Head to Phoenix

9 April 09 (Thursday) Sunny

At 9:20 a.m. we headed to Phoenix from El Centro rest area. We rode to Araz Junction and got back onthe GPS track again. When we stopped over at a gas station and took a break, TR did a very good job. He proposed to post a pix of the shop and Solar Car to upload on the website for publicity. His proactive idea made him got a sponsorship from the manager.

Green Man met a nice guy too. Chris, manager of Checker Auto Parts invited us to visit his shop and asked a paper to interview GM there. He also sponsored support van with some automotive supplies. As well, we got a free lunch at Lulu’scafé and free accommodation at Space Age Motel at 61/a Bend motel. Thanks Lulu’s and Space Age Motel!!! Also thanks to our Harley motorcycle driving buddy! He gave us a big hand to make a wonderful movie with his motorcycle.

As usual, if GM found some interested things or beautiful scenery during the journey, he would ask us to take pix or make a film immediately. There were road runners and rabbits,and lots of people taking shots of the solar car from their vehicles, pulled over to the side of the road.
Diana: Wow what an adventure. Leaving the sand storm, ending up at Lulu’s, getting rides on a harley. Stopping by the Space Age motel and getting a wonderful room and a pool- courtesy of them. The generosity of people on the road is so amazing.

Heading for Phoenix

8 April 2009 (Wednesday) Sunny

Wow, another sunny and beautiful day, the desert was waiting, Phoenix, we were coming! The landscape and mountains along the road was very beautiful. We didn’t know what great danger was waiting for us.

The GPS route put us on a road that was blocked to traffic and so we had to turn around to cross a bridge. The wind was very strong. Oh my god! The horrible wind nearly blew up Solar Car’s right cover. GM screamed out and asked for help. TR, CLWC and CN rushed to hold the car. Fortunately, we got it through and started our journey again.

The wind was becoming very very strong. We stopped on Old Highway 80. CLWC found a bush and let TR take snapshot. They tried several times but failed because of the turbulent wind. We got beautiful landscape shots such as a milling company, stone store, horses and cows when we were riding along the road.

Driving along the freeway to Imperial County, was really amazing and awesome. Green Man set the video camera on Solar Car to film the scenery of the rocky roads.

At 3:40 p.m. we rode through Evan Hewes Hwy 98. The wind was becoming very turbulent. At 4:10 p.m. GM decided to pullover. It’s dangerous to ride along Grays Walls Road. We were trapped by a sand storm from 4:28 p.m. to 11:18 p.m. for more than 6 hours.

After protecting Solar Car with 2 covers, GM, TR, CLWC and CN were become sand rats. All our hair, eyes, ears, noses and mouths were full of sand. When we had sandwiches in our support van, we really got to know where you could find real sand……..sandwiches.
We waited until 11:18 p.m.when the wind became less strong; we rode to a nearby rest area and stayed overnight there. GM said, “many things youface are unexpected” the most interesting thing in life was what you can make of it.

Although we have to face so many obstacles during our journey each day, we still had to get it through in order to achieve our goal i.e. “To promote the use of clean and sustainable energy”.

Come and join us together and get our job done, 1-2-3 Solar Car!!

Diana:

Wow getting trapped in the sandstorm near Yuma was one incredible experience. The police came by 3 times to see if we were okay. They were worried because there are a lot of fatalities on the road, when people pull over.

We took a walk through the sand dunes during the storm and ended up by a river. I found out they shoot a lot of movies there. A few guys on dirt bikes came by to see how we were doing. We wondered if they were part of the people who track illegal immigrants.We got a police escort to the rest area 2 miles away when the sand died down.

Two events at San Diego, LA

7 April 09 (Tuesday) Sunny

Woke up early in the morning and headed to Kyocera. Thanks to Ceciliafor inviting us and the Canadian Consulate for helping to arrange it. Arrived at Kyocera Solar Inc. at 9:40 a.m. GM, TR and CLWC went to meet the staff. CN was responsible to take care of Solar Car when it was charging under the hot sunlight.

After GM had been interviewed by the News station,all crewmembers attended a brief talk by Kyocera and had a Thai food lunch there. Before we headed to Centre for Sustainable Energy to visit Irene, one of attendees of the brief talk, GM was interviewed by more press..

Both corporations offered to help us to try to find and contact potential sponsors. Theyall wanted to put forth effort to make Mareclo’sdream come true. “If you really have apassion, somehow you're going to make it happen. You'll find a way.” This was their battlecry! Thank you all.

With Cecilia’s kind assistance, we were allowed to park the Solar Car at Kyocera Solar Inc. overnight. Afterwards, we went grocery shopping and bought food stuff for the coming 2 days’ journey to Phoenix. We parked the support van and trailer at Missions Points Gate and called it a day.

A brief talk at Dr Jones E Salk School, LA

6 April 2009 (Monday) Sunny and blue sky

We felt very happy; Crazy Lady Without Cat decided to join our team. Go go go, we have 4 guys (2 men and 2 ladies) in the fellowship of Solar Car. They were Green Man (GM), Tall Rice (TR), Crazy lady without cat (CLWC) and Chicken Noodle (CN). Today's function was to give a talk to grade 1 to 6 students at Dr. Jones E Salk School at Magnolia School District. After GM’s presentation, all kids gathered at the playground to see the Solar Car, waiting for GM to drive his Solar Cararound the school yard.

When Tall rice asked students to cry out loudly, "1, 2. 3 Solar Car", GM and his solar car took off.

After GM's performance, all the kids were so happy and stood in line to get GM's autograph. They wanted GMto sign their books, paper and even on their little hands. Once again, GM sowed green seeds in the hearts of our next generation and educated them how to save our earth! We left Los Angeles after the school talk and are on our way to San Diego right now.

Diana:
Well it was scary to take so much time off from my own business, but after thinking and thinking, I decided it was a great and worthwhile adventure to help with the solar car. So on the road again with the solar car team to New Orleans!

The cool thing about the solar car is we always seem to meet the right people at the right time. We just happened to run into Earl as we were looking for a place to park in San Diego and he offered to let us park the solar car at his house. We parked the trailer in a beautiful spot by the water and were mesmorized by how beautiful San Diego was. It’s a little piece of heaven.

Health Freedom Expo at Long Beach

5 April 2009 (Sunday) Sunny and Blue Sky

We set up a booth at entrance of Long Beach Convention Centre very smoothly. Thanks to Tall Rice, the tallest guy and right hand of Green Man, he always got the job done and performed extremely well. As a new crew member, I hopedto give them a hand and not be an obstacle. I was eager to learn more from them.

Not too many visitors, yet the Solar Car, was still was the highlight of the expo. Even other booth owners came to see it.

'What the hell it is, where does it come from, how fast will it go, is it really a car and who is the driver' were questions needed to be answered by crew members. Wewere glad to do so.

Tim Thomas and Jim Bennett are two great guys we met during the Expo.

Diana:

Dawna was an incredible pr person. She set Marcelo up with so many wonderful opportunities. Dawna you rock! Thank you for your wonderful work! It’s amazing to see how many people will come out to support a great cause.

First Day on Board

4 April 2009 (Saturday) Sunny and Blue Sky

No need to drink, no need to eat, no need to sleep, always in a hurry and always a little bit........ late, Members:Marcelo da Luz, Michael Feith and Diana Williamson. Not exactly, they have many things to do such as to ensure the car is running smoothly, to deliver the green message and to entertain many admirers etc.As usual, solar car always attracts people. Then they use their cellphones to take a snapshot of it.With great thanks with Danwa, we're allowed to set up a booth at the Health Freedom Expo held at Long Beach Convention Centre.Long Beach.................Health Freedom Expo, we are coming!

Diana:

Still deciding if I should go on the expedition. Little green man and tall rice have become like brothers in such a short time, that I am very tempted but concerned about missing time out from work. We shall see. Don’t think I have laughed so hard in a long time. They are very funny!Picked up Winnie from airport and it was great to see how inspired she was by Marcelo’s story. He is a very inspiring man! Stayed behind to take care of my taxes!!! and prepare for the possible trip!

Arrived at LA

3 April 2009 (Friday) Sunshine and blue sky

No harsh question, no luggage check and only take times to wait for the luggage, that's my first experience to pass through LA's immigration and customs' counters. Diana has been waiting for me outside for 45 mins, sorry princess :)

We drove back home, took a break and chatted for a quite long time. Diana told me that she really felt tired and wanted to take a nap, it's a good idea for me too. We supposed to wait for Marcelo and Michael back to have dinner together, however, they haven't come back till 1900. Diana decided to cook something for us to eat. She has some instant scalop in the fridge and has no idea how to cook. So, I bought a bottle of corn oil and we cooked together. Eventually, we have deep fried scalops, sweet potatoes, little carrot and a glass of red wine for our dinner. Fabulous! What a coincidence, Diana's major subject is English and screenwriter, i asked her to join our team and proofread my english writing. She told me that she has already done this for Mic, so why not include me, haha!

At this moment, Mic called back and asked us to meet them at Ostega. Diana knew the way and we set off after our dinner. I felt excited and nervous to see M & M and the solar car. Wow! It's amazing and awesome, I could touch the solar car by myself. I was here. I was in LA. I really made it happen, thank god, I haven't made a wrong decision. I was walking on the air. I've got the job done.

The first person I met is Mic, he's really tall, then the solar and Marcelo. They both are nice guys. The solar has an accident, that's why they have to stay 2 weeks longer in LA. It's destiny, it gave me a chance to come here. They have to fix the car and maybe work overnight. Diana and I left first. It's a bit cold at night. It's 2:20, they haven't returned. Diana has gone to sleep already. Me too when i finished the blog. Goodnite!

Solar Car

2 April 2009 (Thursday) A bit cool

Tomorrow is a great day for me, set off to LA alone to join the solar car team. We haven't met before just know each other through email and internet. Crazy? Awesome? or thriller? I really have no idea. It's life. The only thing that i can do is to have fun and enjoy the moment.