Vransko Jezero
Yesterday I have allowed myself a rest-day again. I couldn't force myself to cycle away from this beautiful town and the sea sight.
Unfortunately, I have learned bad things at my search for a ferry connection to Pula. According to the map there should be a ferry, which runs to the mainland to Pula from here. But the only two connections that are available at the moment are located in the north about 60 kilometres away. I've already cycled the largest part of this way two days ago. I look the truth into the face and must completely go back to the north of the island, if I want or not. I decide for the second possible ferry connection from Porozina to Brestova (Preninsula Istria). I must cross the northern mountain range of the island on this way.
The way back to the north isn't as boring as expected. Moreover I am able to assess the distance and difficulty of the street in all details now. I pass through the highland and the little villages as well as the Vransko jezero (jezero=lake) again. At the same time I see a German tourist who is carrying his pieces of baggage away from his car because this has burned out completely on the street.
The weather has become worse again and it rains from time to time. Fortunately I have tail wind again. Again! In the last days I had so much luck like I never had it during all the last two years.
After I have rolled down do the bay of Cres I must cycle a couple of meters uphill again. The street winds along a steep slope. The houses of the few villages here "cling" in the rock faces.
After the small village Predoscica that is located on a small level the street changes to the other site of the mountains, fortunately... The other side of the street isn't safeguarded and from the shoulder I can see some one hundred meters down to the coast. At some places are car wrecks of people who hadn't enough luck. That's really not calming down.
And if that's not enough... there drive also some tourist buses that need all the space in the street. Often I get the feeling that some of them want to push me against the rock face.
At decreasing to the ferry port I must pay attention infernally. Hardly using my brakes. Suddenly behind a curve are vast amounts of cars. The line of the cars waiting for the ferry is at least 2 km long. I can pleasurably go past all drivers who made cycling in the mountains so difficult.
Since the weather becomes worse and worse it's not so comfortable on the ferry like normally. The deck over the cars isn't reconsidered. People try to walk from one place to the other on the ferry and make so funny swings like no Vodka fan could practice them ever. Again and again breakwaters beat against the old ship which let the floor shake under passenger's feet.
Because I can't stand it anymore on the deck and come in front of cold, I go back down to the cars deck. After I have gone astray to the staff cubicles, I find a nice, heated bar under the cars deck. Only two people sit apart from me and an old English Disney film can be seen in an old flickering TV. The porthole over it offers a look at the Kvarner Bay, and during every new breakwater the sub-water world.
I am jolly glad as I have firm floor under my feet. But now a heavy rain begins. I have to fight uphill the 18 percents of the street that has changed into a creek.
The rain becomes heavier and heavier and it seems that the whole clouds try to get out all their water here. My gloves, formerly warm, are so wet now I can wring them out.
When I arrive at the camping site in Medveja the water already stand in my shoes. But they don't offer me possibilities to hang up my wet closes in a dry room. I take care pernickely, that nothing-wet come into my tent. So I quite don't get so much humidity in my tent at least. After a hot shower I feel much better and for the rest of the day I go into the warm sleeping bag.