Day 668 19th May 2018
28 miles (Candelaria to Posadas) Average speed 9.5 mph Top speed 27 mph
What a difference a day makes.
I got up at 8 and went down to try and fix the cable. The hotel owner was very helpful and supplied me with tools and even a spare cable of his own. The one I had was too big and his was too short so I went back to the shop I’d been to yesterday and bought a new cable.
On the way back I had a coffee at the garage and then replaced the cable, but the gears were still not working,so I had to use just the front derailleur, but at least now the rear cassette was set in mid range and not top gear.
I went to use the WiFi at the lottery shop and phoned home, before having chorizo sarnies with mustard from the guy I had dinner with the night before. I bid him farewell and hit the road, which was not too wet and thankfully not as hilly as I’d expected from the map. The hard shoulder was good and I was making good time, too good in fact as I was not due to check in until 3pm.
I avoided the main road on the way down to the river and took a parallel side road where I met a guy in a roadworks lorry who called me back. I thought he was trying to tell me the road ahead was closed, but it turned out he just wanted to sing me a song and give me a flag while singing to me. I left, but went back again to take a selfie with him and the surrounding kids.
Serenaded by a happy lorry driver
He was very happy to see me and I think he may have been indulging the night before and slept in his lorry, but he was very happy all the same. I stopped 500 yards down the road to buy a drink and the kids caught up with me and asked me about my trip.
We tried to fix one of their bikes but needed a spanner which I don’t carry. I waved them off and tried to find a way to the main road over a footbridge which took me to a beach where I had a sunbathe to try and dry out my soaked feet. My socks were steaming and it felt good to be back by the water.
A welcome beach for a sunbathe
I got to the road and took the bridge where there was a long queue of traffic to go into Paraguay shopping. I hoped to find a bar to watch the FA cup final but no chance of even finding anywhere open in siesta time. Lots of people were waving though and it seemed like a great place with lots friendly faces.
Hospidaje la casona 400 pesos with a double bed and good WiFi and an English tv channel.