uesday 25th February 2025 Salgado Filho to Capitão Leônidas Marques
Lovely evening last night, very friendly had all the kids following us around trying to practise their English, even had the Mum of “Luca” come over and wish us well, both of us minor celebrities, in this charming village, lovely place Salgado Filho.

Early morning, Alpen mush with chocolate biscuits, that will get us going, remember descending into this charming place yesterday, that only means one thing, got to climb out of it. What a climb straight out of the digs into a 14% 3 mile climb, then a false descent and another 3 mile 12% climb, great just what these rocking legs need.

It was tough so tough, did not think much of the charming village half way up the climbs, but just worked our way up them, slowly and surely, toughest climb we have had so far, they will get tougher, but we will get fitter. Always the positive, easy said when you have completed it, we was both done after the first 10 miles, sat and had a coffee and a cold drink, just looked at each other both thinking what have we done, its going to be long day.

It did get a bit easier, but the first climbs just ruined us, my legs felt like jelly, just dig in and pedal, not much said, just bathed in sweat, our bodies glinting in the morning sun and the aroma enough to kill a thousand flies, as we work the road as best we can.

Not many pictures today both too tired, (those dammed kids keeping me up all night) just concentrating on keeping the bike moving, it was difficult to go past any shop, petrol station, but needed to keep going. Got the halfway mark made us feel a bit better, ridiculous times but so what, cold drink ice cream and refilled the water bottles with fresh water, felt brand new, bring it on, well that lasted ten minutes.

Just kept tuning the pedals, putting the work in, every mile gets you closer, to be fair we was rolling now, so did feel a bit better, both of us thinking about a massive pasta dish at the next truckers stop, we have these places sussed now, find it quite difficult to eat, but it does you wonders afterwards, bit like a beer with less than 10 miles to go, but I never find that difficult. We stopped for lunch in the next truck stop around 20 miles form the finish, massive pasta and salad for me, Bingo has the same with a lot of meat.

Feel great now push on for the last 20 miles, pretty leary as the road has got a lot busier, very little hard shoulder trucks roaring past us, not good, can’t relax at all, but eating up the miles as we dodge the trucks.

Last 10 miles, we know we have two climbs to go, but nothing serious, so stop for a bit of refreshment and a beer, we have deserved it, as we are sipping the beer you can see the first climb in the distance, just over the Iguazu River, makes me feel like having another beer, which we duly do.

Final bit today, get in the right gear and do the final two climbs of the day, no worries nothing like the early morning one, just a gentle teaser, or the beers fueled us them, probably the latter. No digs booked but have a few places in mind, rocked up at the first one all sorted. What a day, hard riding, but feel good now, little rest then out for the biggest meal in living memory.

We was not wrong with the meal, what a lovely lady, just plate after plate of food, bless her, as we tackled the mountain of food, she came up to us and said sorry we are closing in 10 minutes, no worries, Bingo goggled translation thank you so much for your hospitality, she was over the moon and deservedly so.

Back to the digs for an early night.