[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Kp4hIXLSiTw/VGSjDVQbCyI/AAAAAAAAins/UYf4LWTRNGw/s144-c-o/IMG_0512.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToRecife#6081164674497973026″ caption=”First lovely remote campsite” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0512.JPG” ]

Highlights: Eventually back on the water on easy conditions
Lowlights: nothing really…!
Launch: Easy sheltered bay
Landing: Tiny surf in river mouth
Pos: here
Loc: Ponta do Fortim
Acc: tent
Dist: 40,0 km
Start: 8:50 End: 15:40

I will post my blog entries again with a day or two of delay, not to be geocached so easy on my camp…

All good at night, my crew was ready to go even half an hour before we agreed, and we found a small sheltered beach not far aways from the posada for the launch.I quickly packed, had even volume free, but maybe it’s good the first days not to be extremely heavy loaded. I still have to get back to the rhythm, and my muscles and body also. I had a very sore left shoulder for some weeks at home, this issue is fully gone, but now I could feel the other one- for the first hours. Then she decided to get back also into the mode. Surely my sit bone nerve is not sore anymore – yet. Let’s hope the best…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-FuCbOB7k-B4/VGSjCVwZJiI/AAAAAAAAins/nEqkT9AKwjg/s144-c-o/IMG_0511.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToRecife#6081164657452197410″ caption=”Jadiel and James say good bye to me for the first day of this section of my rip” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0511.JPG” ]

The first kilometers I paddled outside some breakwater wall guarding the city beaches. As the tide went out, there was no water left to sneak inside, and actually no need. I felt great as soon as I left the artificial wall behind me, could watch the beach life and the many speedy water crafts on this Saturday week end. I have to get used being back in holiday areas with crazy motorboat drivers and not only fishing boats!

I was carefully looking out for triangle dorsal fins, as Recife – meaning reef – is supposed to have a bunch of them close to the beach. The sign on launching reminded me to Australian experiences. But the only fins I saw were dolphins, my lucky animals. I spotted one floating smaller turtle, and a huge meter size one stranded on the beach. I was just about to land and to have a closer look, when a caterpillar machine came to lift it on the large wide shovel, and off they went…where to? Directly into a large cook pot? Or was it already dead, and they just went to the dump? I won’t get to know…

The first wider river mouth forced me to some detours on low tide, and I carefully looked at many many high speed motor boats and jet skis going out to see in the narrow channels not to hit me. Been there, done that…not once again!

The wind was light from almost the side, then slightly pushing. Overall almost beginner conditions, but I was almost feeling like one after that long break. Fat, not fit yet…just the right entry now into this leg of the trip! I wide remote sandy spit on the next river mouth was my goal for the night, and besides a handful of fishermen and walkers not taking any notice I was for myself. Thank goodness! Hope the night stays also calm, far away from the beach party crowd.