#stealthcamp

What we, the Rad Riders, do, is unfathomable to some. To others it simply has to be done. It can no longer go undone.

What is unfathomable to me is as follows: Every Brasileiro thus far has been welcoming and warm. Literally bending over forwards to offer us sugar with a splash of coffee in it and figuratively jumping through hoops to provide us with beans, rice and meat topped off with a slumload of Brazilian Sand: feijão, arroz e carne, com farofa (staple diet thereof). But also worryingly full of warning. A warning of what lies ahead. Danger we´ve come to realise is perigo, or as Wilkie likes to query “Banditos?” - to which no-one gets… Be it the next city or state up the road - mark their words, it is perilous. Of course where they live is less-so dangerous and we’re urged to stay longer. This could be the reason why few Brazilians move from their birthplace, preferring rather to stay at home; when the time comes to marry, simply move in next door! Brings back memories of Diego in Manaus, watching Brazil´s opening game against Croatia on his family´s street. Four families, 90-odd people. (Less than two months ago - it feels like two years.)

We’ve heard many a fable, but fortunately have yet to experience anything untoward. Touch wood. (another thing our Philipe likes to explain to puzzled locals) So when we arrived at a campsite in Maceió, we decided not to waggle our goolies in fate's face - the latest warner-brother had been mugged that very same day - on the same beach we were due to scope out for a cheeky nightcap. The camp-young man had his money taken along with the shirt off his back. It may have been an ulterior motive to put the proverbial willies up us, but we were certainly happy to pay R$15 (<£4) each for the security and facilities; access to an oven, steckdose, wifi, chess set and conventional bathroom (not the South Atlantic Ocean for once!) I might add, the only reason we’d headed to the aforementioned site of camp was because a chum of a chum, dear Livia in Recife, had said we might be able to stay for free being #adventurecyclists. As is the case in Salvador, our next destination, El Misti Hostel, who usually offer three nights on the house for cycle-travellers, have decided we are worthy of five after looking at our blogs and photies!

The following links are for my recent walk/climb and wild camp on the Peak Districts highest mountain.

Part 1: http://youtu.be/UgXiKrKxZas

Part 2: http://youtu.be/Eskmu10PgOM