[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-vEPmkygwUKo/VLV2a5oZFjI/AAAAAAAAkrs/OYCutRqPk70/s144-c-o/IMG_0988.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6103915074489488946″ caption=”Camp at the river mouth at Itacaré” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0988.JPG” ]

Highlights: I had to slip first time inside my fleece sleeping bag on a relative cool long sleep-in morning
Lowlights: I felt sorry for the lost paddling day…
Loc: Itacaré
Acc: tent

I was not sure all night if I should make myself the gift of a rest day tomorrow, as I made only slow progress in distance for the last three headwind days. The decision was made by the obvious weather change to the better for me – cool morning temperatures which made me slipping into my fleece sleeping bag for the first time, instead of just lying on top of it, sweating and just covered with a thin silk plaid. This is how I think it is a cozy sleep, not being sticky and hot all night.

Although it was a perfect day fore casted with eventually again winds from the northern section, my body was really crying for a rest day. I put on my sleeping mask around 3 am, not to be woken too early by the first light, and really had lovely dreams until 6 am, two hours later than my usual wake up time. I was reading, sleeping again, briefly beach walking in the nice breeze in the heat. I had to turn my tent around twice to catch the cooling wind in the entrance, and covered the sunny tent side with my sleeping bag for additional shade. Then it was ok inside the tent. I felt by the hour how my energy recovered and I was again looking forward to be back on the water tomorrow. The further south to the corner to Rio de Janeiro I would be getting, the more clean straight pushing northerly winds I’ll be getting – so far. Hope it won’t be blowing too strong! But I really should stick to a rhythm of max. 6-7 days paddling, then having a rest day,either on the beach.or with a friendly host.