Day 7 - January 11

Donna Claire is 70 years old and lost her husband to a heart attack one year ago. She has been operating the posada for 15 years and in the beginning her husband was dead set against it. But over time he began to appreciate the pilgrims that they met and the lifestyle. They were farmers their entire lives - even now with a posada and a restaurant as evidenced by all the land around them that is farmed and supporting livestock. Most of the food she served was from her farm and it was delicious.

I’m not sure Donna Claire sleeps much because after we went to bed at 11:30 she did all of the laundry and had to hang it to dry. In the morning she served us coffee with fresh cows milk, fresh bread a cheese that she made herself with the cows milk, and an assortment of cakes and pastries that she had baked. 

She was always smiling as she made her company comfortable and cared for.

Today is the last day of Phase 1 of our trip - we had short day and then picked up where the BR135 will pass so we don’t run it twice. We met Lieutenant Commander Mario in the town of Aguas da Prata and enjoyed fresh coconut water and pastels after our meeting.

John Mathis is coming in from São Paulo Airport some time this afternoon and after getting some work done, we will all head out to the same pre-race restaurant we have gone for the last 7 years of doing the race. Looking forward to seeing familiar faces and catching up with them.

We just finished dinner and team is excited about what’s to come. A day of planning ahead, a little rest then we go to battle.

tha k you for your support.

cheers,

David

Saying goodbye to Donna Claire, she was a super super host

Donna Claire’s freshly made cow milk cheese and fresh bread for breakfast

Strawberries from her garden, biggest I’ve seen

Alan providing post breakfast entertainment that Donna Cloud loved so much she taped all of it

She was kind enough to do our laundry after we went to sleep at 11 and then hang dry

Donna Claire’s cats

Refueling on a mountain top

Day is done as we had to Aguas da Prata to meet Mario

John arrives bearing gifts for the baby Amy to come.