I.

Backstory / Backdrop

Our fourth year living full-time in the Serra do Espinhaço has been markedly different.

In late January, after two years living with us in Diamantina—first at the motorcycle school outside of town, and later at Ana’s apartment near the centro—our oldest son, Luca (now 15), moved back to São Paulo to be closer to his mom and Tiago (14).

Elisa and I took it as our cue to leave Diamantina as well.

Diamantina may be my favorite “small city” on earth (population 25,001 ≥ 49,999; there are levels to this), but the truth is that for all its architecture, bohemia, becos, and location at the heart of the region, we never would have chosen to live there during this phase of our lives had it not been for Luca’s school.

We considered several rural communities—Inhaí, São João da Chapada, Santa Rita, and Conselheiro Mata among them—before ultimately deciding to move “back” to São Gonçalo do Rio das Pedras (official population: 1,664; actual population: closer to 800), where Elisa and I first met in November of 2019, and where we’ve built deep friendships over the years.

It turned out to be the right decision.

Living full-time in São Gonçalo has been a game-changer for us: a chance to slow down (at least in the physical sense), focus on the work in front of us, and get back to enjoying simpler pleasures. We live in an almost impossibly peaceful house perched above a green valley, meters away from the top of a waterfall whose sound fills every moment of the day and night.

We have little furniture aside from our desks and beds—the natural consequence of years on the road and in tiny rental spaces. Most things we need are within walking distance. Things we don’t need are too far to bother with.

(Not having to drive almost anywhere in Gaúcha has been one of the biggest quality-of-life improvements imaginable—although it’s also meant asking neighbors to help push-start her every once in a while.)

We have a growing circle of friends, access to incredible locally grown produce, organic meats and dairy, and just enough padarias, butecos, and dinner parties to keep us from making the trip to Diamantina (just 33 km away, but also: 33 km away).

When Luca unexpectedly decided to move back in with us in May after just a few months in São Paulo, our personal lives felt as complete and grounded as they had in years—maybe ever.

And yet, despite how welcoming our surroundings have been, Elisa and I have found ourselves spending more time at our computers than ever before.

Gift of Go has entered a new phase.

Three years of fieldwork in the Espinhaço produced routes, relationships, and experiences we’re deeply proud of, but those experiences have to be shared so that the work can continue.

The trails have been mapped. Histories recorded. Communities visited. Routes built and tested.

Now comes the second half of the journey: making that work discoverable to the rest of the world.

Our 2025 has thus revolved mostly around social media and content, as well as conversations with agents, agencies, and publications abroad.

Online is where the magic (purportedly) happens.

Laptops and phones are how we make it.

In early May—just weeks before Luca decided to return for yet another round of a vida mineira—Elisa and I began planning our first multi-week research expedition of the year: Field Trip No. 12.

A slow-burning, 30-day east-west crossing of the range at the end of the month, when the cerrado would still be in bloom and waterfalls would still be gushing from late summer rains.

A chance to leave our desks, move our bodies, explore new trails, and reconnect with the range.

Luca’s unexpected return required us to reschedule Field Trip No. 12 at the last second.

Tiago’s winter vacation in July provided us with the perfect opportunity.