Day 31 – When is a thermometer not a thermometer? . . .

When it’s a creamy yellow cuboid that’s spreadable when warm, runny when hot and solid when cold.

With a clear night, the temperature in the middle of Plitvice National Park plummets. At the outdoor line of dish-wash sinks our breath is clearly visible. We wash and dry in record time. Yesterday’s end to a good day. It’s the price we decided to pay. We’re up for it. Overnight low of 4C due. Thankfully no frost forecast. At first light our onboard thermometer imitates a freshly baked brick, that’s just come out of cold storage. Must be time to pull out the pullies.

Our 10am start sees us head south east for Sibenik, on the coast. We say goodbye to a sunny and by now 14C Plitvice. The D1 national highway a joy as it stretches out over the high Lika plateau. For most parts we have it all to ourselves. Seventy minutes without a vehicle in front or behind! Seems very strange. Where is everybody? We head up and over the Velebit mountains and onto our lunchtime stop. Our thermometer is now hovering somewhere between spreadable and runny. Temperature doubled to 28C.

Camping Solaris, our next two nighter, is a resort catering for all. Tents, cabins and MOHOs, all within a six-hit from the Adriatic. Many just a nick to slips.

We walk off the journey then make the most of the remaining blue on our nearly new spongy beach mats.