[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-bFXmxcREjpY/VM4F6-p5KwI/AAAAAAAAlJ4/5irlnCmjfN8/s144-c-o/IMG_1125.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6110828255197604610″ caption=”Camp on the public parking lot behind Sao Pedro” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1125.JPG” ]

Highlights: Camp in shade
Lowlights: One more long afternoon with strong wind
Launch: Low surf
Landing: Low surf
Pos: here
Loc: behind Sao Pedro
Acc: tent
Dist: 40,5 km
Start: 6:00 End: 12:50

What a noise a tent can make all night in 20+ knots wind, but at least I was now camped high and dry. My old site was washed more than once over with one of those new moon high tide fat breakers. This morning high tide was harmless compared to the wash up yesterday, and I could launch with no problem on good timing. It was still quite windy all morning,but nothing too bad for me making good progress. The wide boring beach curve to a river mouth was to paddle, and I cut across half the bay. The more off shore,the more bumpy the wind waves were.The river mouth passed by almost unnoticed, I was rather aiming for a line of rocky headlands where I was supposed to find reefs in between again.At the end of this reef area, I was to stop for this day.The reefs were nice to navigate on low tide, but I was scratching over a few softer rocks.

I found a nice camp site just after the reef area, actually already unsheltered beach break, but harmless. It is a half grassy dead end of a road and used for cars to park to go to the beach. I got help from a family in a beach buggy to get my gear up, very nice, thanks! I made up camp under a shady tree, and was happy about the non-flying sand on this spot.Yesterday I was suffering a continuous sand shower inside my tent, or I would suffocate on closing all windows. The fly mesh unfortunately does not prevent the fine sand to get blown inside. I also took the chance on this shady flying sand free site to check up my rudder, and to sew some broken loops on my tent and some broken seams on my neoprene socks. At least something useful to do this afternoon!

The beach buggy family came back later with the offer of a home cooked meal, a coke and some fruit. How nice! I was happy about the fruits, coke is not really my thing and for a full meat, rice and beans meal I was not hungry enough. Thanks for the offer! Later, I thought I should have asked them to get me some 20 liters of fresh water? Fortunately, another family parked for a while besides my tent, and I took my chance to ask them to please drive to the next super market close by to get a huge 20 liters water bottle for me? Yes, no problem…and 10 min later I had my bags filled up fresh. Muito obrigado!Brasilians are really helpful and friendly to me! Now I just need a quiet night on this car accessible kind of parking lot, and eventually some lower wind tomorrow after noon!