10/6/2014 Jardim to Fazenda, Unification Church Rio Mirando, BR
D40, t2.5, av15.75, Max45, 28395, 2844
Wet morning, fine later, 25°C
I was up early having had a good nights sleep. Breakfast was enjoyed and it was decided to take the bike with into town to look for another resisitencia.
Last night on the news, it reported that there in extensive flooding in Parana and parts of Santa Catarina here in BR. Both southern states. Parana holds the Iguazu falls.
They showed footage of the circular viewing platform where we were on viewing from the BR side.
It was awash with turbulent brown waters. The falls themselves were wild. Like a huge crowd of panicking people fighting to get through a doorway, trying to escape a fire .It was something else.
The Pantanal north of me is unfortunately still inundated and rivers everywhere here are swollen.
Outside the rains had set in again.
I gave the key back to the owner and asked if he knew where I could get a new resi.
One of the guys told me to follow him on his bike we went to a engineering supply shop, kind of a heavy duty hardware place with everything.
They had one but it was more designed for boiling a litre or more of water, not just a cup.
Anyway, the owner and I got on really well, he was a great guy.
We both told each other about our travels.
He and his wife had travelled though SA on a three wheeler bike, a tricicliero.
Check out this Youtube movie of Geraldo it is fantastic and funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tElkb8W2x0Q
We spent an hour looking and chatting about stuff and the road ahead.
From here, it was found the only resis in town were these big ones.
I thought about getting the old one tested at an auto electrician shop. Here the guy inspected it I had already pulled it apart looking for a loose wire which i found.
On the multimeter it was fine, he soldered the terminals and presto she worked again.
I am wrapped. This thing is such an important part of my gear.
From here I headed to a cyber cafe to update the blog.
I am using a phone company Vivo which I have found has few signals in many places.
At Claro in PJC they wanted a power bill to open an internet pre paid, this I didn’t have.
I may try again somewhere else.
It was still raining at midday. I bought bread and fruit, and also went back to use the net.
So luckily, a bike shop had spokes, 5 of these were kindly given to me by the owner. This takes a load off my mind. Though I feel the rear wheel is properly repaired this time. We will see?
It had been a productive morning here in Jardim.
What’s more, the rain had stopped by 1400 when I was ready to leave.
I was a pleasure riding, listening to music and enjoying the rural views.
The road once again was just gentle slopes, easy riding with no wind.
Almost all the country is fenced and the road reserve quite narrow. There are not a lot of places to camp.
Cattle theft is a problem so every gate is locked with a chain, even the Taranaki gates are locked.
Coming to a sign the directed me to Rio Mirando I turned in. Here was a watch house and barrier. Riding around the barrier. A guy off the side of the road called me I said Hi.
Asking if I could camp on the river. We spoke for a while then he said come with me.
We walked and talked till we got to those large mown area of brick buildings. They were all substantial.
It turned out David was from the Unificaton Church and they had an Fazenda come conference centre here in the middle of nowhere.
There was accommodation and space for 5000 people and college which had closed due to the GFC.
He introduced me to all his family. Then said I could stay in one of the rooms. I insisted that I camp. He would not be in it.
So I spent the night in a modern hotel like room.
Before dark, in a tree outside. I couldn’t believe it, 4 red and blue Macaws came in and started squawking and playing. What unbelievably beautiful birds.
They were very quiet and not at all concerned about our presence. David said they come here regularly. A mother was regurgitating food for her young one.
There were the tiniest of Humming birds flying around like bike bees. It was all fascinating.
He showed me his pet parrot, a young green bird. It was the species that I see everywhere here in groups.
He was just brilliant, so quiet and friendly. He was climbing all over my head and just nibbling.
I have had a few parrots as pets, that have been found in the wild. They are such great friends when hand reared.
His brother invited me in for dinner of steak, beans and rice with salad.
We spoke for some time.
He knew no Spanish but again we worked things out. They similar words in both languages can get us by.
To me Portuguese almost sounds a little German with all its nasal sounds.
It was so nice to be in a clean two-sheeted bed.
The hospitality shown to me here was very similar to that shown by people on the Mississippi who were involved with churches.
It is almost overwhelming.
11/6/2014 Rio Mirando to Bonito, MS, BR
D62, T3, Av17, Max46, 28457, 2906
Beautiful calm day, 25 deg
It was great to have slept in such a comfortable spot. I arose early, had a look outside, crystal clear skies, these I had not seen for a few days.
Once organized and having said goodbye to Andréa, Adinato was milking the cow.
Out on the road, what a magic day. Andréa had presented me with a Spanish book explaining her church, it is a Korean set up found by a man named Sun Myong Moon.
They had signed it on the inside. I could not say I would not take it. It was a kind gesture of theirs. I told her my interests lay with Buddhism to some degree.
I have included a photo of their wishes and will leave the book in Bonito.
Being close to 500gms it is not a proposition to carry it.
Adinato caught up with me on the road as I was standing on a bridge looking at the river Mirando.
Once again, the grey cattle contrasted brilliantly with the lush vegetation and red anthills. Dead ant eaters were seen on the roadside as were a species of bird similar to a curlew with the big eyes.
There are lots of low lying swampy areas on the roadside. Dams are full.
At the moment, here in this part of BR, all the rivers are up, the Pantanal is full of water. My plans are having to be adjusted around all this water.
I had wanted to go to Corumba on the Bolivian border. Roads in Bolivias selva
( forest) are in poor condition due to rains.
There is a tarred road from Corumba up to La Paz, it is not that far .
The only way north is by boat on the river Paraguay. A lady in Bonito phoned a friend of hers there.
People with boats are wanting $2000 to take someone to Cuiaba in Mato Grosso. Though it is some 600km, they obviously don’t want to take people up there.
My journey will take me east of the Pantanal now.
Just ambling along, it was easy riding to Bonito. There was a 5km cycle track into town. It is a very touristic place with prices set accordingly.
I found a great Pousada not listed anywhere, the Pousada Primavera.
Here almost everything I owned was washed to dry in the clear hot day. The woman Cilla here is great, I have used her spin drier and they have good internet, good by standards here. .
Though still slow.
These places are costing $25 a night now .
D40, t2.5, av15.75, Max45, 28395, 2844
Wet morning, fine later, 25°C
I was up early having had a good nights sleep. Breakfast was enjoyed and it was decided to take the bike with into town to look for another resisitencia.
Last night on the news, it reported that there in extensive flooding in Parana and parts of Santa Catarina here in BR. Both southern states. Parana holds the Iguazu falls.
They showed footage of the circular viewing platform where we were on viewing from the BR side.
It was awash with turbulent brown waters. The falls themselves were wild. Like a huge crowd of panicking people fighting to get through a doorway, trying to escape a fire .It was something else.
The Pantanal north of me is unfortunately still inundated and rivers everywhere here are swollen.
Outside the rains had set in again.
I gave the key back to the owner and asked if he knew where I could get a new resi.
One of the guys told me to follow him on his bike we went to a engineering supply shop, kind of a heavy duty hardware place with everything.
They had one but it was more designed for boiling a litre or more of water, not just a cup.
Anyway, the owner and I got on really well, he was a great guy.
We both told each other about our travels.
He and his wife had travelled though SA on a three wheeler bike, a tricicliero.
Check out this Youtube movie of Geraldo it is fantastic and funny.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tElkb8W2x0Q
We spent an hour looking and chatting about stuff and the road ahead.
From here, it was found the only resis in town were these big ones.
I thought about getting the old one tested at an auto electrician shop. Here the guy inspected it I had already pulled it apart looking for a loose wire which i found.
On the multimeter it was fine, he soldered the terminals and presto she worked again.
I am wrapped. This thing is such an important part of my gear.
From here I headed to a cyber cafe to update the blog.
I am using a phone company Vivo which I have found has few signals in many places.
At Claro in PJC they wanted a power bill to open an internet pre paid, this I didn’t have.
I may try again somewhere else.
It was still raining at midday. I bought bread and fruit, and also went back to use the net.
So luckily, a bike shop had spokes, 5 of these were kindly given to me by the owner. This takes a load off my mind. Though I feel the rear wheel is properly repaired this time. We will see?
It had been a productive morning here in Jardim.
What’s more, the rain had stopped by 1400 when I was ready to leave.
I was a pleasure riding, listening to music and enjoying the rural views.
The road once again was just gentle slopes, easy riding with no wind.
Almost all the country is fenced and the road reserve quite narrow. There are not a lot of places to camp.
Cattle theft is a problem so every gate is locked with a chain, even the Taranaki gates are locked.
Coming to a sign the directed me to Rio Mirando I turned in. Here was a watch house and barrier. Riding around the barrier. A guy off the side of the road called me I said Hi.
Asking if I could camp on the river. We spoke for a while then he said come with me.
We walked and talked till we got to those large mown area of brick buildings. They were all substantial.
It turned out David was from the Unificaton Church and they had an Fazenda come conference centre here in the middle of nowhere.
There was accommodation and space for 5000 people and college which had closed due to the GFC.
He introduced me to all his family. Then said I could stay in one of the rooms. I insisted that I camp. He would not be in it.
So I spent the night in a modern hotel like room.
Before dark, in a tree outside. I couldn’t believe it, 4 red and blue Macaws came in and started squawking and playing. What unbelievably beautiful birds.
They were very quiet and not at all concerned about our presence. David said they come here regularly. A mother was regurgitating food for her young one.
There were the tiniest of Humming birds flying around like bike bees. It was all fascinating.
He showed me his pet parrot, a young green bird. It was the species that I see everywhere here in groups.
He was just brilliant, so quiet and friendly. He was climbing all over my head and just nibbling.
I have had a few parrots as pets, that have been found in the wild. They are such great friends when hand reared.
His brother invited me in for dinner of steak, beans and rice with salad.
We spoke for some time.
He knew no Spanish but again we worked things out. They similar words in both languages can get us by.
To me Portuguese almost sounds a little German with all its nasal sounds.
It was so nice to be in a clean two-sheeted bed.
The hospitality shown to me here was very similar to that shown by people on the Mississippi who were involved with churches.
It is almost overwhelming.
11/6/2014 Rio Mirando to Bonito, MS, BR
D62, T3, Av17, Max46, 28457, 2906
Beautiful calm day, 25 deg
It was great to have slept in such a comfortable spot. I arose early, had a look outside, crystal clear skies, these I had not seen for a few days.
Once organized and having said goodbye to Andréa, Adinato was milking the cow.
Out on the road, what a magic day. Andréa had presented me with a Spanish book explaining her church, it is a Korean set up found by a man named Sun Myong Moon.
They had signed it on the inside. I could not say I would not take it. It was a kind gesture of theirs. I told her my interests lay with Buddhism to some degree.
I have included a photo of their wishes and will leave the book in Bonito.
Being close to 500gms it is not a proposition to carry it.
Adinato caught up with me on the road as I was standing on a bridge looking at the river Mirando.
Once again, the grey cattle contrasted brilliantly with the lush vegetation and red anthills. Dead ant eaters were seen on the roadside as were a species of bird similar to a curlew with the big eyes.
There are lots of low lying swampy areas on the roadside. Dams are full.
At the moment, here in this part of BR, all the rivers are up, the Pantanal is full of water. My plans are having to be adjusted around all this water.
I had wanted to go to Corumba on the Bolivian border. Roads in Bolivias selva
( forest) are in poor condition due to rains.
There is a tarred road from Corumba up to La Paz, it is not that far .
The only way north is by boat on the river Paraguay. A lady in Bonito phoned a friend of hers there.
People with boats are wanting $2000 to take someone to Cuiaba in Mato Grosso. Though it is some 600km, they obviously don’t want to take people up there.
My journey will take me east of the Pantanal now.
Just ambling along, it was easy riding to Bonito. There was a 5km cycle track into town. It is a very touristic place with prices set accordingly.
I found a great Pousada not listed anywhere, the Pousada Primavera.
Here almost everything I owned was washed to dry in the clear hot day. The woman Cilla here is great, I have used her spin drier and they have good internet, good by standards here. .
Though still slow.
These places are costing $25 a night now .
An afternoon visit by 4 macaws was a treat, to say the least.
 It was so nice of Andréa and Adinato to gift me this book, with these wishes enclosed.
 Mural, Bonito
 Pousada Primavera, Bonito
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 Mum and her not so baby baby
 This young Parrot is of the species most seen flying about. He was so quiet, inquisitive and friendly.
 Rio Mirando, with commercial fishers boats. There are Paku in this river, a favorite eating fish
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