Beginning Out On BR 319

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 To get up chilly in a big tiled room was nice for me nevertheless it was a pleasure for younger Rusty who obtained off his mattress and sprawled within the ground and didn’t transfer. We went downstairs to breakfast, a lavish buffet of cold and warm meals of all descriptions, and he was nonetheless sprawled after we obtained again to room 409.

As a common rule we’re blissful within the van however the warmth particularly within the metropolis has been intense, not humid however as much as 107 levels underneath a robust unobstructed solar. A relaxation simply appeared indicated for all of us  and we loved it. We even had room service for dinner, lodge meals however luxurious with no washing up. Anyway Sunday morning noticed us again at work first order of the day meals purchasing on a series grocery store we’d by no means heard of; par for the Brazilian course. 
Apparently Sunday morning is everybody favourite time to buy at IrmĂŁos Gonçalves a grocery store chain distinguished on the town however invisible on line except you wish to order for supply.  The shops are huge with beautiful coated parking tons in homage clearly to the horrible warmth however with roof tall sufficient to accommodate a Promaster. 

Then we had an issue and it took two hours to kind it out.

To get to Manaus nearly 500 miles away we’ve got to cowl 260 miles of unpaved street with the extra complication of 300 miles between fuel stations.  On dust at ten or 15 mph our mileage drops from 16mpg to 10.  Basic math says we have to complement our 24 gallon tank to no less than give us peace of thoughts. The issue was discovering two 5 gallon (20 liter) jugs on a Sunday afternoon. 

We tried all types of shops in search of jugs. Açouge in Portuguese means butcher I came upon. It’s not like any Spanish phrase I can consider so for those who suppose Spanish and Portuguese are “shut sufficient” I invite you to go to Brazil and have a go. 

We obtained to drive round Porto Velho, capital of RondĂłnia State in search of gasoline jugs. That is what it seems to be like on a blazing sizzling Sunday afternoon. 

Lixo means rubbish, which I managed to determine earlier than I checked with Google translate, nonetheless the voice pronunciation on my cellphone doesn’t work so I’ve solely a finest guess as to the way to say it. 

It doesn’t at all times work both. 

It’s a 130 ft tall and is an promoting gimmick for a division retailer apparently. It was fairly cool to see it as we sped previous on one other boulevard. 

This bus marketed reclining seats to Manaus on the facet and I’ve to say it regarded tempting. An in a single day drive laying flat, not heroic however not unhealthy. 

Ultimately we discovered the jugs we would have liked at a fuel station and by 2:30 we have been on our method over the Madeira River. 

The street begins out paved slicing by ranch nation for a few hours. Then you definitely flip proper and there you’re driving into the Amazon. 

And there’s the bus on its technique to Manaus. It turned off to select up some passengers as a result of after we stopped for night time it drive on by. The driving force waved as Brazilians do, they’re actually pleasant. Maybe as a result of we will’t discuss to one another! 

State agriculture checkpoint forward; I can learn that. 

It’s listed on iOverlander as not staffed and so it was, we drove straight by. 

All of it appears ridiculously elaborate for nothing. 

It regarded like south Florida to me. 


Extra police posts fortunately undertaking nothing. 

Ranches line the freeway out of Porto Velho. 

The flip off into the jungle. It seems to be very suburban to date. 


Plans are within the works to rebuild the freeway forward: 

45 miles to the subsequent fuel on the village  of Realidade whereas Manaus is 408 miles from right here. 

For 15 miles we had crappy asphalt however that we higher than what was to come back. 

And right here endeth the pavement for 260  miles. 






This truck was damaged down and we stopped to supply his girlfriend  some water. They declined and later he limped into our parking space, turned again and headed for house underneath low energy to get the truck sorted. Self sufficiency I love. 
Site visitors rolled by the nightfall and into the night time, only a few vans rumbling by. They waved and tooted after they noticed me photographing them. I used to be on the cellphone with a buddy when a truck stopped and he thought I used to be being attacked. No menace, the motive force took a discreet whizz, waved and once I gave him the thumbs up he smiled and drove away. I can’t discuss to them however I like Brazilians. 

iOverlander got here by with the perfect spot for us providing shade earlier than the sunburnt down. 

Rusty liked being out of the van particularly as nightfall was not too sizzling and he might scamper  at will. There have been no bugs and no humidity. It was surprisingly snug. 

I aired down the tires by twenty kilos every to make a extra snug experience on the dust forward. 

We had roast rooster from the grocery store and strawberries for dessert and watched some tv. Suburbia within the Amazon. Bizarre huh? 

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