Thu 08/01-2015 Day 744

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-pNiOBSx0i1w/VLVwXs0Ku2I/AAAAAAAAkjY/adnJD6wK-wA/s144-c-o/IMG_1040.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage22Brazil5SalvadorToRioDeJaneiro#6103908422439844706″ caption=”My usual night’s company, scratching quite noisy on the tent walls” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1040.JPG” ]

 

Highlights: Head wind is gone
Lowlights: My back band belt ripped
Launch: Moderate dumper
Landing: Low surf
Pos: here
Loc: behind Barra Velha
Acc: tent
Dist: 50,8 km
Start: 4:40 End: 15:30

It’s my partner Peter’s birthday today! One more event I am missing home…and I DO miss home a lot over the times.
If it would be for me, I could be done eventually with this trip and move on to do something else. No complaints when conditions are easy here in this area, I already had many more miles with much more exciting – but also more dangerous stuff. So it may be a mellow home run the next weeks….? So easy as it is here it has never been around the continent. Low seas, low wind, low and manageable surf, easy river mouths, landing mostly everywhere possible, campsites easy to find, few bugs, moderate heat, no real rain squalls, no cold feet or hands, few heat rash, no open not healing wounds, no infected foot skin, no dangerous animals, all friendly people – what else do I need more – or better what else could I go without? I had already all possible dangers, all possible problems, all possible gear broken, nothing really can shock me more – or excite me anymore…? I still enjoy paddling in beautiful scenery, but there are always more and less interesting areas. In the latter, I sometimes just paddle half in trance with closed eyes.

I had a light offshore wind all morning, then it changed to ENE, slightly pushing,the wind stayed light all day. Not bad, but not exciting either. Alcobaca city passed by with some entertaining view of some people and many fishing boats which have their home in the river after the city. I crossed over to the point, which was a bit boring, but the coast there didn’t show anything interesting either. Just yellow beach and green bushes. Endurance…

The water around the point was dead calm, the beach shallow, no wind, and it was HOT. The water probably had 34 degrees, not many people at the beach or in the water here.I decided to paddle inside the long island which formed a natural harbor for many fishing boats. At low tide now, most of them were on almost their sides stuck to the shallow ground. I could hear men at work on their boats, some not too noisy music from another, the whole scenery and village looked quite cozy. Not really a beach spot here. The entry to the river was from the other end, where they had well marked the shipping lane with red and green buoys. I rather sneaked on the incoming tide just over the shallows. Two small river mouths to pass, inside the second one I briefly stopped, but it felt too hot to camp here. I rather paddled around the entry against the tide until I was at a windy open beach with tiny surf. I still had to replace my broken back back band belt! No big deal, just some fumbling work. I should have done that already before it breaks, as you can see it wearing out. But I can paddle without back band, it just hurts a bit to press against the hard end of the seat with your sit bone. For just 10 km today it was all right, I didn’t had to stop in between or even earlier. I was already annoyed about myself about having stopped so early yesterday!

3 comments on “Thu 08/01-2015 Day 744

Karen

Happy Birthday Peter!
Freya it is just as difficult to: cease to do evil, learn to do good and purify the mind. Let those thoughts come and go, what is the texture of the mental formation like? Smile, breath, present. Embrace what ever arises including boredom does it have a shape, colour?
Keep your wits about you, remember it is when your least expect it stuff happens.
Lets see you finish this expedition!

Randall Lackey

The area sounds beautiful,and a kayakers dream waters but I understand how you can bore with it with so many km’s. of the same ole same ole.Happy Birthday to Peter,hope you got to talk with him and wish him your love.Carry on and keeping looking south with spirits high for the finish.Safe Paddling

Rose

It’s so good to hear that you have it easier for a while, may that continue now until the end!

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