the back roads – which are nicer anyway! Otherwise, I’m sure you’ll be fine and hope it’s a great trip. If you have any other questions or want to know something more specific then happy to help…”

Well… I do have other questions, many of them in fact.  But I must discover some answers by myself.

Back in time!

The problem about travelling through Africa is that when you look for security directions, even in the very site she suggested, you’ll end up with this, for instance: “we advise against all travel to specific regions of DRC (Democratic Republic of Congo) and against all but essential travel to the rest of the country.”  Well, frightening, isn’t?

Should I stay, should I go?

But I have to pass through DRC anyway, because my option would be Angola, with its  plenty of landmines soil.  In my country there’s a saying that goes: “One has to choose between staying on the pan or jumping in the fire”…

Click to enlarge !

But against all fears, action.  So, I finally concluded the revision of my route on Google Maps.  It has taken a lot of time, but at last it’s ready.  And was fun the fact that I could almost feel the “soul” of each country when tracing the line through its territory on the map.

Well, not surprised.  I must be crazy anyway.