The main channel of the Padma, the star is Faridpur where I stayed 2 nights. I then either camped or was helped by police to find somewhere to sleep.
From the braided system of the Brahmaputra-Jamuna to the wide, relatively straight channel of the Padma. My first couple of evenings on the river I was staying in Faridpur, on the western bank, so had to cross the 2-3km wide channel. Obviously this sounds easy, especially given how far I’d paddled already but now the river had much bigger boats, ferrying supplies to and from Dhaka and beyond. So I had to be careful not to get in the way of one, I didn’t want to get squished!
HIGHLIGHTS
The days off in Faridpur, it was so nice to be able to melt into a crowd and not be noticed!
Wild camping and no one finding me!
Seeing the Padma Bridge under construction, a project which has seen much controversy since work began in 2011. Originally it was to be completed by 2015 but with budget revisions etc it is now estimated to be complete by 2021 at a total cost of $3.8 billion USD.
Realising that teenage boys would do anything to help me, including carrying all my stuff, see pic below.
Being put up for the night in an office of the NGO BRAC in Naria.
LOWLIGHTS
Becoming a bit tired of paddling flat water (see video below.)
Having stomach problems- on the upside I lost a bit of weight which meant I could eat whatever I liked when I finished.
