The previous update of the Tour.
28.8. Fri (415) Belo Horizonte
In Belo Horizonte the city street plan was quite strange: the streets
were in 45 degrees angles to each other. Like two city plans put
together!
30.8. Sun (417) B.H.
towards Penedo
I had planned the trip from Maringa towards North to be only
two to three weeks. For exploring Brazil properly would some months or
half a year be necessary. And minimum 20,000 kms. The country is only
slightly smaller than the continent of Europe.
My intention was to visit Penedo, which I had heard to be a Finnish
community. There had been Finnish settlers more than 100 years. The
road went to a mountaineous area. Anyway, I didn't find it. There were
just some villages of which I couldn't know which is Penedo. Stopping
at Lorena, small town near São Paulo.
31.8. Mon (418) Lorena
Jaú
Visiting again Jaú and meeting again nice two people I had met
there previously.
7.9. Mon (425) Maringá
"Neljä-kaks-viis, ja hyvä meininki!" :) :)
(That was a saying in Finnish UN troops in South Lebanon when I worked
there... that joky saying because the
UNIFIL mission was
based on United Nations resolution 425... Allright... inside story...)
This day, 7th September, was the independence day of Brazil. Brazil had got
independent from Portugal in 1822.
8.9. Tue (426) Maringá
As 53,000 kms was ridden, the cam chain of the engine had to be changed.
The cam chain change interval is 50,000 kms. But before doing the work,
the magneto cover gasket was needed. I had ordered it from São Paulo
via EKY Motos.
9.9. Wed (427) Maringá
The magneto cover gasket arrived, and so the mechanic Ika could start
the work to my bike.
...Afterwards, the running sound of the bike was like as new! Ika
repaired also the problem with the light switch, which had been a
nuisance since Sahel, for 10 months. Also this evening the owner of
EKY motos, Edison offered us dinner & beer. Great! :)
11.9. Fri (429) Maringá
Foz do Iguazu
I said goodbye to the personnel of EKY Motos. I had become friends
with them.
On the way happened a strange thing: as in the highways in Brazil there
the speed limits are 110 km/h *for cars* and 80 km/h for other vehicles
(including bikes)... I rode the same speed as cars did. I didn't care
about that 80 km/h limit. And of course there was a radar control!!
The patrol stopped me, my speed had been 114 km/h. 34 km/h overspeed.
They took my papers: passport, international driving license and carnet.
I was about to get 520 U.S. dollars traffic ticket!!!! Uh, almost two
weeks budget!!
Because the tickets have to be paid to a bank and it was Friday evening,
the case would have delayed till Monday... Expensive fine plus almost
three days waiting!
What a nuisance!
But surprisingly, they started to talk to me (in Portuguese):
- "Where are you from?"
- "From Finland"
- "You're a world traveller!"
"How beautiful life!"
"Hmmm... Well, I think we won't make you such a trouble that
you would have to wait till next week. ... here are the
papers. Have a nice trip!"
You can bet I was surprised!!!
Then I continued towards Iguazu. Now obeying the speed limits (more or
less). I had promised them to ride more carefully, so it would have
been a bit shame to get caught again from overspeeding. Some 420 kms
to Iguazu.
Iguazu is a touristic attraction, where are big water falls.
12.9. Sat (430) Foz do Iguazu
The falls were much bigger on the Brazilian side than in the Argentinian
side. On the Brazilian side of the falls there were lots to see,
beautiful falls. They weren't much smaller compared with the Vic Falls
of Zimbabwe.
13.9. Sun (431) Brazil
back to Argentina
General information about Argentina.
I had heard that everything would be much cheaper in Paraguay, as there
are practically no taxes paid. For example bike tyres might be cheaper
there than in Buenos Aires. But I was also informed that security
matters are not in good level there (thefts & muggings), so I gave up
of going to Paraguay.
Instead of that, towards Capital Federal! On the way back to Bs. As.
the fuel consumption hit all records: 7.5 litres/100 km. Incredible!
Less than 250 kms with main tank. And steady 100 km/h...
18.9. Fri (436) Bs. As.
I bought the front & rear tyres from Avenida Pueyrredon. There are
all the bike shops. I got good discounts :) From now on, I had even
more luggage, added with two tyres! That's because I was totally
unaware, when I could visit bike shops next time. Current tyres
were already more than half-used, and could do just the next 5,000 kms.
19.9. Sat (437) Bs. As.
towards West
Wake-up at Hotel Odeon at 6.30. The hotel was quite miserable, but
the price was the lowest possible, $14...
I fetched the bike 1.5 kms away from the 'estacionamiento' (parking hall) at
a place nearby. The guarded parking places cost in Buenos Aires minimum
5 Pesos/USD per night, but it's good to play safe. It's worth it.
Then I loaded all the massive
amount of luggage on the bike. Lots of it! Then riding along
Av. Rivadavia towards West, it took two full hours (65 kms) to get out
of the city.
It was unusually cold, just 5 degrees. But sunshine anyway :)
Accommodation at town of Mercedes, good hotel, $25/night. From almost
freezing conditions to warmth!
Unluckily my letters containing films(!!!) also for this update
were lost (=stolen in Bs.As.), with DHL courier the other pictures
arrived to Finland.
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