Apr 25 - a day in Brazil

It was a bit of a comedy getting picked up at the airport in Sao Paolo.  Vinicius had arranged a driver for us and I was looking for him on the arrivals level, naturally, and there had been some talk of a card with my name.  Texting back and forth with V, we finally figured out that the driver was outside the Starbucks.  So ... where's that ?  Up one level, nope.  Up to the next level, found it.  V had said that the driver would be looking for someone with a bicycle, but of course my square box didn't really qualify for that !  Long story short, he did spot me; he is a taxi driver; we were on the road.  Of course a taxi couldn't do a prearranged pickup on the arrivals level jumping the queue of all the other cabs.

Arriving at Vinicius' apartment, Patricia helped me up with the bags.   V was at the Velodrome with Mark Thomas, his friend Caetano and others.  Patricia had just arrived home from work (it was close to 10 pm at that point).  We went out for dinner; bed around 11:30. 

I slept.  It was catch-up time.  I need to bank sleep, if that's possible.  Up at 8am or so, Patricia was about to head out to work. V boiled some eggs, yogurt, perfect.  Not being North America, eggs aren't refrigerated :).

I put my bike together.  Hamid arrived a couple of hours later; he put his together.  Mine takes about 2 hours; his takes 1/2 hour.  He doesn't have to take off fork, pedals, water bottle cages, lights, nothing. I need a re-do ! 

We walked; we took the subway; we walked; we met up with Mark, Caetano, Rodrigo (co-organizer with V) and another couple of fellows, had a wonderful Brazilian buffet lunch, made our way back to the apartment, Patricia came home, we went out for dinner, another 10+ pm evening. 

Today we head to Aparecida, where the ride starts.  We don't know at this point whether we'll be bringing all the luggage, coming back on Tuesday or Wednesday, going with the flow. 

We ride tomorrow ... hard to believe.  The first day is going to be a killer, make or break. 

The weather appears to be clearing, i.e. rain disappearing from the forecast.  It will be hot during the day and down to the low 60's / high 50's at night. 

SPOT is live.  Our group tracking has been setup on Spotwalla - https://www.spotwalla.com/locationViewer.php?id=531

Apparently there is also going to be group tracking for all riders; they've arranged spots for everyone, but I don't have that link yet.

Onward and upward !