Day 11: Zaglav

17.03.23

It got quite cold overnight. According to the weather forecast, it was only 3.4 degrees. Slept better. The sun in the morning and the cloudless sky make up for it. Even though spring is already on its way, it is still quite cool in the mornings and evenings.

After waking up, I am horrified to find that I don't have any fresh underwear with me. Oops. When it comes to that, you have to be very flexible on the road, and how long I have been wearing the current model will remain my secret.

Packing everything together in a relaxed manner, enjoying the morning sun a bit, and then cycling to the Telascica Nature Park. It goes up and down again. When I realize at some point that I have to ride all the way back and there is no opportunity to refill water and snacks at the 'destination', I spontaneously decide to take a different tour. However, I still couldn't resist taking an extended break on the shore.

Next stop is the small town of Zaglav, directly by the sea. Until now, I hadn't thought that I would ever need to use the smallest gear of my bike's gears. Today, I used it several times. There's no flat terrain here. Always steep uphill, then all the way downhill.

In Zaglav, there is exactly one gas station. You can get the essentials here. Beer and cigarettes. Welcome to Croatia. The gas station is right by the harbor and suddenly there is some activity here. Well, in relation to the 47 inhabitants that I suspect here. People are gradually arriving with suitcases, packages, and other stuff. It doesn't surprise me that everyone here obviously knows each other. Arrive, briefly go into the gas station, have a beer or coffee, and then have some small talk. I like the lively atmosphere. Then the ferry arrives...

It is now lunchtime. I start searching for a bay that is said to be nearby, but the path gets more and more adventurous. However, I reach the beach, even though I have to walk the last part because I have to push the bike. Still a beautiful route. The secluded bay seems quite magical at first. Unfortunately, there is also a lot of litter here and everything is very rocky. It's not suitable for overnight stays. But it's nice to relax and explore the beach for a bit.

I couldn't find a good place to stay overnight in the vicinity either. The terrain is usually too steep and uneven. So I just went back to Zaglav and from there took the ferry back to Zadar. Enjoying the last kilometers once again. A very charming island. Like many other islands, you can feel a special vibe here. The clocks tick somehow differently and you have this special feeling of freedom, being surrounded by the sea, kilometers away from the mainland.

I would have liked to stay longer, but the circumstances were sometimes a bit complicated and in the afternoon I wasn't motivated anymore to ride for a long time to find a place to sleep.

At the harbor, there's action again. Just like in the afternoon, but even more people. It almost looks as if all the island residents want to leave the island at once. Well, if it's Friday afternoon... Many are well supplied with drinks, especially those who, judging by their appearance, have worked hard and are now celebrating the end of the workday.

Today, I will only celebrate my bed to the maximum.

However, I still have to ride a few more kilometers through Zadar. I arrived at a different harbor. I really like this city and everything around it.