I’m beginning to feel that Croatia is very old.

A bit of a fast track today … we catch a ferry tour to Rovinj one way and cycle 37km to Pula. That all sounds very reasonable.

Only one ferry going today … it is Sunday and a big tour group is boarding, however plenty of room for us and the bikes. A small problem … that is John’s story to tell. He who dares to travel with Johnny … umm!!

A perfect day as we sail along the coast, a stop at Vrsar, of course it is on a hill then at the top and up to the top of the 40m bell tower to get an amazing views.

A short time later passing back on board, a long nudist beach which excites the passengers and crew, we dock in Rovinj another very old town.

Off we go on our bikes for a leisurely ride to Pula along the EuroVelo 8. Well the ‘reasonable’ just disappeared., we pass some lovely beaches on gravel paths until the paths got rougher and we were heading inland until I was in a real pickle what would I do without Komoot. We headed towards the coast, another lovely beach, having to push the bikes across the waters edge with large pebbles, it was a tough 300m.

Time to ask for some advice from the bar … most beaches have a bar … lovely young guy … just follow this path through the camping park and head towards Bale pronounced Bali … a good road but steady climb … John saying from behind ‘where the f is Bale’ … I couldn’t see any barley crops, has he got a seed in his sock?

We get to Bale then it’s 20km all downhill to Pula. With all the stuffing around on dirt roads we have riden 42km.

Finding our accommodation, shower and short walk into the old town … very old with an added bonus … the arena, this is like the leaning tower of Pisa, the cameras and phones are out getting the best shot from various angles and selfies, it’s not that busy, school holidays are over, I think the shoulder season has begun.

At 25C the sun is setting, just balmy, restaurants are starting to get busy, although it is a Sunday, all the shops are open, I’ve lost count of the number of ice-cream shops there are.