Recife – Olinda - 20 km ^115
Pedalling out of Recife, a bike shop caught our attention. Amanda had her gear
cable fixed, and I bought a new tyre as mine was wearing thin.
Shortly after departing Recife, we came upon Olinda. This former state capital was
declared a world heritage site, and rightly so. Olinda was an intriguing place
featuring candy-coloured houses along steep slopes. Churches were atop high
hills, and narrow, cobbled streets ran at odd angles. The remainder of the day was
spent exploring this delightful city.
Olinda – Goiana - 69 km
Departing Olinda was via a coastal road where a ferry from Maria Farinha took
passengers across the river to Nova Cruz. Then, an excellent paved road took us
to the ill-fated BR101. Luckily, this section of the BR101 was far better than we
feared and provided an extensive shoulder, making cycling considerably safer.
Our route to Goiana ran through Igarassu, which sported an unexpected but
fascinating historic centre offering beautiful old buildings and churches. In Goiana,
the first accommodation we spotted was reasonably priced and even had icy cold
air-con.
Goiana – João Pessoa - 55 km The day turned out a frustrating ride. Amanda’s chain broke, but luckily we were
only about a kilometre from a small tyre repair where they did the necessary
repair work. They hammered and banged and eventually the chain was on,
allowing her to reach João Pessoa. Amanda’s fall a few days earlier left her and the
bicycle far more damaged than anticipated, which became more apparent as time
passed.