Day 1 - Copacapana Fort, Rio de Janeiro - Ouro Preto

A very short night, about two and a quarter hours only because of the early start. Wendy slept badly.

We went up to the Fort to take our place in the official start. The classics went off first and then the 4x4's with us in position number 16. It was great fun as we left the Fort with TV cameras, John Brown waving his start flag and Nicky and Steve there to wave us off, but not the British Consul.

Being waved away.

 

John Brown taking photos of the starters.

 

The early starters leaving the Fort at the start of the Inca Trail.

 

This was our first attempt at using the Tulip Road Books and within a few miles, still in Rio, we went wrong! A mess-up on the navigation front and Spencer Flack and team, who were behind us, followed us into the back streets of Rio! We had to do a u-turn and return to the freeway taking us out of Rio.

 

A beautiful drive through lovely countryside - very lush, becoming much drier. Stopped in Uba where Control was. It was very hot and we didn't fancy lunch there and drove on. We later discovered that one of the film crew, Chris Denham, had all his clothes stolen from his car while he was at lunch!

On the way to Ouro Preto.

The first half of the drive was on good tarmac roads through small villages in the middle of nowhere with large lizards, deer, and assorted farm animals but then we turned off the main road and drove along a very, very dusty 4x4 route . Many of the cars overtook us throwing up dense clouds of dust and annoying the villagers as they drove through the small hamlets. We were the first 4x4 to arrive at Estalagem das Minas Gerais.

The arrival at Estalagem das Minas Gerais, Ouro Preto.

 

 Colin, Greg, Chris and a rear view of Tessa Bamford.

We were housed with Colin in a bungalow down an extremely steep hill. We had our first 'meeting' with Pauline Harris and her co-driver, Ann Locks, who was doing repairs and servicing on their Porsche.

When we walked to have our evening meal, we went past many of the classic cars being worked on after the hard drive from Rio. Brake drums, suspension and engine repairs were all taking place! What a start to the Inca Trail!

The buffet was held in the main hotel - not great food but fun. Very tired and pleased to get to bed.

We drove a total of 319 miles