Around the Block 2007

Today started off with some Great Expectations!  The plan: To head west from Vilhena to Colorado do Oeste, then south to Cabixi (pronounced "Cabishi"), then over the river and along the road(that is shown on my map) all the way to Vila Bela.  This route would take us along the base of the jungle plateau (pix) that inspired "Jurrasic Park" and the "Lost World".

The weather has turned and a cold wind is coming up from the Anartic.  We see on the TV that it is snowing in Buenos Aires (rare) and it is a "frio" (cold wind) where we are.  We put on ALL we have, but we are still cold driving down the highway to Colorado do Oeste.  It will warm up and we will be going slower before long....

At Cabixi we stop for gas and ask for directions.  3 guys help try to under stand us.  The outcome is: "Yes, there is a bridge over the river, but no, the road does not go thru to Vila Bela.  And to top it off, there are `pistolerosīon the other side that are very zealous of their lands!"

We donīt want to go all the way back, so the guys suggest we take the "short-cut" over to Comodoro (which lies 122km south along the highway of where we started this am....)  Great!  How far is it?...  About 50 km of dirt.  OK, we can do this.

We head out on the dirt road.  It feels good to be back on dirt....

30km later we come to a town and ask for directions.  "That way... only 50 to 60 km."  At this point one of my saddle-bags rips open on a bump.  So, in the middle of the street we put everything into the other (now expanded) bag, tie it on top of the seat, give away the ripped bag and were off!

15km later we come to a īTī.  Right says "Private, no access", so we go left.  Soon we are on a trail in the middle of a cattle pasture.  "This canīt be right, but the other way they might shoot us!"  We go back to town, but the people say: "Go the private way, no one will shoot.  Just open and close the gates as you go thru."

So we do.  32 gates!  We go 40km thru Fazenda after Fazenda, ask if this is the right road.  Always the answer is Yes, only 90 more km!"  We wonder if we will ever get out of here!  We go and go and go.  Noon comes and goes.  Good thing we brought an extra 5 liters of gas!  The afternoon wanes and still we are going thru fields and pastures!

Finally at nightfall we come out on the highway 27km north of Comodoro.  All day and we have only made 94km of progress and will now not have time to visit Vila Bela and the "Lost World".....  At least we didnīt get shot at!.... NEXT DAY:  day19comodorotocuiaba.htm

aroundtheblock07@gmail.com