Today, we rode 400+ kms all on dirt, crossed two major rivers on pontoon boats, and saw some of the best of the Amazonas yet. All in all a great day.
This is what motorcycle adventure riding is all about. To go places that are hard to get to ... with nature at its best ... rarely visited by outsiders ... and meeting people that expand your own worldview and your love for humanity.
The road was all red, dusty, dirt that created clouds half-a-kilometer long behind any vehicle. There were very few vehicles but encountering trucks, buses, or cars meant getting showered with dirt. Tricky riding with ever changing terrain ... gravel, sand, ruts, mud, rocks, washboards.
I met a lot of people today, as we waited for our pontoon boats ... taxi drivers, truck drivers, shop keepers, trades people ... and decided to ask about politics given that Brasil's elections are coming up in 30 days ... Lula or Bolsonaro ... discussions were animated, full of laughter, and lots of teasing.
What we saw and what we experienced today was very special ... the remoteness and vastness of this area felt real ... so it is better explained with pictures.
Getting ready to depart Humaita
Oops ... no bridge ... or boat to cross the Madeira River
A school of Amazonian dolphins playing in front of us
A family installing a propeller on their boat to cross the river
Discussing politics with the locals while we wait for the boat ... Lula vs, Bolsonaro ... Oct 3
A nice stretch of the Trans-Amazonian Highway
Loaded on the boat crossing the Madeira River
Getting some shade on the boat ... 100 degrees and super humid!
We crossed around 20 of these rickety bridges today
The burning continues ... you could feel the heat on the road
No bridge to cross the Aripuana River either ... smaller boat this time
Eating red Amazonian dust ... it is everywhere
Hot ... dirty ... sweaty ... exhausted ... having fun ... on our second boat
Oops ... our chase vehicle
We went through thick jungle ... national parks ... Indian reservations
Another rickety and long bridge
Mesmerizing
Our first whipeout of the trip ... everybody is good ... motorcycle is in trouble ... punctured crankcase, bent handlebars
Made it to Apui ... as the sun was setting after 10 hours battling the dirt and the heat ... hungry, tired, dirty, and happy
Looks like we made it literally to the middle of nowhere
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