Despite the traffic noise from the motorway 200m away, we slept well, not rising till 8am and finished a leisurely breakfast by 10am. On the road by midday but not before Jen spotted a long green snake disappear into a drain close by to where we were camped. Certainly the first snake seen in South America.
Tonight’s camp in Paysandu.
Paysandu is Uruguay’s third largest city with a population of 113,000.
Jen has found us another remote camp for the night, only 40k’s down the road towards Montevideo. Arriving, after replenishing supplies at a supermarket we are greeted by Gerardo, the property owner. It’s paradise, Surrounded by young trees providing total privacy, and nicely manicured grassy areas to camp. There is a large pond nearby that is a hive of activity. Water birds, including ducks, geese, moorhens, with babies, and large rats??? Gerardo said they are like big rats, with long tails. They are Coypus and are grass eaters that spend much time under water, but surface to eat the pond lily stems.
This place is perfect and I have indicated that we would like to spend the next three days here. It’s only 375 k’s to Montevideo.
After having lunch and attending to a few maintenance issues, the tent is erected and Gerardo gives us a tour of inspection. There is a fully equipped bathroom close for our use and a swimming pool also.
Coming to the end of the day, the pond is like a menagerie and many bird varieties in the trees and on the ground. The coypu are grazing on the banks of the pond.
Gerardo is an Energy Specialist. Monitoring wind-flow characteristics of land suitable for the installation of wind turbines. His yard is full of solar panels and he tells us, he sells the energy to the local power authority.
Herewith, some photos of the wildlife in the garden etc. . :-
Uruguay’s flag.
The Coypu is a herbivore.
A Retriever and a Rhodesian Ridgeback keeping her safe..:)
Tomorrow we will be joined by two American’s. They and Gerardo are touring on their motorcycles. The Americans leave their bike’s here and return every year, to take a tour, somewhere.
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