Here we are at our last cycling day. How did that come around so quickly?

The wet towels and swimming costumes we’d hung on the covered line were wetter this morning than they were last night, and everything in the room felt damp.  It is kind of ironic that the day we have an hour extra in bed is the day we are all wide awake early and being in bed in a damp dorm is not exactly pleasant. The time to pack and ‘vamoose’ couldn’t come soon enough.

In very much a ‘what goes up must come down’ kind of way, of course we got to cycle that wonderful deserted beach again as we headed back to the main road.  This might be the last time I ever cycle on a beach – certainly a beach in Brazil anyway, and it’s probably one of the highlights for me – it’s just a shame I caught absolutely none of it on the go-pro.  I clearly need more practice.

Chris has become slightly obsessed with making sure we understand the hill profiles of the days’ cycle. This is a double edged sword – on the one hand it’s good to know what’s coming so you can be mentally prepared and on the other hand when more hills appear than planned we all get a little tetchy. I can’t quite believe just how much time I’ve spent cycling in 1-1 for a moderately graded cycle.

Today’s cycle was one of the best – in fact the last two days have been brilliant.  Instead of hilly main roads, this time the same road was winding through civilisation and there were groups of people all along the road ready with a wave or an ‘hola’ to wish us well on our way.

All too soon we reached the outskirts of Paraty, and as we arrived at the Church in the centre of the historic old town, Chris and Morilho were waiting for us with a bike held aloft for us to cycle under to finish. Not quite the balloon arch we had been hoping for, but a really great effort (and 1000% better than just stopping in the middle of a field like we did for Rajasthan).

But wait! We are still 160km from Rio this can’t really be the end?!  Someone at DA needs to go back to map reading school!  The Cycle the Coast to Rio title is a little economical with the truth which should actually be Cycle the Coast to Paraty.  I suppose that doesn’t have quite the same ring to it though, and besides, after Paraty the road becomes a bit less minor and a bit more motorway.
I can’t quite believe it’s all over.  Where has the time gone this last week?  Even with Bastard Grade hills, being ill and Tenko style camping, I’d still turn around and do it all again. Well, maybe not right now, but soon. Ish. OK maybe never with the cycling, but coming back to Brazil for sure.

Highlights: The return cycle along the beach, crossing the São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro district borders, being told that we crossed the Tropic of Capricorn yesterday but there was no sign and we didn’t know, the lovely town of Paraty.

Lowlights: it’s the end of the cycle.