Brazil

Looking for a break after three weeks at sea, we opted to stop in the port of Natal, Brazil. Laying a-hull till sunrise, we slowly motored up Rio Potengi to the Yacht Club. An impressive (for Brazil) modern suspension bridge towers above the river as small row boats net the murky waters below for fish. Dolphin follow us up the river and Makai is equally excited about them as the prospect of land. The anticipation of new food, language, culture and experiences set in once again.

We quickly anchor and hit our first challenge: getting to shore. During our Atlantic crossing choppy seas persuaded our dinghy into an unscheduled man-over-board drill. Being a moonless night, we failed to notice till the morning with the tell tale sign of a broken lifeline. A kayak and surf boards were the only water transport to survive the crossing. In an Olympic feat, we turned the one man kayak into two, negotiating the river to the dock with precious paperwork and computers aboard. Next challenge: checking in formalities. We took a taxi to immigration to find they were not as excited as we to be in Brazil. Lacking an entry visa, they had no idea what to do with us. We stocked up on food and water on the way back expecting deportation. Instead, they quarantined us to the yacht club. Free internet, live music, restaurant, swimming pool, tennis courts didn't seem like that much of a punishment.  The confinement was reminiscent of childhood summers at the Lancaster Country Club.

After a few days hanging out ignoring idle threats from the Policia Federal, we are heading off tomorrow morning to Trinidad and Tobago. Wish us luck on the tipsy kayak back to the Broken Compass and wind for the voyage up to the Caribbean.