Caravelas – Prado – 50 km ^51
Following a filling breakfast at Posada dos Navegantes, we biked past Alcobacato
Prado. After Amanda’s stressful previous day, I thought it best to keep the distance
short. Fortunately, the map didn’t indicate any river crossings for at least a day or
two.
The Brazilians were incredibly hospitable and loved to talk, but the language barrier
made it tricky. A Brazilian couple in a car flagged us down and remarked they had
seen us a few days earlier in Vitoria. They seemed highly disappointed when
realising we couldn’t speak Portuguese. My biggest regret was not being fluent in
the language of the country I cycled.
Shortly before Prado was a river crossing via a rickety bridge. Fueled by a fear of
heights and water, Amanda was across the bridge faster than Lance Armstrong. I
was incredibly proud of my sister.
Prado – Cumuruxatiba – 35 km
We left Prado via a stunning coastal route. Sadly, it soon deteriorated as it headed
over the hills and became sandy, rutted and corrugated. In fact, the road was so
rough Amanda lost one of her fillings. I kid you not! I thought it a marvellous route,
but Amanda had different words to describe the day. The coastal road was well off-
the-beaten-track and very remote - glorious if you like that kind of riding.
Amanda walked her bike up and down the rutted hills – just to be on the safe side.
At Cumuruxatiba, a sweet couple pointed us to a guesthouse. The guesthouse was
one of the best, set in a lush garden and offered a lovely sea view, all at a
reasonable price. The friendly couple later returned to inform us one could cycle
along the beach instead of the road. How nice of them.