If I was pleased yesterday when I woke up that I was without aching limbs from climbing just some of Ston Wall (albiet it hundreds and hundreds of steps), I was cock a hoop over the moon when I woke up this morning that I could still move after two days of essentially climbing thousands of steps. I haven’t been able to leap out of bed for years, so after my second cup of tea served in bed, I was ready to crawl into action.
I enjoyed my fourth morning’s heated waterfall shower. We brush our teeth more thoroughly on this trip, with tee pees, floss and tape, knowing we haven’t seen our dentist for six months and won’t see him again until October. Probably with as much care as we should normally. So far, so good. Just thought I’d mention that as everyone keeps asking about our health and insurance.
Stella has been used to letting me have my own space in the caravan, that’s the back with our bed and bedside mat, trained to keep to her side at night. We were surprised and murmured ‘aw’ to each other because at the apartment she would only come to the threshold of our bedroom door without crossing it when we woke up each morning. We hadn’t taught her that. She just never came into ‘our’ room Take a look. So cute.
We didn’t need the heater on that morning, the weather had brightened up, but wasn’t as warm as predicted, the sky was cloudy and there was a bit of a breeze. We packed our few things together, the wine we bought, the wine Fani had given us, the bag of natural salt and checked we hadn’t left anything behind, loaded the Poacher and left the apartment key in the back of the house door. With only 100 residents in Mali Ston I expect they all know each other. Driving away we waived goodbye to Fani on her motor scooter, saying goodbye to our bay, the two gastronomic restaurants, the oyster boats and Daniel, the tight turn around the tower, the Ston Walls and Castle, the salt plains and the signs for wild boar and anything to do with wine. We passed the picturesque picture postcard scenes we’d seen on the outward journey a second time as we returned to the Ferry Port at Trpanj.
Passing the signs for wild boars, the signs for wine continued as we made out way to Trpanj, stopping for me to take the odd photo, especially some vineyards with vines showing their new shoots. We knew we had more than enough time to drive to the ferry for the 2pm ferry crossing.
Arriving at the ferry port shortly before noon, thinking we made it as planned with a two hour wait, there was quite a queue of vehicles in front of us in a line following the road to the left leading up to the port. The parking area for the ticket office is currently closed for maintenance, hence the use of the actual roads for parking, then you have walk to the ticket office at the quay front and then walk back to the car. Leaving Steve in the Poacher, I walked to the ticket office and was told the ferry was in, unloading and we would be next to leave. I hastily called Steve to let him know I had the tickets for the car, Stella and us and was walking back as we were catching the ferry which was just docking.
Directed on to the ferry it left as soon as it was fully loaded for foot passengers and vehicles, heading back to Ploče within 10 minutes, departure time 12:20. It’s amazing what can be achieved in ten minutes when everyone works together. As we were gaining two hours as a bonus we decided to pop in to our friends Phil and Andrea and also Richard Chris who we met at Camp Stobreč and were staying at the campsite Camp Viter in Zaostrog.
Arriving back at Ploče we took the coast road (not always by, or parallel to, the coast) instead of the motorway as we did on the way out. I missed any signs for bears as those were displayed alongside the motorway. I’ve since discovered the signs were for wolves not bears and Steve’s is not as knowledgeable on animals as he thinks he is. I mean how can be mix up a howling wolf for a crawling bear?
It was great to catch up with our friends at Camp Viter in Zaostrog , a very short drive from Ploče. With Phil and Andrea we went to a small café, a hop, skip and jump away, none of which I had the energy to perform, to catch up. We had loads to talk about and experiences to exchange. One of the waiters was removing a whole lamb on a spit from the fire pit– our mouths started to water. I asked the café if they did takeaway, of course they did, and we left with a large carrier bag of what we hoped was going to be a delicious meal for tonight and another occasion because the portions were regular Croatian size – generous to a fault.
Before we left, we said hello and goodbye to Richard and Chris (on the left) and their cat on a lead Harry (far right). They left our campsite about a week ago.
The couple in the middle are Sylvain (27) and his bride Lilly (26) who both speak fluent English. They were staying in the smallest tent you have ever seen on their six month holiday trek from St Etienne, France. Can you believe they are on foot, no cycles, motor bikes or shun the word car. Chris invited them for a meal, to which we all contributed, and we had one of those marvellous enjoyable meals where you only run out of time not conversation.
On our 120 km way back to Camp Stobreč we didn’t see any beware of the wolf (not bear lol), or beware of the wild boar signs, but neither did we see evidence of another sign we saw – Traffic Queues. We rarely saw another car either direction, never mind a queue of them.
Returning back to camp, it was good to be back home. As per any other trip return, we unpacked our bags, sorted out our clothes and laundry and thanks to takeaway lamb from a spit, no urgent shopping or cooking.
It’s been such an enjoyable holiday holiday. As much as I love our life in the caravan, for a few days I haven’t had to think about shopping, cooking or having any of our usual domestic routines to carry out. I didn’t have any housework except making our bed in the morning, which gave Steve more time to prepare morning tea and breakfast. Each time we went out, there was no budget, it was all about making the most of every opportunity and that we certainly excelled at. And, as a perfect end to our few days, our lamb dinner was delicious.
I look forward to waking up tomorrow late after a Sunday lie in, to sunny weather, tea in bed and no steps to climb. I’ve had enough of those for quite a while. In fact, I think I’ll start looking at bungalows for when we return to the UK. We continue to live the dreams.
SUNDAY
My dreams came true, late get up, tea in bed, obviously get the Dubrovnik blog out, chill, sunbathing and no steps!