Day 590 2nd March 2018
23 miles (Caraguatatuba to Cambaquara ) Average speed 9.6 mph Top speed 33 mph
I was awake at 6 but got up at 8 and had two omelettes with ham, cheese and tomato with tea and OJ. I cooked the rest of the chicken for dinner tonight, packed up and left at midday.
It was a hot one today at 34c but it was a nice easy 7 miles to start along the beach cycle path.
Then I came inland and joined the main road which mostly good, but quite busy with more trucks than before. I then had a couple of steep climbs and my left knee was giving me some pain today after I walked into the corner of the bed last night as the bulb had blown. I screamed in pain at the time so I’m not surprised it hurt today.
The climbs were tough and even the downhills didn’t cool me down. I rested on a beach in the shade of a tree for a drink and then rejoined the road and met another cyclist who chatted for a while before turning off. When I arrived in Sao Sebastião I soon realised there weren’t any cheap pousada about and followed the cycle path which took me to the port, which I had not really been heading for, but as there was a ferry about to leave and I could see a campsite on Ilhabela I took the ferry.
I couldn’t see any where to pay so it was free and then I followed the cycle path on the other side and came to a beach, where I turned left and followed the road all the way to the campsite which is next to a river and waterfall with two swimming pools and lovely gardens.
I checked in and set up the tent quickly as it looked like rain was on the way. Then went for lunch of sarnies by the pool and went for a dip before going to the shop and cooking dinner. As I’m next to the river there are lots of mosquitoes and I think I need to buy some new spray as mine is about to run out, but I did find a mosquito repellent burner on the floor which helped keep them out of the outdoor kitchen.
I went to the supermarket to buy another beer and met Alberto who tried his best English while I tried to explain where I’d been. It’s very weird sitting on the steps of a supermarket chatting when there is a church in a shop next door and people say hi to you in their way in. I’m now sitting in the kitchen, the only place under cover from the torrential downpour, watching a frog prey on a centipede, I always wondered what frogs ate. I really should have taken notice of the weather forecast on TV this morning as I’m now stuck in the kitchen waiting for the rain to die down so that I can see what kind of mess my tent is in. I think it’s going to be a very wet night!
Camping caravela Ilhabela 33 raeis