Worldly biker passes through Mobile

MOBILE, Alabama (WALA) - Joseph Ascencao is attempting to bike around the world. He started the mission on August 13 in Providence, Rhode Island.

He rode down the U.S. eastern seaboard to the southern-most point of Key West and then up to alligator alley. He stayed with friends in Mobile over the weekend. He stayed a little longer than he planned to wait on a new pair of tires. He left Sunday afternoon for Biloxi, Mississippi.

Ascencao says he will make another long stop in Texas when he meets up with friends there, but after that he doesn’t really have anyone until Brazil.

Ascencao researched the trip for about 9 months. He expects he will travel about 57,000 miles and it will take about 4 to 5 years. Ascencao says believes he may run into trouble getting into some countries like Afghanistan and China.

Why is he riding? Ascencao wants to be the first man to bike around the world, with the exception of Antartica.

He uses a solar panel to charge his electronics like his cell phone and iPod as he rides. His bike carries his camping equipment, and he tries not to ride at night.

He’s had a couple of run-ins with drivers.

“Some guy threw a gatorade bottle at me,” Ascencao told FOX 10 News.

He says sometimes when drivers won’t share the road, he will jump out in the middle, so they have to go around him.

You can follow his journey on his Facebook page . He is tracking his journey using a helmet camera.