Fri 26/12-2014 Day 731

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-imJj3RR2vSw/VLV1f5u2vpI/AAAAAAAAkpk/X_b64CE8o78/s144-c-o/IMG_0941.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6103914060904316562″ caption=”Camp on Ilha Cuipe” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0941.JPG” ]

 

Highlights: A beautiful mangrove reef at high tide
Lowlights: About 15+ knots headwind all day
Launch: Reef sheltered beach
Landing: Reef sheltered beach
Pos: here
Loc: Ilha Cuipe
Acc: tent
Dist: 29,7 km
Start: 4:55 End: 12:14

It is really noticeable I am already on the 13th latitude south, those instant sunrises around the equator don’t happen any more, dawn takes a while, especially when the sky has dark clouds as this morning. I knew it would be head wind all day, a bit over 15 knots, and probably for three days. Not the most pleasant outlook! But at least the reef this morning was very pleasant. As it was high tide, I didn’t have to worry that much about water depth, although the sun was not there to see much reef water colors again. I really enjoyed especially to paddle once more close to the mangroves at high tide, and when the beach showed up again before Punta de Castelhanos at a small river mouth, it was really like paradise here!

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-HhK-bf6B97U/VLV1flx0KnI/AAAAAAAAkpk/u4lMJ8jLzis/s144-c-o/IMG_0940.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6103914055548021362″ caption=”For once more a nice short shallow mangrove section on high tide!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0940.JPG” ]

 

But paradise follows hell again, well, not really, but the 20 km crossing of the last of those wide bays I decided to do was not really easy going. Quite some seas were piling up, and the constant headwind on the left eye pushed me into the bay for a few degrees. Nothing too bad, but in those conditions you don’t really make many breaks, and I decided I had enough when I reached the island. It looked quite inviting on the map, but basically it is a rich people’s private island with no access inland. Beaches are fortunately private nowhere in Brazil , so the many guards or workers in their blue shorts/ white t-shirt uniforms had no problem to let me put up my tent right on the small beach spit, just in front of the (probably unmanned) watch tower.

The guards were very friendly and welcomed me with two fresh cooled coconuts, probably meant for the people having their holiday houses there and arriving with their yachts. About 10 fancy, but small yachts were anchored in the bay, but basically I saw about 20 – 30 guards and workers busy with whatever, and only very few inhabitants arriving, leaving or enjoying themselves at the beach with the many water toys floating around and stored in a boat houses. I think it’s holiday time? If they are not here now, when else? On the satellite image there are not that many houses to spot, maybe they are all hidden under palm trees?

I may take two more shorter days, but plan to have a longer city stop again only in Porto Seguro, then in Vitoria and then already in Rio de Janeiro!

 

2 comments on “Fri 26/12-2014 Day 731

Randall lackey

It must be starting to feel good to be able to speak of the many yet,final cities on this expedition.Glad to read you found a nice spot to camp,again with good hospitaliTy.Safe paddling

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