September 2010
URUGUAY- Fray Bentos
Wednesday
1st as we have plenty of time
we decided on a rest day, although it was dull and wet. The rain
stopped after lunch and we visited an internet café. Thursday on a day of heavy
rain, we set out for the Argentinean Border, and arrived there by
0800. Both sets of officials were in the same building and they
passed us through in forty minutes, the best yet. We drove the
thirty km to Gualeguaychu and spent until 1200 looking, unsuccessfully
for a camp. We left Gualeguaychu for Gualeguay but there was no
camp there either, we carried on to Victoria where we eventually found
a camp on a riverside site. Friday we decided on
another rest day it rained in the morning but stopped before lunch.
Saturday 4th we left camp to cross The River Parana from Victoria to Rosario,
the road map read 58 km. We soon arrived
at the crossing which turned out to be 50 km, there were twelve high
but normal bridges and one suspension bridge, the road between the
bridges was on a causeway twenty five feet high over the low lying
islands. Alongside the causeway we saw very many Egrets, many
Caracara and a flock of Bright Green Parakeets, among the various other
birds. At Rosario we turned north to easily find The Municipal
Campsite in Granadero Baigorria by tea break. We took a taxi to
the ATM where there was a long queue. We tried but could not buy
a battery charger, the caravan charger had stopped working. There
was no rain and the sun came out before lunch. Sunday with plenty of
time to spare we took another rest day. Monday we drove the
camper round the bypass to Rosario to enter the city from the
south. We were stopped by a police check and Howard asked the way
to Iveco. With the directions we soon found Iveco and we were
directed to Rosario Suspensión, the local suspension
specialists. They checked both axels and found a lot of loose
nuts, it took an hour to tighten them, no charge. One of the top
management led us in his car to the local electronics specialist,
Pierandrei Motors, where we bought a new Enertik battery charger.
By this time it was mid afternoon and we drove south on Ruta 21 to a
recommended camp on the River Parana bank. The electric was not
working, so Mervyn cooked using the generator to power the cooker, we
were still out of gas. Tuesday
we returned to Pierandrei Motors to return a cable they had given us
that we did not need, before we got there we stopped to shop. The
weather had now turned hot after seven days of very cold weather.
We found a camp at General Logos and booked in. The camp
electricity was not working and it took them ninety minutes to solve
the problem. Howard fitted the new charger after lunch and then
we relaxed. Wednesday
we left General Logos campsite and drove along Ruta 21 to San Nicolas
de los Arroyos where we joined Ruta 9 and continued southwards to
Buenos Aires to the suburb Tigre where there were many campsites.
We asked in the Tourist Office only to find that all the camps were on
an island only accessible by boat. One of the two ladies, both of
whom spoke English, directed us to a simple site on the bank of The Rio
Luján, Camping L‘Hirondelle. We booked in thankfully. Thursday we took a taxi
into Tigre with our laundry, we also went to a supermarket, an ATM, an
internet café and another café for hot chocolate and
cake. We returned for lunch and worked on Mervyn’s videos and
Howard’s jigsaw. Friday
we took a water bus from the camp into Buenos Aires where we met the
Germans, Dirk & Andrea, our next stop was at the Grimaldi Office to
find out the Grande Buenos Aires was due to dock Tuesday night/
Wednesday morning. As Mervyn’s Scart plug was not working we
searched the Electric Mall without success. We took the train
back to Tigre to collect our washing, it was not ready, Howard waited
while Mervyn went for a walk on which he found a shop selling old Tvs
and a Scart plug. The remainder of the journey was by taxi back
to the camp. A Frenchman Yann Le Bris had just arrived.
Saturday 4th we left camp to cross The River Parana from Victoria to Rosario,
the road map read 58 km. We soon arrived
at the crossing which turned out to be 50 km, there were twelve high
but normal bridges and one suspension bridge, the road between the
bridges was on a causeway twenty five feet high over the low lying
islands. Alongside the causeway we saw very many Egrets, many
Caracara and a flock of Bright Green Parakeets, among the various other
birds. At Rosario we turned north to easily find The Municipal
Campsite in Granadero Baigorria by tea break. We took a taxi to
the ATM where there was a long queue. We tried but could not buy
a battery charger, the caravan charger had stopped working. There
was no rain and the sun came out before lunch. Sunday with plenty of
time to spare we took another rest day. Monday we drove the
camper round the bypass to Rosario to enter the city from the
south. We were stopped by a police check and Howard asked the way
to Iveco. With the directions we soon found Iveco and we were
directed to Rosario Suspensión, the local suspension
specialists. They checked both axels and found a lot of loose
nuts, it took an hour to tighten them, no charge. One of the top
management led us in his car to the local electronics specialist,
Pierandrei Motors, where we bought a new Enertik battery charger.
By this time it was mid afternoon and we drove south on Ruta 21 to a
recommended camp on the River Parana bank. The electric was not
working, so Mervyn cooked using the generator to power the cooker, we
were still out of gas. Tuesday
we returned to Pierandrei Motors to return a cable they had given us
that we did not need, before we got there we stopped to shop. The
weather had now turned hot after seven days of very cold weather.
We found a camp at General Logos and booked in. The camp
electricity was not working and it took them ninety minutes to solve
the problem. Howard fitted the new charger after lunch and then
we relaxed. Wednesday
we left General Logos campsite and drove along Ruta 21 to San Nicolas
de los Arroyos where we joined Ruta 9 and continued southwards to
Buenos Aires to the suburb Tigre where there were many campsites.
We asked in the Tourist Office only to find that all the camps were on
an island only accessible by boat. One of the two ladies, both of
whom spoke English, directed us to a simple site on the bank of The Rio
Luján, Camping L‘Hirondelle. We booked in thankfully. Thursday we took a taxi
into Tigre with our laundry, we also went to a supermarket, an ATM, an
internet café and another café for hot chocolate and
cake. We returned for lunch and worked on Mervyn’s videos and
Howard’s jigsaw. Friday
we took a water bus from the camp into Buenos Aires where we met the
Germans, Dirk & Andrea, our next stop was at the Grimaldi Office to
find out the Grande Buenos Aires was due to dock Tuesday night/
Wednesday morning. As Mervyn’s Scart plug was not working we
searched the Electric Mall without success. We took the train
back to Tigre to collect our washing, it was not ready, Howard waited
while Mervyn went for a walk on which he found a shop selling old Tvs
and a Scart plug. The remainder of the journey was by taxi back
to the camp. A Frenchman Yann Le Bris had just arrived.
Saturday 11th we decided to take a water bus into Tigre
to access the net at
a café. We started on the
net easily but after fifteen minutes the connection failed.
Having finished our drinks and cakes we went to a purely internet
café. As we did not have a mains connector the computer’s
batteries soon ran out. We returned to the camp by taxi. In
the afternoon Mervyn worked at his videos and Howard finished off his
current jigsaw. Sunday
started with a sunny but cold morning. We had decided on a rest
day, apart from filling the water tank. Monday we had to visit the
Grimaldi office to finalise arrangements. The water bus could
otaxis declined. The water bus left in an hour, we spent most of
that
in a café, as it was still raining. We finally arrived
back to the
camp at 1900 and climbed thankfully into the caravan. Tuesday we left
the camp at 0900 and drove into Buenos Aires along the Autopista.
the
travel was slow due to the heavy traffic and we did not arrive at our
chosen site until 1100. In the middle of the afternoon Dirk &
Andrea were walking down the path and they came in for a chat.
Wednesday we were
asked to move our parking space as we would not take
up so much room alongside the kerb, we were parked at right angles to
the kerb. The Frenchman, Jan arrived in the parking area soon
after
0800 and we had a short chat before he went into town. Howard
phoned
the Grimaldi Office and was told to be at the docks by1200.
Mervyn
went into town about 0900 to collect his e-mails. At 1100 we left
for
the docks and arrived there at 1130. By 1400 no one had been to see us,
Howard phoned the Grimaldi Office again and was told to be there at
1400. An agent soon arrived and we started the documentation,
this was
finished at 1430 by the agent saying he was going to the customs; we
did not see him again!! At 1530, when we had been told we would
load,
we saw the Grande Buenos Aires arriving!! By 1900 we were feeling
hungry, we had eaten all our food. Mervyn spoke to an official on
the
boat and was told we could bring our luggage aboard. We completed
the
initial entry documentation and went in search of food, we found some
edibles in the dining room and returned to the caravan for the
night.
Early Thursday
morning Howard took a trip aboard with some luggage
which he unpacked in the cabin. He returned to the van for a
second
load. After the second npacking he went to the dining room and
had a
short chat with Yann. On his way back to
the van he found an Officer
who said we could load now, we did. Howard screwed down his bed
and
disconnected all the batteries, with Mervyn’s help. By now we had
settled into the accommodation. The day passed slowly and we
sailed at
2100. Friday on
a fine sunny morning we sailed east along the
Uruguayan coast.
Saturday 18th we awoke to a fine morning with the sun just rising. The course is now north east along the coast which is out of sight. We had a safety meeting with one of the second officers mid afternoon. The ship anchored in the river near Paranagua before midnight. Sunday we spent a quiet morning, after lunch we went ashore with Yann. We wandered around the port until a Security Officer showed us where to wait for the bus to the exit. From there we took a taxi into town, it was very quiet and all the shops were shut, we returned in good time for dinner. Monday it was raining when we got up so we spent the day on board ship. The ship sailed at 2200. Tuesday the daybreak was dry and we stopped, anchored out of
sight of land, during breakfast. The sun
soon broke through the clouds. The ship moved into the docks at
Santos, at 1500 to tie up, the unloading did not start until 1900 and
went on into the night. Wednesday
the ship left the dock at 0630 and was out of the river by 0800.
The morning was cloudy and misty. As we sailed along the
Brazilian coast the sun broke through and it turned into a fine
day. We moored alongside in Rio de Janeiro by 2100. Thursday we awoke to a fine
sunny morning, there were many Frigate Birds flying round the harbour,
the ship left the dockside at 0821 and we were able to see and
photograph Sugarloaf and Cristo Redentor on the way out. We
sailed north east all day. The clocks were moved forward one hour
during the night. Friday
before breakfast we saw a school of Whales through our cabin porthole,
swimming north east alongside the ship. There were also a group
of White Birds with the outer half of their thin wings a dark brown
colour.
Saturday 25 th the voyage north east continued. Sunday the clocks were moved forward again last night, was a windy day, with the ship sailing on towards Dakar. Monday the voyage continued, the day was not so windy. We crossed the Equator just before dinner. Tuesday the clocks were put forward another hour last night. Wednesday the Chief Officer escorted us down to the caravan mid morning where we collected a few things. Thursday the ship anchored off Dakar before day break. We moved into the harbour during dinner and were fast alongside by 1930,
SENEGAL-Dakar
a café. We started on the
net easily but after fifteen minutes the connection failed.
Having finished our drinks and cakes we went to a purely internet
café. As we did not have a mains connector the computer’s
batteries soon ran out. We returned to the camp by taxi. In
the afternoon Mervyn worked at his videos and Howard finished off his
current jigsaw. Sunday
started with a sunny but cold morning. We had decided on a rest
day, apart from filling the water tank. Monday we had to visit the
Grimaldi office to finalise arrangements. The water bus could
otaxis declined. The water bus left in an hour, we spent most of
that
in a café, as it was still raining. We finally arrived
back to the
camp at 1900 and climbed thankfully into the caravan. Tuesday we left
the camp at 0900 and drove into Buenos Aires along the Autopista.
the
travel was slow due to the heavy traffic and we did not arrive at our
chosen site until 1100. In the middle of the afternoon Dirk &
Andrea were walking down the path and they came in for a chat.
Wednesday we were
asked to move our parking space as we would not take
up so much room alongside the kerb, we were parked at right angles to
the kerb. The Frenchman, Jan arrived in the parking area soon
after
0800 and we had a short chat before he went into town. Howard
phoned
the Grimaldi Office and was told to be at the docks by1200.
Mervyn
went into town about 0900 to collect his e-mails. At 1100 we left
for
the docks and arrived there at 1130. By 1400 no one had been to see us,
Howard phoned the Grimaldi Office again and was told to be there at
1400. An agent soon arrived and we started the documentation,
this was
finished at 1430 by the agent saying he was going to the customs; we
did not see him again!! At 1530, when we had been told we would
load,
we saw the Grande Buenos Aires arriving!! By 1900 we were feeling
hungry, we had eaten all our food. Mervyn spoke to an official on
the
boat and was told we could bring our luggage aboard. We completed
the
initial entry documentation and went in search of food, we found some
edibles in the dining room and returned to the caravan for the
night.
Early Thursday
morning Howard took a trip aboard with some luggage
which he unpacked in the cabin. He returned to the van for a
second
load. After the second npacking he went to the dining room and
had a
short chat with Yann. On his way back to
the van he found an Officer
who said we could load now, we did. Howard screwed down his bed
and
disconnected all the batteries, with Mervyn’s help. By now we had
settled into the accommodation. The day passed slowly and we
sailed at
2100. Friday on
a fine sunny morning we sailed east along the
Uruguayan coast.Saturday 18th we awoke to a fine morning with the sun just rising. The course is now north east along the coast which is out of sight. We had a safety meeting with one of the second officers mid afternoon. The ship anchored in the river near Paranagua before midnight. Sunday we spent a quiet morning, after lunch we went ashore with Yann. We wandered around the port until a Security Officer showed us where to wait for the bus to the exit. From there we took a taxi into town, it was very quiet and all the shops were shut, we returned in good time for dinner. Monday it was raining when we got up so we spent the day on board ship. The ship sailed at 2200. Tuesday the daybreak was dry and we stopped, anchored out of
sight of land, during breakfast. The sun
soon broke through the clouds. The ship moved into the docks at
Santos, at 1500 to tie up, the unloading did not start until 1900 and
went on into the night. Wednesday
the ship left the dock at 0630 and was out of the river by 0800.
The morning was cloudy and misty. As we sailed along the
Brazilian coast the sun broke through and it turned into a fine
day. We moored alongside in Rio de Janeiro by 2100. Thursday we awoke to a fine
sunny morning, there were many Frigate Birds flying round the harbour,
the ship left the dockside at 0821 and we were able to see and
photograph Sugarloaf and Cristo Redentor on the way out. We
sailed north east all day. The clocks were moved forward one hour
during the night. Friday
before breakfast we saw a school of Whales through our cabin porthole,
swimming north east alongside the ship. There were also a group
of White Birds with the outer half of their thin wings a dark brown
colour.Saturday 25 th the voyage north east continued. Sunday the clocks were moved forward again last night, was a windy day, with the ship sailing on towards Dakar. Monday the voyage continued, the day was not so windy. We crossed the Equator just before dinner. Tuesday the clocks were put forward another hour last night. Wednesday the Chief Officer escorted us down to the caravan mid morning where we collected a few things. Thursday the ship anchored off Dakar before day break. We moved into the harbour during dinner and were fast alongside by 1930,
SENEGAL-Dakar