Hills and more …

We set off with no destination … around the coastal route to Porat then some inland stuff … the veggie gardens are superb and flourishing, olive groves down to the sea. I’m fascinated by the dry stone walls. Loving the inland except we are on very rough roads for touring bikes.

We finally get onto sealed roads to the direction of Krk … still lots of uphill … John cursing behind until we reach the village of Vrh … yes John is feeling very Vrh!!

Now a great downhill to the town of Krk … a short wander through the old town and visit to the tourist office. How to get to Valbiskai for the car ferry to the island of Cres? Up to Vrh … John feeling very sad … up that hill again … ugh!!! ‘Well what do you want to do’ I ask , ‘I’ve, mapped to Cres town and it’s also a very steep hill’ ‘we will go’, he says.

So off we go to the ferry, I’m keeping my distance through the climb … I’m guaranteed there are some choice words … then down to the ferry terminal. It’s only a total of 12km but the climb!!! 20min for the ferry departure … we meet the Swiss bike couple again on the ferry.

Off the ferry and now is some serious climbing … John has admitted denial on the hills, I have shown him the profile and the gradient … he is walking … but this is not the steep hill …. ugh! I play leapfrog with the Swiss couple until I think they find a place to free camp half way up … still John is walking/riding. It is only 12km but 6km of average of 9%.

Finally the downhill and within no time, we are in Cres township … we find accommodation straight away from an agency, into our bathers and a five minute ride for a swim and beer. All the hard work is forgotten/forgiven and we can laugh about the sheep on the road and the hills that never ended, the dry rock walls and olive groves, bumping into the Swiss couple and the scenery.

Cres is such a lovely village, we have decided to stay another night to explore the little alleys of the old town and more beaches before we are off on more big hills as we island hop.