A Gallery of images from our run from Porto Velho to Manaus, Amazona. This unique expedition leg is better captured in images than words .. .. .. Click to view larger images.
over a 150kg of supplies, no hi-tech foods in Humaita!
A tale of two trailers . . .
The controversial plan to renovate the 319 threatens the amazon rainforest
A rare savanna, before we plunge into the jungle
After only 1 mile the trailer collapses under its load. The Army step in.
They really wanted to weld today! they couldn´t be talked out of it!
Repaving the BR230. A mixed blessing, road projects are often corrupt and are the deth knell of rainforest here.
Slash-and-Burn agriculture
Dave wringing sweat out of his running top, a 3x daily task in extreme running conditions
1-0 to the Amazon
We witnessed much deforestation in the first 200km, guess whose to blame?!
Running 20 miles/day on rutted roads meant running through the day at times
Realidade- a town of squatters mostly, but a chance to buy last supplies before 450km of forest
Job going for a shipwright?
DLs 35th Birthday, couldn´t be happier!
One of 260 bridges in better or worse state along this stretch
Beautiful butterlfy species mesmerized us daily whether running or resting
Sometimes only a straw hat will do
A Corsa passing gave us confidence the route would be passable. Ballsy!
Typical earth section. Little sun protection offered from the verges after 0730
Everybody said we were crazy to camp in jaguar territory. Our custom tent gives full visibility!
Morning Survey for birds, never a chore
One of the many illegal clearings. Palms are kept for their fruits
A rare luxury in the middle of nowhere – icy cool water melon! thankyou!
Charging the GPS watch once every two days using SolarMonkey Adventurer gear
One day off in 22 days, time to cool down!
Palm Leaves in the late sun
Filtering 20L of water a day . . .
Unusual clothes line, hidden from any passers-by
sweat supping bees were a mild nuisance during the day when we stopped
Humidity peaks at 0900 – we are drenched
KLs growing some thigh muscles!
A jewel, exotic butterflies alight whenever we stop running!
They took 2 days. We took 22. we didnt use much petrol though
A misplaced camp and leafcutter ants destroy my shorts
… and kaths shoes. Each one has its jaws tightly engaged clipping out sections
The road provides access for everyone, including illegal hunters
Beguiling damselflies resting aside the silt-laden waters
Negotiating a few muddy sections on the hoof
Passion fruit flowers offer a contrast to the greens
Eventually, some 400km in, the forest closes in – we flew this day!
Delicious shade on our 5000 mile day
Pumping water again, prolonging the running stints
A reminder to tread carefully on the rickety bridges
Kath picks a route through the wallow
Obligatory washing – like heaven
We wash tops and ourselves wherever possible
Sweat attracts all sorts
Thousands of tongues are unrolled to sup minerals from our INOV8 wrags
Yellow rat snake (Spilotes pullatus) caught a mouse then got a bit aggresive with us before fleeing at pace.
We were halted by a little Agouti, sniffing about
The road is cracking up, but much better than feared
Another delicious breakfast of dry crackers…
Fellow adventurers interviewing Katharine
David still running, despite adding a few kilos . . .
Petrol stove died after 5 days. We had to make fire every day thereafter to cook beans for 3 hours.
Drying clothes in the rainforest. Termite magnets
One pack of salt beef saved as a treat for our 5000mile day!
A million leaves vying for the sun
Selective felling encountered. Now its a race for the sky for the survivors!
Head over Heels as we run our 5000th mile!
a rather phallic flower ..
Civilisation reached at Igapo Açu. A barge serves as the bridge
A young villager honing his skills
Tranquilo…
Where there is smoke there is fire
A common sight, hunters on the road, a huge proliferation of guns in Amazona
We check eachother a lot, not having a mirror. Like monkeys I suppose
Road Workers on the southern section arrive. Whilst we dont agree with their project, we do thank them for the lunch packages they dropped off!
Mud litterally grinds us to a halt. Three hours after the rain the road dried and was passable
Wheel freed up from the vice-like grip of thick clay
Home sweet home
More guns. We were not used to seing so many before this expedition
Even the church is at it, clearing away the forest behind.
KL, entering daily wildlife records
This stream is tanin-stained but low in silt. perfect for washing.
Manioc/Yuca being planted by the road, 150km from Manaus, a pattern that continued all the way
VW have licensed an Amazon edition Combi-van to built here!
Modern woes. A charming, but drunk, indian relocated from Para, a neighbouring state.
The final resting place of Trailer #2. What will his new life hold?!
High humidity at 0930. Running temperatures normally 27-35C.
Decomposition is super rapid here!
Another ,misty morning. Perfect running conditions until the sun arrives
A hut we made home for the night. Plagued by mosquitos!
Multipurpose: the bath, and where the fish are cultivated
Typical settlers home. Many are new migrants illegally claiming former forest.
On the southern end of the route, locals stock micro fishfarms in every ditch
Prickly heat, constant and painful problem running with the humidity and heat
Invited to stay in a real home (cabin), a rare treat but filled with mozzies!
An interview with Pedro Garcia, a rare castellano/english speaker in Careiro de Castanho
Daily alarms rings at 05:10, we are packed just after sunrise.
Meeting all sorts of civilisation in the last miles of this stage. Praying Mantis sp.
Pigs (or ¨porcos¨locally) in floating pens
…must remember to pack those worming tablets next time
Human use of the rivers. Important for us to have a filter here
Checking running split times on the GPS watch
An emergent tree breaks out from the canopy
The curious cashew nut, native to Brazil
Clean air guaranteed for this leg
Flooded Forest
Stilts, one way of managing the seasonal floods
Old boats turned into planters, genius!
Floating houses are common along the final 100km of the BR-319
One of many peaceful and purely enchanting rivers
This incredible (and lucky!) Greater Ani being taken to safety after a knock from a car
Tropical plant ecology is all about defence. A jack fruit skin, non-native to the amazon
Am I that heavy?! too many brazil nuts!
A flooded forest, ¨varzea¨. Levels vary by 10-15m in the wet season.
Megatransect wildlife survey homework is a daily task
Final strides as we run to the waters edge
Missing running in the forest already?
Amazon River, a major port and end of this leg!
Cut open the organic, recyclable packaging …
drink it! …
them feast on the pulp, the best bit!
Was that a left or right up ahead?
Manaus – more people in a minute than we´ve seen in a month!
A rare slice of antiquity in a modern sprawling city
