Report Card as at 26 May 2015
Health: Fit as a Mallee bull (Aussie slang)
Energy Level: High octane, supercharged.
Spirits: Exuberant, buoyant, effervescent.
Enjoyment: Having the time of my life, best thing I have ever done.
Boredom: Silly question.
My Blog: Amazing amount of positive feedback, with many saying they are enjoying the stories and loving the pictures. Lots of readers in my slip-stream following my journey!
Camera: Panasonic Lumix performing well under heavy workload. Photos taken on overcast days sometimes get a bit of a touch-up using ipiccy.com
Bike: Cannondale Tourer “Big Bertha” performing well but, like its owner, developing some creaks.
Punctures: Don’t be silly … my tyres are Schwable Marathon Plus.
Ortlieb Panniers: Great … large capacity, 100% waterproof, highly visible, easy to use. Filled to the brim.
Garmin: Marvellous. Getting lost has been taken out of the equation, so can focus on enjoying the ride without having to keep stopping and wondering where the hell I am. Takes me right to the door.
Routes: Alternative routes mapped out with Garmin Basecamp software for each day … highway or the mountains. Select best alternative on the day based on traffic and conditions. Dubrovnik to Neum via the mountains (bypassing the main Border Control) was a bad decision, but all other routes have panned out well (safe and scenic).
Posterior: Never worry about anybody laughing at old men wearing lycra, your nether regions will appreciate it (mine do).
Weather: Except for two wet days on Hvar Island and two wet days in Split, the weather has been perfect … sunny and between 23 and 28 degrees. Another reason May is a good time to ride in Croatia, before the summer heat arrives.
Accommodation: Trip Adviser and Booking.com have not let me down yet. But next time I will forget hotels … apartmani, sobes, zimmers, and villas are much better value.
Scenery: Perfect one day, even better the next.
Natives: Lovely friendly people the Croatians. If they are doing it tough you would never know it from their smiling, happy faces. What I enjoy is the friendly banter in the villages, and the kids playing outdoors the good healthy old-fashioned games that we used to play, like riding bikes, billy carting down the hill, kicking a ball around, playing tennis. No wonder Croatia has good tennis and soccer players.
Food: Excellent, particularly the seafood. Strong Italian influence. Amazingly fresh produce in the many street markets. Always looking to try the local food which is sensational, particularly a seafood platter I enjoyed in Dubrovnik, a traditional 200 year old Dalmatian recipe called Rožata and Wild Boar Stew I enjoyed in Hvar Town,
Wine: Ask somebody who drinks
Companionship: Missing my dear wife Melveta, but good to skype her most days
Loneliness: Never. Have met lots of people, including a lovely couple from Suffolk UK, an Indian born couple who now live in US, a Croatian born couple who now live in Canada, a UK born touring cyclist now residing in southern Spain, a German cycling couple, a little old lady from California who spends her whole life travelling and cruising.
Security: Feel safe in Croatia. Wallet not pick-pocketed yet. No muggings, touch wood.
Incidents: Only one … slipped through border control at Bosnia and Herzegovina (illegal immigrant?)
Accidents: Nil
Favourite Towns: Primošten, Rab, Trogir, Jelsa, Dubrovnik, Hvar Town.
Highlights: Too numerous to mention.