Around the Block 2007

In the morning as we are getting ready to go, I notice a large picture in the lobby of the hotel of a waterfall and many people swimming and junping into a pool below.  We ask at the desk where this is and he says: "Oh, just 7km strainght down this road."  Well, we have GOT to check this out...  itīs what we were looking for last night.

We find the place, and it is not just one fall, but a whole series, each with itīs own swim area below, beach, and overhanging jungle!  Also there is a hostal right around it with cabins and camping, a restaurant, etc!  It is beginning to warm up and we just HAVE to take a swim before our long road....

We donīt get away ītil almost 11:00 am, but thats OK.  Our goal today is Dourados, past Campo Grande.  Then there will only be one more day until Foz do Iguacu (our furthest goal and theoretically 1/2 way, altho we are WAY over 1/2 our time).

The weather is turning and we have a hard wind to starboard.  It requires us to lean into it at a 20 degree angle, which isnīt so bad except that at times it comes and goes in gusts!  Then the on-coming trucks and their wind-whack!  But we drop our speed a little and lumber on...

I am ahead when I realize that I can not see Luke in my mirror.  As I am turning around a moto comes flying past me at very high speed, the driver stretched out Superman style on the seat.  Luke!  Whatīs this all about?  I turn back and pick up the chase, but I canīt quite catch him!  15km all the way into town, I am chasing Superman at 70mph, but when I get to town... no Luke...

I begin to think that maybe that wasnīt Luke!  Turn around and head back.  16km back I find Luke (with a flat tire) wondering why I took so long!

Off with the tire, out with the tube repair kit.  Everything going well until we find that the "pump" (a tube that threads into the spark plug hole and uses the engine to pump up the tire) doesnīt fit.  So much for "trying out your 'kit' before you leave home" ! 

So we unload my saddlebag and tie on the wheel and ANOTHER run into town to pump up the tire!

We are on the way again, but by nightfall it is beginning to get stormy and we are 80km short of out goal.  Better hotel it here for the night.  It is a simple-but nice place with a closed-in yard, and we can park the motos right outside our door.....  NEXT DAY: day24rbrillantestosthe.htm

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