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Published: February 26th 2007
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The truck
Our first lunch stop in the truck, behind me were beautiful views of the sea and lush islands. First of all - check out the photos on my last blog, finally managed to upload some!
So the samba club turned out to be great fun, although we left too early in my opinion!! We had a great view of the band and the dance floor. Managed to have a wiggle on several occasions despite being rammed in - well it was the last night of carnaval.
The Big Yellow Truck
I'm now actually on the road in my big yellow truck! There are 23 of us in total at the back of the truck, although it doesn't seem that many. The design of the thing is ingenious! We have huge lockers under our seats to store all our crap and then there are tons of other hidden compartments to take all the food and other equipment, including our safe, otherwise know as Bob (so we don't shout about the safe in public). We are already comparing our truck to other overlander trucks and getting a little proud of our baby. The great thing about our truck, compared to the others, is that we don't have forward facing seats like a bus (and most of the other
Old town of Paraty
I could have spent hours capturing the colours in this sleepy town. trucks) but seats at the back, down the side and a table area at the front. The back is very bouncy, the sides have good air but no views and the front is very hot so we swop around constantly. Most of others also store their bags in a locker that has to be accessed from outside the truck so it must be a nightmare to get at anything.
Paraty
The first night camping was spent at a campsite at a small coastal town called Paraty. It is just south of Rio and known for it's stunning beaches. The town itself grew due to the trade in gold from Minas Gerais and then from the coffee boom. The old town is gorgeous - cobblestone streets, whitewashed walls and very colourful door and window frames. No cars are allowed in the old town and the streets are still cleaned by the traditional method - when the tide comes in!
We only spent one full day in Paraty but managed to all go on a very chilled schooner trip around the little islands and bays that dot the coastland. It was bliss!! Everytime the boat stopped we dived into
Coastland around Paraty
One of the many views from the schooner on our lazy day. the sea and snorkled or just messed around. Got to see a few colourful fish (used my underwater camera, thanks Dad!) and huge starfish! On our return there was time to wander around the town before heading back to camp for dinner.
Life on the Road
Since leaving Paraty we have been on the road solidly for two days and we have another half day of travel tomorrow. This involves getting up at silly times in the morning (5ish!!!), packing the tent away with your tent partner in the semi-darkness (I'm with Sinnead), eating a hurrid breakfast and your off.
The truck has a buzzer system so we can let the driver and tour leader know if there is an emergency, loo stop required or we simply want to take a photo (Dad, you'd be chucked off the truck if allowed near this buzzer!!). We stop for lunch on the road which is prepared by the cook group for the day - amazingly tables, crockery a cookery and all sorts of food pack away into the side of the truck. The same cook group have to do dinner the same night and breakfast the following day. I cooked beef casserole tonight with my team Nikki and Little Sam - we were praised as having the best meal so far if I say it myself!!
The first night of travelling we stayed in what is called a "rough camp" this basically means finding the easiest place and putting up camp. It turned out to be harder than normal as a policeman wouldn't let us stay at our first choice service stations for fear that it would be closed at 11pm and not patrolled. So he escorted us, with flashing lights, to two others that had nowhere suitable to camp, then tried a motel before finally we ended up on some find of government institute land with armed security!! Very bizarre but this is the nature of this trip. No showers at this site so we spent today very very very smelly. But the kind security guard let us use his toilet and sink.
We were expecting another night of rough camping but much to our surprise we are now in a motel for the night with, shock horror, and actual shower!!! It is surprising how quickly I have got used to living out of a truck, decanting a small bag to take to my tent each night, putting the tent up and down, cold showers, being smelly and hot most of the time and being eaten by mozzies. Overall, I'm loving every minute, even the shit stuff. Getting along with my truck mates really well, although it is a shame that some of the bubbly ones are getting off in Santiago. I already have a couple of knicknames such as Truck Mum and Matron. Basically because of my need to take care of my boys (the little 19 year olds - I make them wear hats, put on suncream and drink lots of water) and also my amazing medical kit and general medical scientific knowledge (thanks again Dad!)
The views have been fairly interesting with hills, lakes and rolling lush farmland on the first day and then more sparse farmland with funny humped cows today. Lots of sleepy, reading, playing and uno and listening to music on the truck I am already known as the hyperactive one who never seems to be sleeping - just looking around for someone to play with!
The Goal
The aim of these long days of driving is the Pantanal - a huge area of wetland teaming with wildlife and unfortunately mozzies. So the malaria tablets started today. I'll hopefully give you an update of what I got up to there in the next four or five days but we are staying in an ecotourism lodge without internet so it may take a while.
Love to all,
Gemsxxxxxxxxxx
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