10th day: Encruzilhada do Sul - Santana da Boa Vista (Dec 27, 2006)

Leaving Encruzilhada in the early morning, having a cup of coffee and a delicious cake in a small cafe, I drive to the next tiny village (Pinheiro) . In a bar, a local explains me the way to Santana. There is virtually nothing in between Pinheiro and Santana but a wide highland with meadows. After a big pinus plantation I take a bathe in a river. Then the road becomes worse. Finally I see the houses of Santana on the horizon. Unfortunately this is already the unexpected end of the first stage of my trip. On a descent I unfortunately turned a somersault after a falling object suddenly blocked my front wheel. The result was a fracture of the right clavicle. A car driver picked me up and took me to the hospital. The following day an ambulance brought me and my bicycle to the next bigger city, Pelotas, where I got a figure-of-eight dressing that took restored the stability of my shoulder and took away my pain. This way I was able to take the bus back to Curitiba. So I had to interrupt the trip, but I want to continue it at the next opportunity.