After getting notice that my 2 month lease is up, Serge and I hit the road to look for some surf
Serg cooks up a massive seafood feast
Back to my favorite beach on Floripa Lagoinha do Leste for my last visit
Hammering into the headwind with Vincent heading to Natalia's beach house
Natalia and Vincent both had amazing filmed rides--the first two of many :)
My last Churrasco (Brazilian BBQ) on Floripa w/ the crew.
The crew sees us off--all fed and slightly buzzed
Ulrike and I ready for our ride to Lagoa
Italian-UK Pedaler Anna Giulia and I after our wild, windy and rainy mission to find some surf. It rained all week!
Leandro and I taking refuge from the rain in Gil's pad
My last surf in Floripa was a big, fun wind swell with tons of waves
I donate my board to Gilbert's organization--they take kids from at risk families out surfing a few times a week
Catching some cool Capoeira on film before heading out for live Samba
These guys put on a great show for us and loved the free CD's!
The Samba Band after a great night
Getting my new dolphin tattoo my last day in Floripa
My new tattoo :)
The crew gives me a Brazilian soccer shirt and everyone signed it. very sweet. This is LuLu, my neighbor.
Serge LOVES to cook
My last home cooked meal by Serge is my favorite with fresh fish, veggies and coconut. Yummy!
Outside near the shaping room (all my neighbors are hard core surfers or in the business) we make a BBQ out of the rain
Yummmmy!
Serg and Kris
My best bro Gil and his wife Kristina. I miss you guys!
My other neighbor Daniella helps pack up the bike for the bus to Rio Grande do Sul
My little buddy Danielle is super sad when he discovers I'm leavning :(
Last goodbyes to my bro Victor who helped me find this place and was an amazing friend.
I slept on the floor in the kitchen of Gil and Kristina's house--my last night sleep in Floripa
My welcome crew in Rio Grande do Sul was very, very sweet and took away the bite of missing my Floripa friends
Sheila cooking up an unreal meal with a smile
Carlos lines up a media interview where they took this pic and got in the big paper of RS
My other host Renata and the most amazing cat Led Zepplin
The girls take me to the beautiful Colonial region outside of Caxias for a Sunday meal
Life is good!
The food was non-stop, all you could eat and VERY good.
Off to a sunset picnic with live music, great people and perfect weather
Lovely nature just outside of Caxias
I spend almost a week at Sheila and Renata's house working 15 hour days to finish my book proposal with Led. Happy to say I now have an agent!
After my crazy workfest on the book the ladies take me to my starting point of my ride to Uruguay called Cambara
We head out on the town for Fondue dinner
Sheila loving the fondue
Our new brother Lucas joins the fun
3 huge fondue dishes, 3 hours of feasting...
4 good friends from 3 countries enjoying a perfect evening.
Lucas and I ride the stunning canyons of Cambara
Beautiful!
The is Pais Gauchos, or Cowboy Country.
A rugged Gaucho chap
The last goodbye to Sheila and Renata
My new Brazilian family Janilce and Oliver
Our last meal where Oliver agrees to try cycling with me--even with a tender foot and cloudy head
Preparing the bike for my ride with the local kids in Cambara
The open road! Feels good to be riding again!
Oliver LOVED his short but sweet ride.
Heading towards the coast on the lovely Ruta do Sul road
I meet a group of Evangelical Gauchos who invite me in like family for great discussions and meals
My home for the night with Dalmo, Arsedilho, Vilmar and Cesar
Vilmar enjoying the famous Cimarao mate to get the engines going--Vilmar is a missionary and was heading out like me on a mysterious mission
Dalmo's house was simple but I loved it!
The decent from 1200 meters (3,800 feet) to sea level was stunning
Heading into warmer climates the fruit stalls were in every direction
Cute, colorful homes in the valley were amazing eye candy
Ahhhh, back to the beach! Too bad the place was a ghost town!
I teleport through the industrial zone of Porto Alegre/Pelotas and ride to Santa Victoria do Palomar where I meet Luiz--a fellow cyclist
Luis takes me to meet his wife Christina and daughter Luiza
I meet Luiz's entire family and they give permission for me to steal Luiz away for a boarder ride to Uruguay.
Luiz and his brother Diego take me on a mission to meet the village cycling champion Claudio
My last day in Brazil we leave my crib at Miramonte where the owner Carlos hosted me. Claudio, Luiz and I start our day's adventure
Claudio and Luiz are cycling nuts and plan to ride with me in USA in 2010
They love cycling so much they came the next day back to Uruguay for a Peace Pedalers BBQ!
The expedition is on! 5 countries represented at the BBQ and on my way south to Argentina!
