[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-_4doBg8igRU/VPL1nReV69I/AAAAAAAAmig/w5SV026oXjY/s144-c-o/IMG_1523.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage23Brazil6RioDeJaneiroToFlorianapolis02#6121224898604297170″ caption=”The “school bus” boat at Ariri” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1523.JPG” ]

Highlights: Lovely paddle
Lowlights: Ended up on a professional campsite
Launch: River beach
Landing: River beach
Pos: here
Loc: Maruja
Acc: tent
Dist: 49,8 km
Start: 6:50 End: 17:00

I felt quite all right with my campsite in the village, until 8.15pm they started a generator,and many lights around me flashed up…no electricity here! Earplugs and sleeping mask did the job. Early morning it had quite some gusts on a try of a thunderstorm after all night’s screen lightnings,and I was worried what may come down from the trees? All good.

The paddle went relatively fast with the current today, besides once when crossing the big area with the exit to sea I had to go upstream for a while. The smaller river I entered now to round some mountains to eventually go back to sea was lovely to paddle, despite some traffic here and some zick zack course. I passed two good remote campsites, too early…A beautiful small site inside the forest close to a small river was an official park site with a landing jetty, and at 4 pm I was worried if people would still be visiting here…and I had the hope for less mosquitoes going into the village of Maruja.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-JtAb8BjuJH8/VPL1FC1KDpI/AAAAAAAAmig/oymE3LyAC_U/s144-c-o/IMG_1521.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage23Brazil6RioDeJaneiroToFlorianapolis02#6121224310557904530″ caption=”An overloaded tree with Spanish moss” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1521.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-Yd8qay2siiw/VPLz4uqElNI/AAAAAAAAmig/3dI-rIvyMWg/s144-c-o/IMG_1515.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage23Brazil6RioDeJaneiroToFlorianapolis02#6121222999472641234″ caption=”Spanish moss is hanging from the mangrove trees” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1515.JPG” ]

I didn’t dare to ask at two private houses to camp in their back yard, then came a pousada site, the next one looked quite public- but was also a pousada and an official campsite. For what it’s worth…I signed in the campsite for 15 Reals and had at least an almost mosquito free shower with soap which I had for free yesterday, good for my skin. But the campsite itself, nice and shady under trees, was mosquito-infested. Horrifying! I am sensing they simply like my fresh German blood, or how can the locals exist here, sitting outside and even enjoying it?I had to kill inside my tent about 50 bloodsuckers, before I could calm down and relax. Thank goodness I could shower and change inside. It is raining now, quite windy, and occasionally are falling some fruits on my tent and boat.No coconuts though…and even here two generators running sounds now almost cozy…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-xJb8gDS4Ii0/VPL2RFWNNII/AAAAAAAAmig/_yvjQP_f4ns/s144-c-o/IMG_1525.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage23Brazil6RioDeJaneiroToFlorianapolis02#6121225616903451778″ caption=”Succulent plants on the mangrove trees” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1525.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-7s3xiJ8z10o/VPL0eA39QyI/AAAAAAAAmig/L1ltrP3oMP8/s144-c-o/IMG_1520.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage23Brazil6RioDeJaneiroToFlorianapolis02#6121223640017879842″ caption=”The root seeds of the mangroves are ready to plant themselves on falling down in the shallows” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1520.JPG” ]