[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-K9ZjUA6gTDM/VRhFRtqjoEI/AAAAAAAAnTw/X_C4ASkBDoE/s144-c-o/IMG_1720.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131727063283114050″ caption=”Teenagers having fun on a swing rope over the river” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1720.JPG” ]

trip days left: 45
straight distance left: 917,72 km
Highlights: I can still send e-mails via sat phone
Lowlights: All my sat phone keys don’t work any more
Pos: here
Loc: Lagoa da Gentil
Acc: tent
Dist: 55,7 km
Start: 6:20 End: 16:45

This morning was the communication super-gau: At night it is almost normal there is no internet due to overuse by thousands of people, so I didn’t really care yesterday night. But this morning I couldn’t receive e-mails anymore either via my cell phones, neither Vivo nor Claro. It must be some problem changing states again. I hope I can solve it tomorrow. There won’t be much cell reception anyway on the two large lagoons.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-MUCl1TTywrg/VRhFcSF9RqI/AAAAAAAAnTw/Q3H35IaUzMo/s144-c-o/IMG_1726.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131727244860409506″ caption=”Camp Lagoa de Gentil” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1726.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-VK8Gbh2L0Js/VRhFYXLs0pI/AAAAAAAAnTw/rafvieW2Ufw/s144-c-o/IMG_1721.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131727177507197586″ caption=”Boat storage under a concrete bridge” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1721.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-apvEOLSyZ7M/VRhFQh_gNGI/AAAAAAAAnTw/cb4jSKmoExM/s144-c-o/IMG_1717.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131727042969875554″ caption=”The poorer fishermen’s boat storages of Tramandai” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1717.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-dKkdZ0o61hw/VRhFHNEZQMI/AAAAAAAAnTw/UieBUpRz8tw/s144-c-o/IMG_1715.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726882734424258″ caption=”The rich private backyard boat landings and party houses of Tramandai” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1715.JPG” ]

[pe2-image src=”http://lh5.ggpht.com/-zDUrpbqE6bo/VRhE7wZ1zjI/AAAAAAAAnTw/t3icvQNlE74/s144-c-o/IMG_1713.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726686061186610″ caption=”Small islands like this were floating along until docking on the next corner” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1713.JPG” ]

But worse was that yesterday night I still could send my e-mail update via laptop and sat phone and the sat-phone worked reliable as usual. This morning all the keys of the sat phone quit working, but it still sends via cable and laptop. At least something, but I can receive or send no text messages via sat phone anymore. Big shit, now I have always to download e-mails to get at least the weather forecast.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-47ZxF8hX0oY/VRhFEnAhBaI/AAAAAAAAnTw/dpekzHOc4sA/s144-c-o/IMG_1714.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726838157870498″ caption=”Pink frog eggs everywhere” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1714.JPG” ]

Paddling was at least as lovely as yesterday, in my own pace in total quietness in the foggy morning. It was nice and cool all night that I could wrap myself in my cozy blanket and sleeping bag, but also the tent got wet from the fog in no wind.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-t3B43h6IBVI/VRhFdPU9BXI/AAAAAAAAnTw/KTNhOqYp7KQ/s144-c-o/IMG_1723.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131727261297870194″ caption=”How did the jet ski land on the chimney?” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1723.JPG” ]

It breezed up to a good following wind, although on the river sections I changed direction so often due to the winding path that it didn’t really matter. The current was much more helpful until Tramandai. There, the northern lagoons flow into the sea.The southern lagoons do also, but they have much less current and are way more shallow than the northern ones, so the counter current after Tramandai was not too bad.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh4.ggpht.com/-iGQeKpVqvZw/VRhExLNPGrI/AAAAAAAAnTw/sP3FxUezQM8/s144-c-o/IMG_1712.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726504277514930″ caption=”Nice black and red bird couple” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1712.JPG” ]

Along a canal close to Tramandai I could have an admiring look into the rich peoples houses backyard and boat landings, but most of them looked unused with the curtains or blinds closed. Just holiday houses…my admiration occasionally changed into shaking my head how the wealth in Brazil can be so unevenly spread out when you have seen the poorest housings also.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-gKKlS5s5JSY/VRhEvEstpvI/AAAAAAAAnTw/pAaX_YQsErE/s144-c-o/IMG_1711.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726468170753778″ caption=”They try to be water buffaloes? :-)” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1711.JPG” ]

I really enjoyed the bird wildlife again today, plus countless cows. I have never seen a three colored cow! I know plain white, brown and black ones, black/ white and brown/ white is also very common.But white/brown/black I have never seen…does that mean they are good for milk, chocolate and barbecue?

[pe2-image src=”http://lh6.ggpht.com/-qYBJeg1b2mE/VRhE0sNnVKI/AAAAAAAAnTw/rnnh4UdpEpc/s144-c-o/IMG_1709.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726564677080226″ caption=”Some other large birds were hiding in the reed” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1709.JPG” ]

The entry and exit into the channels until Tramandai was always easy to find and wide open due to deep enough water.Now the next following rivers exit and enter the lagoons through many reed fields and soon also shallow sandy areas. I am camping on a cute shallow sandy and grassy island right on the entry of the next channel. But my precise GPS points have helped me to find them all easy so far…without GPS? Quite tricky.

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-DOf0tpL2zfE/VRhEtkXYNcI/AAAAAAAAnTw/TvhMDltW3Ds/s144-c-o/IMG_1708.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726442311464386″ caption=”” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1708.JPG” ]

I was thinking on this channel entry I was fully alone, no houses to be seen, just a large sand dune area to the left, but as soon as I had my tent up, a small boat with three guys on a fishing trip entered the channel. But they left already again, and I will sleep nicely here on this lovely windy spot! Few bugs, hopefully few humidity…

[pe2-image src=”http://lh3.ggpht.com/-90_a-3hNhWI/VRhEi0Ljl3I/AAAAAAAAnTw/rNIUbpRrULQ/s144-c-o/IMG_1707.JPG” href=”https://picasaweb.google.com/112133179186774955122/SouthAmericaSection3Stage24Brazil7UruguayArgentinaFlorianapolisToBuenosAires#6131726257578284914″ caption=”Some big bird looking like a storch” type=”image” alt=”IMG_1707.JPG” ]

I will arrive tomorrow around midday on the road crossing the river connecting lagoon number 10 and 11, coming directly from Balneario Pinhal. There I hope to meet Leo again to drive me to a supermarket and to the big lagoon! Leo, I may have no internet to text you my arrival!