Day 44 - Waterfalls of Bonito

Bonito is a tourist town in west Brazil, and is growing quickly, but really attracts more than 95% of its tourists from inside Brazil. With a population of 217 million across all Brazil, it is nearly exactly two-thirds of the population of the USA - which was a surprise to me.

So this day we went to the Estancia Mimosa outside of Bonito, where there is a river running that contains at least eight waterfalls and some very interesting wildlife including a flightless bird that looks like a bustard and called a Seriema. These march around the Estancia like king-muck and make a raucous noise when alarmed. 

We were fitted out in wetsuits (if needed and used on the previous day, not this one) and walking boots then trucked in a six-wheel drive to the lower section of the river where a 2.5km walk took us around multiple falls. This included one up-river boating section in a metal punt, with an electric outboard motor - which was very cool and quiet! The water was at about 24 degrees and so we swam all through the morning at every set of falls, but not in the calm sections where there are small alligators!

I took my GoPro camera with a handle, and others took their smart-phones in waterproof pouches so that we could take video and photos under the waterfalls. This was all rather special. (GoPro videos from every day are available online on YouTube at my Channel called Motorcyle Heaven).

Sheryle and JC jumped off a platform at one point where the water was deep, but in other parts it was rarely more than about two metres in depth. In one section, I lost my favourite 20 year old Microsoft bush hat, so that will require a replacment. I am particular about it being light weight and easily washable.

After lunch at the Estancia, we bussed back, and took an afternoon walking around the small town. We had planned to stay there in the evening for a beer festival, but heavy clouds and a little thunder indicated a rain storm, that never actually eventuated. So I had dinner at the resort with the boys, which included spaghetti bolognese Brazil style and was actually very good. 

Jeff also had dinner delivered from uptown after it was ordered by JC, as Jeff is not well with some fever or other. He plans to not ride tomorrow, so his bike will go on the back of the truck. I will watch with interest to see how Willy plans to get it there at 10am, as we leave late at 11am. The next five days are all transport rides with single nights in each location. We have been told that the hotel tonight is "very average" and therefore we dont need to arrive early!