dry, etc. We were on our way by 11:15. Our mileage for the day was a little less than 300 miles. If we averaged 50mph, we would arrive around 5:30, before dark. Our revised estimate was for 6 hours of driving time, plus lunch. The scenic 65 mile waterside drive through a lot of seaside or lagoon side towns and many “topes” took 2 hours. Once on BR101, the going was faster with frequent passing of trucks & cars necessary. The landscape was very green and could have been a lot of other places. The natural reserves were beautiful semi-tropical jungle. We had lunch at a busy roadside restaurant that served fejouada (sp). It was solid home cooking. We continued on with only a minor delay for a semi truck catching telephone and power lines and blocking the road
s. This is somewhat common here (see photo of topped truck)5:30 & 18 miles from the destination, we encountered the first major traffic stoppage due flooding of the highway. (There was a deluge last night and it rained all afternoon.) This took ½ hour. Then minutes later, the “Grand Taco” of 3 ½ hours due to “obras” (works) on the main highway. Everyone, mostly truckers, was just resigned to it. It took 4 ½ hours to travel the last 18 miles. We dined at the hotel. It was fine.
We are not caring much for the rainy season itself, nor its effects on the infrastructure here. The insect situation and humidity make the outdoors very challenging. The beaches are nice, but we are not into hanging around on this Adventure. The car was not going to like the often muddy unpaved roads in the Guyanas. We are looking at the total signs: Stranding in Sao due to valet damage to the roof of the car, the stranding in Rio due to the failure of the fuel pump, a 4 ½ hour taco, being rained out of golf on Thursday, and the prospect of 14 rainy days out of the next 1
5, bad roads & bugs, bugs, bugs. In sum, we have decided to conclude the trip in Salvador, Bahia, where there is a large port and weekly container service to the US.
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