2nd day Anitápolis - Serra do Corvo Branco (Dec 17, 2006)

From Anitápolis very pictoresque gravel road with tight vegetation, no traffic to Santa Rosa de Lima. From there difficult but scenic drive with involuntary detours (missing signs, no people to ask) via Rio dos Bugres to Aiurê. Frequent baths in small creeks. Extremely hot. Steep descent to Braço do Norte River, very scenic with a steep descent. Panorama of the impressive Wall of the Santa Catarina Mountain Range in the West. Quite exhausted in Aiurê, having a coke in a little bar. People complain about extreme heat (38°C). Afterwards climbing up the Serra do Corvo, pushing the bicycle, quite worn out. The final, extremely steep and narrow curves before the climax of the Serra spectacular, one of the most carzy roads in Southern Brazil. Road with bad asphalt, extrmely steep, requiring highest concentration for truck drivers. Lookout point with the message "Let peace be on Earth" in four languages. Before sunset I meet a couple of cyclists heading downhill in the opposite direction. Finally I camp near the highest point of the road, approx. 1300m altitude.