Travel Journal

Live the adventures of Dan Walker's travels through reading his travel journal. The travel journals are listed below in descending order of date. To search the travel journals, use the keyword search at the bottom of the page.

Journal Entry:

Trips | Rolls Alaska To Argentina & Back 2011

Friday, April 15, 2011 09:30:06
Rolls Alaska to Argentina & back: 22 Pirapora to Ilha de Itaparica, Brazil Monday, April 11, 2011 Miles for the day: 381 (613 km) Miles to date: 13,530 (21,774 km) We were pleasantly surprised to have fairly good road for the most part of the day, but the heavy truck traffic continued. We spent a couple of hours winding over a low range of mountains where passing became very difficult on the two lane road, so progress was slow. We have seen very few traffic police in Brazil, although we pass a couple of areas each day where it is necessary to slowly drive around obstacles in case the police want to stop vehicles. We made it to the City of Vitoria de Conquista, a dirty dumpy city with few options for accommodation either side of it. We pulled into a shopping centre where we received directions to Livramento Palace Hotel a couple of blocks away. It was even more expensive. It goes down as the worst value of the trip - bare dormitory looking rooms, not great beds and the promised wifi didn't work. The one redeeming feature was an excellent restaurant attached to the hotel where we had a good meal; however neither of us got much sleep. Tuesday, April 12, 2011 Miles for the day: 282 (454 km) Miles to date: 13,812 (22,228 km) I felt horrible this morning - dead tired and dreading getting out to do battle with truck traffic again. The road was in good condition, but I drove more slowly and passed less frequently. To make matters worse it poured rain, which upon hitting the hot pavement turned into dense mist. The countryside was mostly scrub brush, not a lot of farms but some cattle. When we arrived at the turnoff from highway 116 to cut across country on back roads to coastal highway 101 it was an enormous relief. The sun came out and there was little traffic on the good paved road. The scenery was beautiful as we wound through green hills. There were a number of towns and villages along the way, each tidy and clean. The traditionally tiled roof houses were well cared for. In each village we were cheered on our way by the local people, who shout out in unison and waved. A very friendly area! Before we turned off the main highway a white pickup truck followed close behind for miles. When we turned onto the secondary road he passed, tooting his horn and stopping in front of us. We were pretty curious as to what his intentions were, but he only wanted to see the car, ask questions and to give us the name of his friend in Salvador who also has an old Rolls Royce. The road from Hwy 101 to Ilha de Itaparica varied from good to bad - it is about a 90 km (56mi) drive. The island is bigger than I thought, but relatively undeveloped for tourism with the exception of a Club Med. We were looking for Pousada Tropicalia, and on our left spotted Pousada Tropica, a horrible looking place right on the highway and nowhere near the sea. We discussed pulling in and asking, but decided that if it was indeed the place I had been in touch with we weren't staying there anyhow, so pressed on. After asking directions a couple of times we discovered they are two separate operations. When we located Pousada Tropicalia we were delighted and relieved to find it was across the street from a beautiful sand beach, clean, had a nice bar & restaurant, gated parking and well appointed rooms. It was paradise found, and at $75 per night we considered it a bargain. Once settled in we drove down the road a short way to have an early dinner (about 4 PM) at one of the tiny seaside restaurants, as once again we had not stopped to eat since breakfast. It was a great spot. Here the ocean is very calm, as it is protected by the huge bay between the island and the City of Salvador, which can be seen across the water. This is the bay that gives the State of Bahia its name. The water temperature could not be more perfect if you had a thermostat to adjust it! After a swim we spent the evening in the bar with owner Frederico and his Austrian friend Johan. They were good company - a fun evening. We decided to extend our stay here to four nights. It is the perfect place to regroup, relax, get caught up on writing, detailing the car and other things we have put off doing.

Friday, April 15, 2011 09:30:06

Rolls Alaska to Argentina & back: 22 Pirapora to Ilha de Itaparica, Brazil

Monday, April 11, 2011

*Miles for the day: 381 (613 km) Miles to date: 13,530 (21,774 km)*

We were pleasantly surprised to have fairly good road for the most part of the day, but the heavy truck traffic continued. We spent a couple of hours winding over a low range of mountains where passing became very difficult on the two lane road, so progress was slow. We have seen very few traffic police in Brazil, although we pass a couple of areas each day where it is necessary to slowly drive around obstacles in case the police want to stop vehicles.

We made it to the City of Vitoria de Conquista, a dirty dumpy city with few options for accommodation either side of it. We pulled into a shopping centre where we received directions to Livramento Palace Hotel a couple of blocks away. It was even more expensive. It goes down as the worst value of the trip - bare dormitory looking rooms, not great beds and the promised wifi didn't work. The one redeeming feature was an excellent restaurant attached to the hotel where we had a good meal; however neither of us got much sleep.

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

*Miles for the day: 282 (454 km) Miles to date: 13,812 (22,228 km)*

I felt horrible this morning - dead tired and dreading getting out to do battle with truck traffic again. The road was in good condition, but I drove more slowly and passed less frequently. To make matters worse it poured rain, which upon hitting the hot pavement turned into dense mist. The countryside was mostly scrub brush, not a lot of farms but some cattle.

When we arrived at the turnoff from highway 116 to cut across country on back roads to coastal highway 101 it was an enormous relief. The sun came out and there was little traffic on the good paved road. The scenery was beautiful as we wound through green hills. There were a number of towns and villages along the way, each tidy and clean. The traditionally tiled roof houses were well cared for. In each village we were cheered on our way by the local people, who shout out in unison and waved. A very friendly area!

Before we turned off the main highway a white pickup truck followed close behind for miles. When we turned onto the secondary road he passed, tooting his horn and stopping in front of us. We were pretty curious as to what his intentions were, but he only wanted to see the car, ask questions and to give us the name of his friend in Salvador who also has an old Rolls Royce.

The road from Hwy 101 to Ilha de Itaparica varied from good to bad - it is about a 90 km (56mi) drive. The island is bigger than I thought, but relatively undeveloped for tourism with the exception of a Club Med. We were looking for Pousada Tropicalia, and on our left spotted Pousada Tropica, a horrible looking place right on the highway and nowhere near the sea. We discussed pulling in and asking, but decided that if it was indeed the place I had been in touch with we weren't staying there anyhow, so pressed on. After asking directions a couple of times we discovered they are two separate operations. When we located Pousada Tropicalia we were delighted and relieved to find it was across the street from a beautiful sand beach, clean, had a nice bar & restaurant, gated parking and well appointed rooms. It was paradise found, and at $75 per night we considered it a bargain.

Once settled in we drove down the road a short way to have an early dinner (about 4 PM) at one of the tiny seaside restaurants, as once again we had not stopped to eat since breakfast. It was a great spot.

Here the ocean is very calm, as it is protected by the huge bay between the island and the City of Salvador, which can be seen across the water. This is the bay that gives the State of Bahia its name. The water temperature could not be more perfect if you had a thermostat to adjust it! After a swim we spent the evening in the bar with owner Frederico and his Austrian friend Johan. They were good company - a fun evening.

We decided to extend our stay here to four nights. It is the perfect place to regroup, relax, get caught up on writing, detailing the car and other things we have put off doing.