There’s an old and true adage that says “By failing to prepare you are preparing to fail.”
Touring during the low season, as we do, gives us wrong impressions. Relaxed and sleepy towns and villages appear at their best. Picture post-card idyllic. Never more so than when the sun is shining.
Our bike ride over to Nin proves the point. Nin – famous for its natural salt production, Queens Beach and Gregory of Nin. We go exploring. Take the long route. Use the quiet lanes. (Not that the main roads are that busy). Our fifty five minute ride takes us through the less visited areas. Hardly another vehicle passes in either direction. Gives us chance to amble. Go behind the scenes. Take it all in.
We can see there’s a secret army at work. Like fairies who only come out at night when there’s no chance of discovery – these armies wait until the huge influx of foreigners have gone back home to their jobs. Nin and its surrounding villages, not unusual. The length of the Croatian coastline already a sea of camp sites, hotels and apartments. A dictum must be in place. Double, no, triple the available apartment accommodation. Do it sooner. Not later. An annual invasion is being encouraged. Nearly all welcome . . .
The Roman Legacy is evident throughout Croatia. Like a medieval fair it helps to draw in the last of the season’s trade. Even when there’s not much on show.
Tours of the famous salt works are at an end. We make do with cycling through the salt fields. Not a single grain in sight.
Our carefully planned route sees us back at camp by 4pm. We take up our well deserved slightly angled almost horizontal positions. Emulate a couple of solar panels. Endeavour to keep our mouths shut tight. Try not to snore too loudly. Then, when we do, take it as a reminder to cool off and go swim . . .