[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-33tYwuKejqI/VM4Ee_ctI6I/AAAAAAAAlJ4/4IWcFyHwyA8/s144-c-o/IMG_1084.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6110826674862760866″ caption=”A good throw with the round net!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1084.JPG” ]

Highlights: A nice day with a lot of changes on the coast
Lowlights: Islands all occupied…
Launch: Reef sheltered beach
Landing: Moderate surf to river mouth
Pos: here
Loc: Barra do Jucu
Acc: tent
Dist: 56,9 km
Start: 6:10 End: 17:35

This reef bay was dead calm, but lots of noise came all night from the big street close by. I slept well anyway, almost too long! Many tiny bugs on packing, I couldn’t launch quickly enough away from here. Next time I pull out my bug net for the head…

The paddle until the bay of Vitoria was really nice, I could go close to the sandy coast, inside the broken reef with many shallow reef breaks on mostly sand. The rocky areas mostly on the spits I was able to stay away, and it was high tide around 2pm anyway. A good, entertaining day to watch all the beach people so close on a Saturday!

The really ugly big harbor of Vitoria came close all too soon, one of the about 20 waiting offshore huge ships was just crossing in with the help of three tug boats when I approached. It was quite lumpy crossing the bay, but no serious ship encounters. The skyscrapers were endless in Vitoria and Vila Velha, but some inviting rocky islands were just on my way. One of them, close to the beach, had a small sandy area off a rocky bay where I landed to check the campsite possibility. But so close to the beach and city skyscrapers the island was occupied on a Saturday with youngsters diving from the cliffs, snorkeling, swimming in a beautiful natural pool and playing with their clown sticks. Actually this island is really beautiful! But way too many people here. Another large rocky island next had sandy beaches, but high up with only flat rocks to land on, nothing for me anyway. And there was already a group of people making themselves at home on the small beach, probably swimming in from the anchoring two fishing boats. I was aiming to the river mouth of Jucu,or to a small beach at the other side of the Morro da Conca, but I assumed both spots would be full of people also.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-nEnkD6qjXXc/VM4EXgKAsjI/AAAAAAAAlJ4/_KQue0m6SXY/s144-c-o/IMG_1082.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6110826546203767346″ caption=”Camp Barra do Juco” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1082.JPG” ]

I decided to go in already at the river mouth through some soft moderate breakers to a shallow confused water beach corner close to the strong current of the river stream with fortunately only elegant bracing and no capsize, as the sheltered bay on the other side would probably even more full. Good I was waiting off shore and watched the situation for a while, as there were many fisher men holding their rods into the confused waters of the river mouth outflow. This is where I wanted to land! They noticed, and all took their lines in, thanks! Sure I was the center of attention for a while, but disculpe, eo nao falu muitos Portuguese…

The river is actually a bit smelly, I wonder how the fish are tasting quite a bunch of fisher men are pulling out…maybe a bit soapy…? The current of the narrow river close to the rocks is strong, it may be a funny wet ride tomorrow morning right into the breakers without control of the timing! Hope this corner will be calm at night from people…