[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-NfoUAMkPn00/VGSjUsE0DjI/AAAAAAAAins/upiQpLXz3nQ/s144-c-o/IMG_0537.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage20Brazil3SaoLuisToNatal#6081164972681072178″ caption=”Camp on the outer sandbank” type=”image” alt=”IMG_0537.JPG” ]

Highlights: I stopped early enough today
Lowlights: The distance today is shorter…
Launch: Low surf easy
Landing: Sheltered beach
Pos: here
Loc: Sandbank behind Barreiros
Acc: tent
Dist: 37,2 km
Start: 4:45 End: 11:25

The night was calm again, so was the wind even up until 9.30 today!  Around 10 knots, really nice. The breeze came as usual with the tide change at 9 am, and until 10.30 it was still nice to handle. Beach landings would have been all right everywhere, no rocks any more since I am around the river mouths. I couldn’t complain, bar some really boring sandy coast. I try to count the windmills, impossible, hundreds! The only obstacles were some shallow spots getting closer to low tide.

I decided to find the entry behind a large sandbank leading to Barreiros, as the wind was now stronger, and my clear decision was to stop early enough today on a reasonable spot! The entry was easy to find, I still had to climb one dune to have a wide look around where to go, as my GPS chart was of no use here. The sandy banks change probably too much. I had marked the exit point, and felt almost like being back “home” into my shallow river systems on low tide…

It was just enough water one hour after low tide, and the wind blew me nicely inside the deeper channel. I just had to watch not to come too close to the sandbank as it was very shallow as to be expected. My goal was to paddle until the exit, and to stay on the sand bank where it was steeper. Or will I find the next entry behind the next island in 3,5 km and do the same to finish the day after 7 km more? I climbed my possible camp site dune, had a look across to the probably next entry, found only white seas in now close to 20 knots wind, and decided to call it a day here on the spot. A good decision! The wind was strong, but not as yesterday at all. I had to put up my tent without wind shelter, which was just ok. Even flying sand on this bank was rare, as the sand was mostly covered with sea shells. All good! No beach drivers here, and very unlikely some fishermen would stop and look me up…perfect! I could dive into a few chores, and relax from that stress full long day yesterday. My next paddling days will be not much longer, I assume…it is just better. If the wind really goes with the tide, the time is now just perfect to make some reasonable distance.