We have a made up rule that if we paddle across any river then we have to walk back to a point on the far bank exactly opposite to where we set out. This is to stop any people saying that we are using the inflatable rafts to float downstream. The boats are just for crossing water obstacles - to actually move forward we have to physically walk.

Our aim this week has been to correct the amount we know we are about to drift downstream when we cross the Amazon from Almeirim. We estimate that by the time we paddle from Almeirim ("A") to the other side we should end up about 50 kilometres down river at point "B". The south side is very low lying (and therefore flooded) so we wanted to do this walking on the northern side before we set out paddling. We need to walk between "A" and "C" on the map below.

Google Maps says there is a road. Google Maps is wrong - there is no road. So what we planned as a 2-day jolly walk down a road has turned into ten days of flooded forest wading. We moved downriver to "C" so we could walk back to Almeirim. As we drew close, the banks of the Amazon looked perilously low lying. "What option do we have?!" smiled Cho, "Vamos!" and we trudged into the trees with water lapping at our heels. We made 600 metres before making camp and the video tells of that evening.

Yesterday we made 2km. All day long. The nice thing about this unexpected leg is that the forest is beautiful and peaceful - dappled light reflects on the cool brown water - I haven't been as relaxed and content in months. The negative is that we look like we will be almost two weeks late when we finally cross the Amazon in our pack rafts. And then we'll be running - because my flight back to England at the end of August is not flexible.

Join us on 17th June for the next installment and don't forget to check out our new Question of the Week video - and send in your questions to us at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it !