[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-hyVb4JCPbSY/VPMAQuFWv8I/AAAAAAAAmiw/qX8ilGWgxAM/s144-c-o/IMG_0102.jpg” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage23Brazil6RioDeJaneiroToFlorianapolis02#6121236605775036354″ caption=”Leo and I ready to tackle the wide surf, Leo on a surfski” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0102.jpg” ]

Highlights: Leo escorted me out for 9 km
Lowlights: I got sick on the water, threw up
Launch: Low wide surf
Landing: Low surf
Pos: here
Loc: beach behind Guarau
Acc: tent
Dist:39,8 km
Start: 6:50 End: 15:30

All went easy on paddling out of the wide surf belt, despite my kayak being heavy loaded now. Leo followed me on his lightweight surfski for 9 km, thanks for the escort and your friendly hospitality! The wind was all low allover until 12.30 h.A strong 15-20 kn full-on offshore NNW side wind made my life in the water not friendly anymore. I was paddling quite offshore, and had to work hard to stay on track and not to get blown out to sea too much. Three hours lasted this ugly paddling style, leaning into the wind not to get blown over. Once in the lee of the islands around Guarau, it got better, but not my stomach which started to have problems already before the wind started. The choppy seas may have just made it worse, and I was really quite physically suffering to have to paddle hard and not to be able to relax any minute.

I really felt weak and bad. I knew, once I would throw up, it would get better instantly, and as it did not really want to happen naturally, some salty fingers deep in my throat did the rest once the sea and wind got calmer. Thank goodness! Once all my breakfast and things I had eaten all morning were out, I felt much better and stronger, and could paddle on to the beach I was planning to land. Going to the city of Guarau, despite having a friendly host offering there, was just a detour, and I rather liked to recover this afternoon by myself in my tent instead of dealing with new people.

I landed through low surf in the sheltered corner of the beach, and had already seen two men on the other end of the bay. Eventually after a bunch of whistling where I just waved friendly back they came up to tell me in the official function of a nature park guard there is no camping allowed…yes, I knew, but I feel sick and am unable to keep on going anywhere now…as it was today really the case, I didn’t even feel bad to sweet talk the park guards. They allowed me to camp for the night and to recover, thanks!

I slept all afternoon from 5 pm, and had a not really great night in some wind free heat feeling sore allover, headache, stomach ache, stuffed nose, muscle ache everything. I should have a full day off tomorrow!