Central Brazil

Our truck stop hotel in the north end of Tocantin State did the job and we got a good night’s sleep.

But I’ll tell you it was an odd place. The fuel pumps were in front and it was alongside the trucking company maintenance shops. 

They had a few inside spots with a high roof which would have been good for us but they had low roof cars parking in them so we had to park outside where our van was perfectly safe for the night outside. 

We have found in these little visited areas of Brazil that locals are mostly rather intimidated by us which has been odd as traveling Brazilians are incredibly friendly. At breakfast we did get waylaid by some curious guests who wanted a picture as we communicated as best we could. 

Rooms on the right with pet friendly rooms at the far end. Truck repair on the left. 

It was eccentric but it worked. We got on the road with a full tank and a plan to make the ride better fit Rusty.

Regular gas hovers around $4 a gallon and diesel is close. 

We passed through a couple of federal police checkpoints where everyone dutifully slows down but we saw no cops out in the street pulling people over. 

Most of the federal highway south was smooth pavement with no patches and not many potholes so we made good time.

It’s a commercial route with a lot of truck traffic and we saw some hairy passing techniques and no wrecked even though a few oncoming cars had to get on the shoulder from time to time. 

No one uses brakes even if a head on collision looks possible. No one except the gringo in the gold van. I passed too but I stuck safe areas with long sight lines and clear lanes ahead. I also let a lot of impatient traffic pass by tapping my brakes when the road opened up.  

As you can see from the photos it was an overcast day with gray light leaching the color from the countryside. A city limits sign for Campo Alegre (Happy Field): 

We have left behind the tropical foliage of the Amazon and temperatures have dropped to acceptable levels. It’s like a pleasant day in the Keys but not with sweat inducing humidity. 

It is rather monotonous but as long as the road is smooth and easy to drive I’m happy. 

Brazilian truck stop, showers, food, the usual facilities in one place. We often spend our nights on the road here when we have power for our camper. Free and safe. 

They don’t even have bus shelters here.  We’ve been waved down more than once by people thinking we’re a bus because they use Fiat Ducatos here as buses which have the same body as our Promaster. 

I saw a big shade tree and pulled over. Rusty wandered around then sat and watched the world. 

I walked around and took a few pictures. 

Tocantin State in all its glory. 

GANNET2 rolling along. 

Hills of the Tocantins. Not that high, around a thousand feet. It’s a bit like Texas Hill country that people make such a fuss about. 

Can you imagine living in a town called President Kennedy? 

We stopped for lunch but first Rusty got a walk and some time to sit and watch.

Lunch was a buffet and it was cool enough we could take outside eating with Rusty. 

You go in, pick up a plate and help yourself. Then you go to the cashier and they weigh the plate of food (subtracting the weight of the plate which is shown on the wall) and they give you a card with a number. That’s your account or tab. A server will come to take drinks orders and every time you go back you repeat the process and finally your wife pays your tab. 

Like everything here once you know you know and it’s simple. You don’t even need any Portuguese but the cashier here spoke English, we suspect he was the owner’s son. Rusty enjoying not being left in the van.  We’ve learned our lesson. 

We stopped for gas and as usual caused a small sensation asking for gas for an obviously diesel powered van. The discussion up front was powered by a classic Brazilian burrito. It’s actually a tortilla made of tapioca which has a flavorless rubbery consistency and is gross. But it’s a staple at breakfast buffets in Brazil and they put eggs or ham slices or cheese in it which doesn’t help make it appetizing to non Brazilians. Trust me. 

We also stopped so Layne could buy a couple of ears of roast corn for dinner.  

The honey capital of Brazil. Now you know. 

Our destination was a hotel  in Paradise of the Tocantins. 

The last stretch of highway was crap. 

I bit my tongue to avoid grumbling but it was a pain. 

We got to the hotel around 4:15 and Rusty licked my face to pieces when he saw we were done for the day. 

We’ve been lucky with the high garage parking at the hotels, tall enough to get GANNET2 safely off the street. 

The pool is out of order but the room is comfortable, Rusty had a big dinner and is snoring happily.