[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-nKLE8xroEgE/VH4Di9dOtEI/AAAAAAAAjK4/k_pKuFY5s9U/s144-c-o/IMG_0700.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6088307645399086146″ caption=”My roof rack creation on my rental car” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0700.JPG” ]

Highlights: I reached Recife without accident or damage!
Lowlights: never ever again driving in South America…
Pos: here
Loc: Recife Yacht Club
Acc: Kurt’s apartment

I left Pericles’ house at 6am, my sleep was short and not too peaceful with the bugs and heat. But good enough to get going!

Today’s roads were a pleasure compared to the other days, one really notices the south has many more options for the people living there. The landscape was greener, even with regular local green forest, some normal agriculture was to be seen, and some industry. I drove along quite easily, even dared to read a bit against the boredom and not to fall asleep 🙂

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-rFOMWXikv8U/VH4EgeV3KoI/AAAAAAAAjK4/8UNHJZvrfkE/s144-c-o/IMG_0716.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6088308702198573698″ caption=”Eventually quite some mountains!” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0716.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-BX6FkNskrNE/VH4EX_DUqhI/AAAAAAAAjK4/Ch0EkGwUMvs/s144-c-o/IMG_0709.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6088308556360362514″ caption=”Some local market stand besides the road” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0709.JPG” ]

Some mountains to drive up and down, really pleasant. And the last hours it even started to rain quite heavily! The only disadvantage was my doors were leaking water trough the ropes, but no big deal. It was rather worse I noticed the tape holding the foam pads was obviously not sticking any more in the rain and the foam pads started to slip. I tightened the ropes even more and it worked just about until I reached the Yacht Club. The last 10 km in darkness were chaotic heavy rush hour traffic on a regular Monday, I really didn’t feel comfortable! But eventually I was there!

Sergio and Markus were waiting for me in front of the Yacht Club, we unloaded the kayak inside and drove to the airport for the drop off. Here I had to pay another day of rent and insurance, overall I may have paid now for this stupid reversed section more than 1500 Euros,  with my friends investing lots of time and money themselves on my behalf. But now: BEEN THERE, DONE THAT. OVER.

Sergio has organized a stay with a Swiss guy waiting for his trip home soon in his apartment, so the accommodation was rather almost bare of furniture and almost empty. But I had a bed to rest and a/c in my room, and got a long good night’s sleep. Thanks to Kurt giving me this space to sleep here in Recife! All good!