Around the Block 2007

We got money, now we badly need chains.  We got chains, now let's get on the road!  The first surprise: gas stations are few and far between (shall we carry a Coke bottle full of gas?) as our tanks are only 2.5 gal.  We are assured there is gas at km60, we'll decide there when we fill up again..

Second surprise: it's not 440km to Porto Velho, but 540km.... we may be driving in the dark...

Off we go, filling up every chance there is.  We roll into Cabixiabas just before reserve and fill up.  Push on again (our tanks allow us 170 km), fill up again.  We arrive at the Abuna River ferry (all 3 pix) 1 hour before dark, still 220km to go.  The ferry is great, but there is no gas on either side of the river.  80 km to next gas....

1 km past the river Luke's saddle bags rip away from the support.  I take one and we put them on top of the back of our seats.  This is cool!  When we get tired we stretch out and sit on the saddle bag and drive.  Luke goes on reserve first, but we are almost to Murum Parana where there is gas.  We arrive in the VERY dark...NO gas we are told!

Finally a boy leads us in the dark to a man behind a house that is filling coke bottles from a 30 gal container which he tells us is gas.  Great! (I hope it's gas!).  4 Coke bottles each (the 2-liter kind), a drink and banana chips and we are off (first food since breakfast)!

The paved road is terrible, full of holes.  Huge trucks (with double trailers) come at us and swerve into our side of the road to avoid the holes oblivious of our headlights.  Luke hits a large pothole and his bag falls off.  As he is tying it back on another truck almost hits him standing by the moto.  We said we would never ride again at night !!!!

Then "new" asphalt!  Black asphalt is great, except for at night and when there are no lines painted on it.  The only way you know that you are on the road is that you are not in the ditch (yet!).  On and On and On!!  Finally at Porto Velho by 9pm (but we have gone thru a time zone, so it is 10pm.  The roads are crazy and it takes us another hour just to find the mission center.  Someone helps us reach the Dunn's and Mike takes us to our reserved cottage.  A shower and food!....

NEXT DAY: day15inportovelho.htm

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