We decided to do our own thing and headed for Sao Paulo to get on to the motorway! In fact it was a very good drive apart from driving round and round Sao Paulo trying to find the right motorway. At the end of the motorway from Sao Paolo we saw parked by the side of the road car number 80, the green Ford Escort RS 200 of John Bateson and Colin Francis. A half shaft had gone!! We asked if we could help but they waved us on saying that a spare half shaft was being carried for them in one of the 4x4's. They seemed completely unfazed by the whole thing!! Stopped only once for a break but it wasn't too bad. We still did over 700 kms.
It took us a while to find the control at the modern cathedral in Londrina, but we were the first 4x4 to arrive, because we'd taken a quicker route. We were consequently interviewed by a TV crew and there was a band and civic reception. It was pretty hot there and the hotel was good - the Bourbon Hotel.
Good dinner (buffet) in hotel, then we went outside to the car and met a local married couple and a nun.
The cathedral in Londrina.
The centre of Londrina.
