Sunday 23rd February 2025 Frederico Westphalen to Maravilha
Bit of a palaver last night, hotel did not have a restaurant, we had no Brazilian things or currency is a better word. So first we grab our bag for life (still looking after the environment during our travels). Set off for the ATM Banks and supermarkets Saturday night dancing, very frustrating all six banks had ATMs but none of them working, even the locals had a little moan & completely forgot about the supermarket!

We ate in a road-side restaurant, then quickly moved inside as a quick thunderstorm passed through, pretty normal now, sexy rain! Though the walk back was a bit difficult in the flip flops, only have cycling shoes or flip flops sliding down the bank all good fun, ended up doing the supermarket stuff in the petrol statiion right next to hotel, could have saved a 2 mile walk, but got to keep fit.

Another days cycling as we set of in the early morning mist, good Bingo sorted the digs adjacent to the road to love, or Iguaçu Falls they are all the same. Steady away as we get used to the road and traffic, lots of climbing today, which is not a bad thing if your old jalopy is running fine ( cheers Doughter all going ok at the moment).

Very humid with a few splatters of rain and a gorgeous rainbow to the left, years ago would of pedalled off to get the pot of gold, wish I still had them legs, only got the smiley face left of those far flung days, but still have a little twinkle left. Best get onto the cycling bit, just went up hill all day really, but some lovely scenery, especially as we crossed the first the Rio de Varzea, stopped on the bridge and took a few pictures of the turtles basking in the morning sun, Bingo also claimed a sighting of a piranha fish – not sure about that.

Its a pleaure to ride in nice countryside, just riding away not giving a dam of where we are, big butterflies overtaking me going up the climbs, but all good, songs flowing legs turning what more do you want on a Sunday morning, possibly a game of football for the “Bull Fossils” that’s long gone, after a great game of rugby for the mighty Snowdown CWRFC the day before, thats when I was fit.

Just kept going then crossed the massive Uruguay River again , the bridge was a bit leary so did not stop to take any pictures, but enjoyed the flat over the 2 miles bridge. Stopped just after the bridge had the same rigmarole with the cards but got through in the end, just for an ice cream and soft drink, but the people are quite pleasant now, just do not know how to work the card machines.

Next little town Cunha Porã, they have a few banks lets see if we can get any cash out? So a nice little ride through the hilly Cunha Porã visited every bank no luck, so carried on with this merry ride. Bit of a new road systems going on, so the Garmin had a hissy fit, probably related to me so what, soon got on the right road, after we tried to help a stricken motorcyclist his chain had jumped off, we did not have a big enough spanner to undo the chain tension, but waved down a digger driver who had the right tools, so left them to it, always good Karma to help people.

Just rolled into Maravilha, nothing booked, but we knew there was a place on the main road, Bingo spotted it, just rolled in with a lovely gentleman waiting at the entrance, said they had rooms a plenty, so my first response was, lets have a beer, then sort the rooms out.

All done very easily, no restaurant, but we have a cunning plan (Baldrick still not here) Bingo going to cook in the room, while I toss it off by the swimming pool, sounds like a plan to me.

Great meal, we needed to eat the food we was carrying so all worked out well.

A massive thank you to Baden Powell and Brian Meakin, who so generously donated into our beer kitty the drinks was on you two today, thank you from Bingo and Gringo, cheers butts.