Good morning in ‘Good Garden’ and Good Bye. I had driven almost 600 kilometers yesterday and wanted to achieve the same distance today. I have had problems yesterday with the signing or better with the non-signing along the motorway, especially at the roundabouts and crossroads. I had driven probably altogether between 20 – 40 kilometers in 3 different occasions in the wrong direction and had to turn around. I was hoping to avoid this today and drive without problems to a nice place on the beach. I listened to one more mix of my friend Albert and drove on, and on, and on, no air condition to save gas, windows open to feel the wind and cool me down.

This morning the problems were of a different kind and related to the street conditions, first only a few but then numerous potholes forced me to drive very slow and very careful. At various points, the asphalt had disappeared completely and the remaining part of the road was earth. But even the earth road had numerous potholes and the traffic had created new side roads or entered the opposite traffic to avoid driving though the quiet deep potholes that could easily damage your car or flatten your tire.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

The next small problem and definitely a quiet amusing small problem was the sudden stop of all cars as the consequence of the meeting with a herd of cows, which were guided by several farmers on their horses together with a handful of trained dogs. They had all the time in the world, the cows, the farmers and the dogs; I was not in a hurry either and enjoyed watching the kilometer long herd of skinny, hungry bulls, cows and calves. Brazil is the world’s largest meat exporter but the cows that I met today needed to spend at least a month on fertile ground and eat and eat and eat. The last cow turned right onto the track and the cars in front of me started moving again and so did I.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

On my way to the Guyanas 7 month ago I had made a stop in historical Sao Luis, now on my way back to Natal I initially stayed away from the coast and drove the direct and quicker way on the main highway inland. I passed numerous small villages in this unpopulated part of the state of Maranhao and still came bit-by-bit closer to the beach again.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

The nature had changed from rainforest to savannah and from savannah to dunes. The last, but very much-appreciated problem of today’s 600 kilometer long drive was the choice of a nice beach location for the night. The very much-appreciated problem was that I had arrived late in Parnaiba and it was dark and I could not really see the sea or the beach.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

I did not want to waste too much time and gas to search for the ideal beach spot and continued driving the most direct way and ended up just outside Parnaiba on a newly asphalted boulevard which must be the most sophisticated and best organized beach village of the whole coastline of the state of Piaui. The boulevard was huge but dead, the hotels and the beach bars were very nice but empty. I had a quick chat with the security of the only hotel open who would be on guard the whole night. Just opposite the hotel, the beach bar had a wooden terrace with the typical palm tree roof, the ideal place to hang up my hammock and enjoy the sound of the sea, the breeze of the wind, the security of the hotel and the roof of the beach bar in case it should start raining. I happened to be where I wanted to be.

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.

For a small understanding of the days travel, I have included a Google Earth map. The red pins mark the locations I have stopped and taken pictures. At the bottom of the page you will find a link for all the pictures I have taken. The link will open in a Google+ Album.

Please click on map to enlarge!!!

See map and distances / Siehe Karte und Entfernungen / Ver mapa e distâncias / Ver mapa y distancias

0 km      Bom Jardim

40 km    Santa Ines

100 km  Vitoria de Mearim

200 km  Itapecuru Mirim

255 km  Vargem Grande

325 km Chapadinha

425 km  Santa Quiteria

450 km  São Bernardo

570 km  Parnaiba

Please click on “View Album” to see pictures in a Google+ Album.