didier aventurier
 The Univers of Didier Bovard (InDy) didier artiste
 

Crossing 2001 : Weekly illustrated record
   
  Week 1
Didier left southern Greater Canary Island on January 20th, at 12.00 GMT, and started at last his crossing of the Atlantic ocean on a pedalboat. His aim is now to rally the West Indies and then go on to Memphis, Elvis Presley's home town. When he left conditions were good, morale was strong, he covered 60 kms on his first day. Although suffering from seasickness, sleeping very little, and having to face heavy swell, he is keeping in good spirits, morally helped by a group of dolphins. Between magnificent sunsets and blue skies, Didier has to fight swell and force 4 to 6 north wind, and this despite constant lack of sleep. After more than 50 hours pedalling, he is still seasick and navigation is difficult; but his encounter with a turtle and terns, as well as the messages he regularly gets, give him the faith and courage he needs.
 
  Week 2
It seems that Didier has put a tiger in the engine of his pedalboat. Indeed, by the end of the first week, he had already covered 450 kms, and more than 750 kms. And all this despite very difficult sailing in bad weather conditions. Strong swells still prevent Didier from sleeping as he should and as a result he is increasingly tired. This affects his watchfullness and could have disastrous consequences. On one occasion he had to face a frightful experience when "My Way" was almost sent rolling over on the starboard side by a nasty wave With the canopy open, our Savoyard managed to have the right reflexes to get himself out of a critical situation. Still waiting for a favorable weather , and periodically accompanied by dolphins and birds, Didier is recomforted by the increasing flow of messages transmitted to him by the CB Radio supporters who follow his route and challenge.
 
  Week 3
By the end of the second week, Didier's odometer displays a proud 1000 km and 485,000 pedal turns! However, these were 15 days of worry and tiredness, 15 days of fighting bad weather and a heavy sea. But since 3 February, the skies are clear, the sea is calm and Didier can at last, eat normally. High spirits and energy are back and he forges ahead under, has he says, the protection of his lucky star. Didier was hoping that his path would cross the wake of one of the " Vendée Globe" racers but all he saw were the lights of a trawler going north. On the equipment side, he had to deal with a small recurring problem with the pedal mechanism. So far, Didier has received over 100 messages, including those sent by a whole bunch of kids from the Iracoubo School in French Guyana. The latest news sent by Didier indicate that the weather is again starting to worsen and that he is facing 4 to 5m swells. "My Way" is again back to fighting the elements but its fantastic progress gives hopes for a crossing of the Atlantic in about 70 days. The support he gets from his "petite sirène du Lac", his family, his close and anonymous friends, as well as his sea fish "followers" give our Savoyard the strength to maintain the rhythm he needs to fulfill his dream.
 
  Week 4
From the start of this adventure, Didier has had to endure difficult navigation conditions brought by volatile, even nasty meteorological conditions. "My Way" is not spared and has to take the continuous pounding of 4 to 5 m waves. Didier had to play electrician after a wave disabled onboard lighting. Another wave forced Didier to become an acrobat and cleaning lady after a substantial quantity of water had to be removed urgently from the boat. He also had to deal with a minor cut made to his toe by an open knife. Fortunately, other situations were little more funny: a Didier wearing only his cowboy hat and a watch because of the heat in his cockpit and looking like one of those "stars" in specialized magazines, or a completely carbonised St. Valentine omelette! Didier takes advantage of calm moments to clean-up and put back things into order inside the boat. Sand loaded winds coming from the Sahara desert gave a yellowish color to the boat, making it look like a microscopic island in the middle of this blue immensity. It's the same ritual every day: toilet, exercise, plotting the course, radio communication. The best moment for Didier is to listen to the many messages sent to him by his supporters which are now coming from many parts of the world. After the childred of Iracoubo, those of the Victor Hugo School in Aubagne are following Didier's adventure. At the end of the 4th week, one day after Lovers Day, Didier has passed the 1700 km mark. This is a third of the total distance he has to cover nad he has now an advance of 500 km over his planned timetable.
 
  Week 5

The cowboy outfit is gone and Didier is wearing again his ocean cyclist uniform which is a better way to fight a small skin allergy provoked by perspiration. Having missed the dawn wake-up call, our navigator enjoys a lazy moment before hurrying to regain the time lost. Longing for pasta, but cooking spaghetti means a balancing act on the crest of waves and swells...Once more Didier wins the challenge and enjoys a well deserved Italian lunch! In the middle of the ocean, the unexpected means a butterfly paying a visit to My Way, probably coming from the Cape Verde Islands, 600 km away. The crossing continues under improved weather conditions but the sweltering heat transforms the daily pedalling into an ordeal. Finally the telltale signs of dolphins and flying fish warn Didier of the approaching "trade wind" (Alizés in french). A serious problem with the pedal gear left us two days without news. In tears and on the brink of abandoning the whole thing, but with a raging energy, our Savoyard kept disassembling and reassembling the pedal gears without success before thinking of diving under the boat to discover that the breakdown was caused by a long plastic ribbon wound around the propeller shaft. Back on his way after this close call, and attentive to the smallest squeak, Didier has now 2000 km under the belt after one month of pedalling through the waves.
 
  Week 6
One would think that, after the serious problems Didier had with his propulsion system, some celestial clemency would at last appease the wounds of our McGyver of the seas. Alas this was not to be and the gods, seemingly not satisfied by this ordeal, decided this time to attack Didier's only and vital link with the "normal" world - the communications system - by putting a jinx on the battery. At least critical situations like these gave Didier an opportunity to test his movie making talents by filming some very acrobatic repairs. My Way has now reached the mid-Atlantic mark and the gulls circling around his boat seem to be here only to witness this exploit. Heat is now becoming a serious problem and Didier is forced to wring his clothes continuously to remove liters of sweat. The combined effects of heat, fatigue and the cramped space in the boat are taking their toll on Didier. He once lost briefly consciousness while trying to relax and get some air but fortunately without any serious consequence. The skin reddened by perspiration but reassured and encouraged by messages full of admiration and humour brought by a spare radio embarked at the last minute, our hero is now back in a fighting mood and taking on the second half of the ocean. This week, kids in the public school of "Chapelle d'Abondance" sent him their questions and support. He has already given 1,178,000 pedal turns and still has to cover some 2650 km before reaching the Antilles.
 
  Week 7
On the 40th day of his adventure, Didier symbolically bowed his head while crossing the invisible
mid-midmark of the crossing and went through the little ceremony of throwing message-containing bottles in the sea. All these message had been given to him by school children and by his girl-friend so that each bottle could carry good-will words to far away shores. A now abundant marine fauna has elected domicile around My Way and competes noisily everyday to be the first to get at highly appreciated lunch and dinner left-overs! With no cloud cover in sight, our hero is obliged to get up as early as 4:00 a.m. to pedal while temperatures are cool enough. Mediocre radio wave propagation make it difficult for Didier to reach his distant friends and he fights this isolation with reading books. The title "The rage" from Stephen King is a reminder of our adventurer's determination to win his challenge. The weather forecast for this week end is bad and the swells are already reaching 3 to 4 metres. Tossed around by winds and currents, My Way is finding itself further down south than planned and a decision on where the landing point will be on the arc of the Antilles will have to be made as soon as he crosses the 50th West. Didier's legs have now accumulated the memory of more than 3010 km and have another 2500 to go, but the pedal chain they move still needs the ever stronger chain of friendships built around our navigator.
 
  Week 8
54, 54 days now that Didier has left the Canary Islands to challenge the vast Atlantic ocean. Yet this week has not been a sinecure for our hero who had to face heavy seas, and had a very hard time trying to correct his southern drift. Didier is still in good shape and spirits and takes the time to cook a hot meal while being very conscious of the potential dangers from boiling water in the unstable and confined space of his boat. He has changed his schedule a little and now starts his pedalling at 6:15 eating some breakfast at the same time to get the steam up, so tho speak! A radio contact tells Didier that he might soon find himself in the middle of a large whale herd. The mating season for the largest mammals on earth has just started in the warm waters surrouding the Antilles. Since the start of his journey, his friends and the many radio amateurs around the globe who kept a watchful ear on Didier and relayed the messages going back and forth made sure Didier was never alone. One of them, Daniel, Mister Weather, is Didier's Radio Waves Angel who guides him like a pilot fish. At the end of this week, Eole and Poseidon have finally spent their fury and My Way has finally managed to get back in the right course further to the North. Only 1900 km to go now!
 
  Week 9
If there is one thing which can be certain, it's that in the middle of the sea, nothing is certain. Just when we thought that My Way was finally set on the right northerly course, and only a few hours after the end of an uncontrolled drift south, evil winds started again pushing the boat due south. At least our hero was able to take advantage of a good rain storm to wash away the salt caking on his skin. The coming days will be crucial in deciding where Didier will finally land and it will depend on what numbers the "weather dice" will deal! On top of these fickle winds, radio wave propagation is lousy and Didier has problems keeping contact with his friends. In these difficult times, all their encouragements and support are Didier's only solace and help. Once the west fifties passed, our Savoyard will be only 1000 km from arrival. The $1000 question now is on which island will he be landing? Reconnect next week for the answer!
 
  Week 10
Early in the week, the currents have weakened their push toward the South and My Way has been able to aim straight at the Arc of the Antilles. Despite the heat, Didier is in good shape, body and mind, and continues happily pushing the pedals, probably anxious to smell again that special "perfume" so peculiar to harbours! Our navigator has to be permanently on the look out for other ships, specially when crossing busy maritime lines. Every evening, after checking the horizon with his binoculars, Didier prepares himself for a night's slumber. Around My Way, in addition to the usual "followers", Didier has seen tuna, flying fish, sea gulls, and to his great surprise, a clone of "chocolate-hazelnut", the legendary companion of his first crossing. The transparency of the fine membrane of the flying fish makes him believe sometimes that he is in the middle of a surrealistic marine landscape with flamboyant colors. Radio contact is still very bad but we know that a east-south-east wing is pushing him toward the 15th parallel North, which puts My Way at about 1250 km from his goal.
 
  Week 11
It's difficult to give weekly news about our navigator when contact radio is really bad but at least we know that Didier covers on average 50 km per day. If he can maintain this speed, he will cover the last 1000 kms separating him from the virtual arrival line materialized on the maps by the 61th parallel West in about 15 days. My Way is starting to resemble a floating Hotel for birds! A couple of palmed birds with a black head and a grey back (called Sternes in French) seem to have rented a corner of the deck for an agreable honeymoon trip. "Bonnie and Clyde", as quickly nicknamed by Didier, live their idyl with passion and do not hesitate to awaken our navigator at 4 in the morning by their amorous chatter. Friendly messages full of curiosity and support have been sent to him by the pupils of the Chapelle d'Abondance School and 24 kids from the Victor Hugo School in Aubagne also sent him a "questions-answers" report they had prepared before his departure. Didier's final landing location is still a question mark and Pointe-a-Pitre is becoming a possible target but for that the winds and currents have to be favourable to help My Way point its prow toward the North. So all that is needed now is for Eole and Poseidon to make a little effort!
 
  Week 12
After 82 weeks of palpitating and eventful navigation, "My Way" is getting really close to the Antilles. Swallowing distances at an average rate of 70 kms/day, with the Guadeloupe at 530 km on side and Martinique at 440 km on the other side, our pedalling Savoyard seems to have selected the option of landing at "Le Marin", a harbour in Martinique. This should get him to shore in another 8 days, and also save him from being caught again in a South-North current, should he eventually decide to land in Guadeloupe. It is a Didier in good shape, with only a 4-5 kg weight loss who prepares to cross the finish line victoriously. Thanks to the local Radio-Chablais, and to Charles who is his preferred radio contact, Didier was very surprised and happy to talk directly to his mother. Under the circumstances, and being so far and so close at the same time, the exchange between mother and son was very emotional. Now that the end of the adventure is getting very close, the outpour of support messages from Didier's family and friends shows the extent to which this modern hero fascinates them and has won their admiration. As an avid reader, Didier took the time to read a book with an evocative title: "The Green line". Abandoned by "Chocolat-Noisette", My Way is now followed by a bank of 30 to 40 guilt heads, like a royal guard opening the fabulous path of the last kilometres.
 
  Week 13
13 is a number one tries to avoid, generally a bad luck number, but for Didier, it will be enshrined as the week of victory. After 13 weeks at sea and many ups and downs, and also after breaking his pedal gear only 2 km from the goal, our third millennium hero from the French Chablais has finally touched the shores of Martinique. Despite the euphoria of success, one should not forget that the journey was far from being a tourist cruise. In the belly of "My Way" where the temperature could often reach 38 °C, our navigator had to fight a very debilitating allergy to sea water that triggered a hard to control itching all over his body. And all this while fighting the elements to keep his boat in the right course. Still, there were good moments every day, like when a marlin was chasing his friends the guilt heads who sought the friendly protection of My Way's hull, or the "Chocolat-noisette" as Didier had baptised them during the first crossing, and which squatted regularly on the deck where they spent the night squawking abundantly. All this feather and scale fauna had kept a watchful eye on this simple human who had come down from his mountain to talk naturally about them as if they had been themselves quasi human creatures. His two "radio angels" who had taken turns to accompany him along his courageous journey, our local Radio-Chablais, anonymous supporters in France and over the world, and all those, small and grown-ups, friends and family, who followed him through the magic of the Internet, yes all of them are happy and proud to have had the privilege to share Didier Bovard's adventure by communicating daily with the Savoyard king of the pedal boat Atlantic crossings. Hats down to the artist!
 
  Preparations - 1
After having plowed harmoniously through the wet fields for 88 days aboard his beloved "My Way", our friend Didier Bovard plans to meet again with his beautiful boat on St. Valentine's day. He will bring it out of its forced rest so that it will get back his flamboyant colours and great looks in preparation for the big meeting with Americans who are by now impatiently waiting for the most illustrious couple of the Atlantic. Our cartoonist has used his "caustic humour" pencils to imagine the preparations for departure, the prelude to the continuation of the saga which started in 1995 somewhere near Evian and which will end, if all goes well, in Memphis, King Elvis's Capital. Before hitting again the pedals, Didier will install and test two new instruments that will make his journey safer and make it easier for his friends to follow his progress. An anti-collision radar and a second new CB radio will be housed in the flaming red hull!
 
  Preparations - 2
It is again "Allergy" time and Didier has already started counting perspiration pimples. And to make things a little more painful, he has also to deal with the ferocious bites of the small sand flies called "YinsYins". Although Didier could have done without these annoying problems, this early "skin conditioning" will make him ready when sailing time comes. Despite the usual 50 morning push-ups, the heat is seriously affecting your navigator's physical preparation. The languid nights with their dog and rooster concerts in the background gave him at least the rest he definitely needed to prepare for the coming challenge. Our mountain man spends the days caring for "My Way" and preparing it for the carribean waves and the Gulf of Mexico. Thanks to his friend Bernard, the on board radio is going to be seriously souped up and will give a good range to Didier's communications. The freshly painted hull will carry the logo "Fight Cystic Fibrosis" and Didier will do his best to bring all the way to Memphis the message of the cause he has now given his full support.
 
  Departure
This time, it's back on the waves again for the final lap. On the day of 6 April 2002, our Savoyard lit-up the pedal engine once more to send My Way on its way to the States. After a 2-week delay due to bad weather conditions, the temperature hovered now around the 32°C mark when he became again "Captain courageous", saddled his famous steed and gave the first pedal kick that took him away form the shores of Martinique. He took with him moving memories like that day when he was with his friends and whale burst out the waves to salute him and the time when the great mammal was massacred. The adventurer and poet was soaring at last, the eyes still stinging from an allergy to plastic dust from sanding the hull of My Way but also reddened by emotion and the strong smell of adventure. At the same time, friends, parents and supporters were busy rebuilding the chain of friendship that would again accompagny him during his journey and give him strength and reasurrance when needed.
 
  Week - 1 - Already seven days at sea
The Carribeean waters are not the Atlantic and it did not take long for Didier to understand that. After a whole week of navigating against strong northeasterly winds, short crossed waves and finally a short bout of sea sickness, our cow-boy of the seas traces his route while trying to hold the best possible course. As an admirer of the natural arc made by the Antiguas, our Savoyard seems to be wanting to trace his own arc and has just done that by tracing a 500 km one between Martinique and the 65th West. All the humorous and teasing messages sent by his friends and followers, as well as the numerous signatures and good will words collecting on the Visitor's Book back in Thonon, seem to have given our hero all the strength he needed to stop his drifting toward the South. Apart from the furtive vision of a couple of dolphins and the passage of few birds, My Way encoutered very little fauna. Only the gray and foamy sea remind Didier that he is on his way to the States. The joyous band of friends, supporters and Citizen Band (CB) nuts continued keeping a close watch on him, feeding him all kinds of information, and making him almost feel that he was pedalling on a training bike at home rather that in the middle of a wet nowhere!
 
  Week - 2
Even after a year, it still seems that it was only yesterday that Didier had come back from Matinique after his Atlantic feat. Right now, somewhere between the Antilles and South America, Didier swallows mile after mile as if driven by a metronome. This unknwon and difficult sea has just offered Didier its first gift: the illustrious "Chocolat-noisette" (or his twin brother), the legendary companion of two ocean crossings has come back to squat a part of My Way's deck. Didier informed the whole world that he was not alone anymore and that this return had made him a happy man again. Now, when nightfall came, he could go to sleep under the friendly watch of his winged friend. Other seas, other dangers: the new anti-collision radar installed on My Way by his friends in Martinique warns frequently captain Bovard that a big ship is about to cross his boat's path. Our sailor has to sleep with one eye open, ready to jump out of his berth to signal his presence to the oncoming ship ! or alter My Way's course at any time. Under water, some barracudas are starting to follow the boat and the hull has become the "mobile home" of a number of sea creatures. Didier's adventure seem to attract an ever larger number of radio fans and support messages are now coming to him from all over the world, diretly to his radio or via his Web site.
 
  Week - 3
Another week of difficult navigation on a rough sea, a sea that our ocean cyclist is slowly starting to tame, unless it is the sea that has finally decided to accept Didier! One can imagine the magnitude of the physical and psychological challenge our hero is facing when he describes himself with humour as a cyclist pedalling in sand with ski boots. It also seems that "Radiowavus Propagationus", the god of radio waves, has decided to throw a temper tantrum and make communication with Didier very difficult. Probably caused by solar storms, these disruptions did not prevent Didier from receiving and sending messages via a radio amateur located in Mauritania. The chain of the dedicated and unconditional CB radio nuts welded to Didier's adventure made sure to relay the feelings, doubts and observations of the cow-boy of the sea in the middle of his rodeo with the waves. Accompanied for a while by a small shark and other sea dwellers, My Way was again left alone to face the whims of the swells and the weather, abandoned even by "Chocolat-Noisette" who may be had gone on searching for a soul mate.
 
  Week - 4
Communication with My Way is still very difficult and the contacts look more like a ping-pong game between the CB stations on the different continents which follow the progression of our navigator. It is Roger from Canada who was able to relay some scarce information on Didier's adventures and whereabouts and tell us about the communication problems encountered in trying to contact My Way. At least we know that our Savoyard keeps fighting the waves with determination and very good spirit, specially now that children have come back from Easter vacation break and have again started sending him their multiple messages of support and questions on his adventure. South of the island of Jamaica and well positioned in the axis of the Straight of Yucatan, My Way looked sometimes like emerging from the infinitely small when he crossed the steel giants who on some occasions did not hesitate to come scarily close to check if everything was OK on My Way. The sea is still the place where humans show good will, and respect and help each other.
 
  Week - 5
We knew this course completely different from the Atlantic, but also much more difficult and dangerous. Didier away more and more of us, helping jetlag, contacts with friends from France CB enthusiasts sometimes find it difficult to establish, and then passes the information through the network of Canada, Martinique and Mauritania. The danger posed by cargo and passenger ships sailing in the navigation pane of "My Way" is well controlled by anti-collision equipment, but the reefs and shoals are much more frightening and unexpected. Our Savoy was offered the fright of his life when, buffeted by bad putting surf the disorder inside the boat, he ended up stranded for fifteen interminable minutes on a reef. Imagine the anguish of seeing all stop within a few seconds, the boat shredded itself in the middle of the raging element. What happened in the minds of our captain at this point, a film in fast motion, a strong thought to all his family, the fact remains that "My Way" as a protective cocoon unwilling to admit defeated, was released from the trap to go back for more, rudder and propulsion somewhat crumpled, but proud to have won another battle. Exhausted but happy, then proceeded Didier midway, the traditional bottle into the sea, full of valuable messages written and mandated by the school children.
 
  Week - 6
Neptune probably on My Way from the start of Martinique, and the incident of the reef is already a bad memory. It seems that the boat did not suffer too much of this docking involuntary and although Didier has had the opportunity to make a stop on a tiny island off Honduras, this does not happen, since he has decided to continue his journey more beautiful to the Straits of Yucatan. As for him state route, the sky does not hesitate to deal with an incredible rainbow, and in his clemency, he would even allow to wash his hair for the first time since his departure. If Chocolate Hazelnut No is not returned yet, life has finally settled under the hull, where numerous small fish accompany our captain also delighted to watch his first good-sized mammals such as pilot whales swimming not far from "My Way". The barometer of morale to the highest, man does not hesitate to push the song to the tune of "Big Chill" Brassens, even if the heat transforms the everyday in an oven inside, and if the night he must be ready to go out of his bunk at the slightest alarm. On board, there is still a bit of Savoy in the form of a delicious honey, precious gift embarked upon departure from Martinique, and Didier eaten happily contemplating a beautiful sunset.
 
  Week - 7
As in his two previous crossings, the Achilles heel of Didier returned to the forefront. Indeed, the knee of your browser, the centerpiece of the machine to move "My Way", has shown signs painful when facing a headwind and waves embarrassing, he fought hard to stay on the right track . But alas, while the opening presented itself Strait of Yucatan, "My Way" could not counteract the vagaries of currents, and that's logical that he quickly approached the Mexican coast, the general dismay of his captain who doubted the impact that this entry into the territorial waters of that country could bring. Forty eight hours of tension, Hollywood and new episode when the lifeboat, while closer than ever to the shores of Mexico, is being raised by two, then a third wave and thrown heavily over a coral reef. In this incredible noise, where Didier thought "My Way" was going to explode, once again his luck was watching over him as a sailor on this sector which managed to reach the raft and into the open sea The front still wet with emotion, had to face our Savoyard few minutes later, a star of the Mexican security came to meet him, and is fully informed of the arrival of the adventurer in its waters, that they get back on the right road after a quick routine check on a few words and smiles. Phew!
 
  Week - 8
After 55 days and more than 3500 km ago on the Caribbean Sea, our Savoyard comes through the door of Yucatan to launch an assault on the Gulf of Mexico, the last great stretch of sea before arriving in New Orleans, the capital of the state of Louisiana. This crossing will not be easy, because "My Way" will no longer report their presence at night because of its masthead defective, forcing the captain to increased vigilance by day and night, in an area where traffic is that important. Anxious to ascertain the condition of the vessel after two episodes reefs, Didier has been a successful inspection of the rudder and propeller, and find that only the fins of drift had suffered somewhat from shock. If the heat still turns in the sauna cabin, weather, by his clemency, promotes the effective recovery of the Gulf, our navigator and feeling close American shores, its pedal leads daily during more than twelve hours. Lee has a new angel was sent on their way to Didier for the guide, welcome and assist in its recovery to bike to Memphis. Admiring the feat undertaken, and to ensuring the presence of such a vessel in Gulf waters, this gentleman sent from the sky, has already warned the maritime authorities of the arrival of the adventurer, so he can in safety, approach the coast of the United States.
 
  Week - 9
Unlike the beginning of a difficult journey due to bad weather, Neptune has decided to offer our Savoyard, a relatively mild end of term. Only a heavy and cumbersome heat accompanies "My Way", forcing Didier eat more than regular water to resist a very strong dehydration. The gauge of cash reserves they already embedded in the red, and the time and effort are needed to operate the watermaker manual needed for making fresh water. After more than 2 million rounds of BB, morale remains that of an iron man, nonetheless recognizes the need to fight until the end to keep on course, the one that lead to Grand Isle. Surrounded by fellow scales and feathers, "My Way" which stands proudly with his honor and reputation as king of the Atlantic, ready to finally tame the last miles that separate the Mississippi Delta. Vigilance is the watchword to the end, as well as help and guided by Lee, his angel of Louisiana, our captain is in sole command authority to see, feel and decide. All his followers, CB enthusiasts, friends, families, and children with him pedal a little harder every day, their hearts and their related thoughts in unison with the same magical force that propels Didier finish his dream.
 
  Week - 10
GC 205 A, WD 326, not these codes are not radio calls or identifiers CB enthusiasts but specific names of oil rigs in the middle which Didier trying to clear a path. Heralding the proximity of the U.S., they reassure our captain while the terrifying by their large frames, and their number is very important in this sector of the Gulf of Mexico. The sweltering heat that has plagued "My Way" and the efforts have been because of the water supply, but good fortune was further manifested in the appearance of a cruise ship, gentleman giant seas who did not hesitate to stop their engines in order to come to contribute to the adventure. Comes Home, "My Way" left, carrying in her womb the precious liquid fuel necessary anti-drought, while the "Olympia Voyager". continued his route, the bridge still filled with passengers surprised to have seen a genuine and incredible adventure. Slaloming between the derrick, the tiny boat, now brings us to Savoy intersections teeming sea of heavy and oversized shells, which when completed, will pave the way to the Mississippi Delta, "Grand Isle" and Louisiana.
 
  Week - 11
He liked America, and he did! Unbelievable that this individual Savoy descended straight from the mountains and has just achieved a feat as they are sometimes dream, to visit some amazing tales of adventure. As Armstrong walk on the moon some day in July 1969, Didier Bovard, after having walked the first square meters of Timbalier Island, well established, somewhere in the middle of a bay of the Mississippi Delta, came triumphantly on his "American Base" Grand Isle, where he could see that American hospitality was not an empty word. Escorted, as most major browsers, by the coast guard, he entered alone in the basin of Grand Isle, aboard his incredible and faithful "My Way". While two days ago he was initially moored to a buoy feverishly, then the next prisoner of the terrible currents, sea grass, sand or other languages maze of islands, our successful captain, tired physically and nervously decided bring the final blow by moving up to Grand Isle. At the cost of last-ditch efforts, he could finally eat with gusto, her cherry, wonderful gift, reward recklessness, courage, commitment, passion, a simple and humble man, yet above the rest, not the folly of the useless, but rather on top of self-transcendence, the effort and generosity in mind. Mr. Bovard thank you for having taken so far in your adventure, and go to Memphis.
 
  Conclusion
After seven years and seven months of incredible effort, his dream or his crazy gamble to go to Evian in Memphis sheer force of his calves just entered the legend of these great adventures in which only human beings, seemingly ordinary, are capable of overcoming all the limits of the unthinkable. Arrived in Louisiana June 21, 2002, received and cared for by an angel sent from heaven, somewhat hampered by a language handicap, Didier did manage, through the combined support of his new American friends and his fiercely loyal warriors glued to "PC Adventure", to find the material means necessary to accomplish the final step. While the Tour de France had just ended, our fearless Savoy, bestriding a superb machine worthy of the greatest stages of legend, and started to attack some 800 kilometers separating from Memphis, while his faithful "My Way "lying on a trailer adapted for the occasion, is also preparing to join him there. After moving farewell to his friend Lee is like an unruly horse that swallows more than 180 kilometers of asphalt at the first stage on a bicycle laden like a mule and scorching temperatures. Crispy and adventures throughout the ride on the road 51 bridge prohibits bikes but crossed through the eye of police officers become disillusioned followers against their will, summoned to leave the camp hands as an ordinary criminal, hosted the right side bars in the sheriff's office, brushed constantly amazed by motorists and surprised, or threatened by the jaws hidden in the tall grass of the roadside. The ultimate reward, when on August 5 and under a sky weeping with joy, drunk with happiness Didier, he's finally Graceland, home of Elvis Presley.
Sign of destiny, and then he announces proudly and religiously the news to his family, the first song he heard at that moment is none other than "My Way", as if everything had been written by the best writers, it is "special guest" that taste the splendor of the famous "Heartbreak Hotel" for three nights. Enjoying the daily happiness of being in those mythical places, he will devote every day of admiration and respect for his idol, thanking him endlessly about having so much joy and emotion, but above all for giving him the will and faith to follow through on its own. Elvis thank you for having guided you up to our valiant Captain, thank you "My Way" for protecting your child in your womb, thank you to all those men and women, who have worked day and night this fearless and peaceful warrior, and thank you you dear Didier, who helped us make together a fabulous way, difficult, moving, even surprising, as permits to build the chain of friendship which you held so dear, and which was undoubtedly the soul of your good star.