[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Ud3bS3r7SsM/U2TheutG_YI/AAAAAAAAb4s/PGOk0YkkZfc/s144-c-o/IMG_0072.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6009175720868642178″ caption=”Kitsch as Kitsch can be… 🙂 or my birthday present to myself from Rio de Janeiro, a small colorful 3-dimensional flower pot stool with artistic inlays in resin…” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0072.JPG” ]

The trip home was hectic, but all going according to plan. My Sao Luis crew with Jadiel brought me to the airport, and even stayed with me almost until my plane left at 2.30 am. thanks again for looking after me so nicely! In Rio de Janeiro I was arriving at 4.30 am, and had the whole day off until early evening. What to do? Rio’s airport is not that exciting to hang out a whole day, overtired…the few shops were quickly inspected for interesting things when they opened at 7 am, and eventually I decided to take a taxi into the next big shopping mall. I mainly wanted to see a hairdresser to get rid of my many new grown gray hair, not to look too worn from this last leg…I also got myself a new dress, and a birthday present for myself…good that people`s tastes are so different! 🙂

On the way back to the airport my taxi driver was stopping at a bridge displaying Rio’s most famous treasures – the Sugar Cane mountain and the Christo statue- both of them in the far distance! But I already got a pre-taste of Rio de Janeiro, I will be back with the kayak, and paddle close up! In Paris I had to run to my connecting flight to Hamburg, as we left Rio with an hour delay. But I just about made it…stress as stress can be.

But in Hamburg, I finally stripped into my new dress, did my newly colored hair a bit up and was looking hopefully a bit pleasant for my partner Peter to pick up…not like a going to be 50-year old and fully burnt out expedition kayaker…at home, I stepped next morning at my bathroom scale and found I lost over 11 kg, being down to 70 kg now…well, yes I was fat as a rat leaving after x-mas! :-)) I try to not gain everything back, despite the next few weeks on the trip I will also need some reserves. I have booked my flight for the 16th of October now, hoping to be back on the water by the 19th. Let#s pray the conditions have already settled down again a bit at that time of the year, as my local main Brazilian contact Christian Fuchs was advising me.

At home, I had the pleasure to unwrap a large parcel from my clothing sponsor Haglöfs with the new collection for 2014. A lot of great stuff in there! Many pink, bright yellow and light blue pieces I ordered this time, getting a bit away from the all black outfit. Thanks a lot to Haglöfs working with me! But after all stress and pleasures my body was breaking now fully down, having some kind of flu for the last days with the muscles hurting everywhere and sniffing and sneezing. First the hot and humid air all weeks, then freezing air condition, then the fresh sunny, but still cool spring air at home, it was too much eventually. I always compare my situation with a refugee on the run – once in safety, the body can let go and heal. At least skin my sores now quickly close fully and dry out. The whole skin of the body is getting soaked for the next days with some lovely body lotion, to compensate a bit the stress it had to take the last months, being wet and soaked all day, even at night in my own sweat. This is really not a climate I would like to live in for ever!

Spring and summer is coming up here, I won’t post much as I really like to do something else than I do all days on the trip. Even the food has to be selective, I can’t see anything any more what I was eating every day. But there are so many yummy and fresh other things to enjoy! But trying to keeping it at bay… .-)