schalk vd merwe
Race Dog
From Korcula up North
The Next day I took the ferry back from the Island of Korcula back to the main land. I again traveled through all the vineyard country and the town of Ston, nice winding roads. Then further on through Customs of Bosnia although this time they just wave me through. Then on to the City of Split again. In Split I stopped to buy a 12 volt charger again to be able to charge my phone again from the socket on the bike while I ride. The old one has said its goodbye.
Then North again all along the sea. Close to a small town of Tisno I looked for camping on Google. It took me to a huge camp site next to a beautiful lake. The campsite was full of big luxury Camper vans mainly from Germany. Like I said before most of local people speak German as well due to the large German holiday population. I pitched my tent next to a couple with kids. I then rode the bike back through the camp to go and buy supplies for dinner. By now all my laundry was dirty as well and I dropped it off at the laundry inside the camp. Coming back to my tent as I park the bike and put out the side stand but this bike has got the irritating habit of pulling back in. I then dropped the bike with the engine still running. I could not belief my eyes, these Germans came running from all directions from their campers to help me pick up the bike. Then one guy in true German spirit first gave me a lecture because I did not switch off the engine quick enough. I tried to explain to the guy that it is a dry sump motor and that it first has to pump all the oil from the frame before it will run out of oil. The guy would not agree so in the end I let my do-gooder win the conversation. Another do-gooder brought me a beer as if I just went through a big ordeal. Well I appreciated everyone’s input and I must say I only had good experiences with everyone I came in contact since arriving in Europe.
Then it was dinner time after doing my Macaroni and cheese bit again. Also that red stuff called Merlot helped me to dreamland soon after.
The next morning I set the Garmin GPS for Austria. Although I thought that Italy, Slovenia and Croatia were included in my Tom Tom GPS Maps it turned out not to be so. That’s why I bought a car Garmin GPS in the South of Switzerland before I left there.
I traveled from the campsite but as I have a very good sense of direction it felt all the time if the GPS is taking me more East instead of North East. The GPS took me through some outlying areas and some areas are not even populated as all over you still see dilapidated houses from the war 25 years prior.
I eventually arrived in a small town. Having not eaten yet for the day I bought something from a lady in a mobile trailer on the pavement. While I was having my cold drink we discussed their war and settlement. After the chat and lunch I hit the road again going more East.
Eventually I arrived at the Bosnian border. After the lady stamped my passport she asked me where I was going. To Austria I said. No you are going in the wrong direction she says. I am just following the GPS I said but I told her it felt as if I was going in the wrong direction. She said I must go back to the small town and then take the road north. We made small talk and she said they need men in their country as the war has wiped out a large percentage of their male population. Sjoe what an offer.
I then drove around the building and had my Passport stamped back into Croatia. They were impressed at the sight of all the stamps in my passport. Then all the way back on a winding road to the small town and then north on the road that the lady explained.
At one place I past a town and slowed down to see where the entrance was. A car hooted and people pointed to the back of my bike. It turned out that my backpack came loose and the exhaust burned it to smithereens. I thanked the people who stopped me and ask them direction into town to the nearest fuel pump. Normally my Tom Tom is handy with things like that but the Garmin did not have that facility.
After refueling I took the road north again. At one tourist outlook point I stopped. A lady came walking past and we started to chat. It was not long and she bought one of my books. I was once again surprised at how easy my book sells here. I asked her about a camp site and she said just 4 km further there is a huge camp site.
Arriving there the camp site is huge. You drive some kilometers inside the camp site. The Plitvicka Jazera National Park with one of the most beautiful waterfalls inside is just nearby.
I decided to stay two nights as I wanted to see the falls the next day. As I said before, I am one for nature and birds more than anything else. The camp site is very hilly and I looked for a level piece of ground. The only piece I could find was quite far from the toilets and shower. I then decided rather to take that site as I hate to sleep at an angle. There was a nice permanent table and benches next to my tent and after pitching my tent I started to make dinner again on my small gas stove.
The next day I was off to the Nature reserve and waterfall. Although I have already seen The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the Niagara Falls between the USA and Canada this one is anytime just as beautiful if not better. On My bucket list is still The Iguazu Falls between the borders of Argentina and Brazil. That is also one of the new wonders of the world. I plan to go and see that one once I am going to travel all the South American countries.
I had a Brut worst at a little café in the parking area before entering the National Park and waterfalls. A mistake I made was to come with my riding boots. I did not know I was going to walk 5 kilometers. All the way up from the road down a couple of hundred meters to the water level and the up again along another route through a natural tunnel. The whole thing takes a couple of hours but it is so worthwhile. That is just the waterfall then there are groups that walk for days through the forest of the national park. The European people really like walking and riding bicycles.
After a spectacle beautiful day it was back to the camp site for a good night’s sleep.
The Next day I took the ferry back from the Island of Korcula back to the main land. I again traveled through all the vineyard country and the town of Ston, nice winding roads. Then further on through Customs of Bosnia although this time they just wave me through. Then on to the City of Split again. In Split I stopped to buy a 12 volt charger again to be able to charge my phone again from the socket on the bike while I ride. The old one has said its goodbye.
Then North again all along the sea. Close to a small town of Tisno I looked for camping on Google. It took me to a huge camp site next to a beautiful lake. The campsite was full of big luxury Camper vans mainly from Germany. Like I said before most of local people speak German as well due to the large German holiday population. I pitched my tent next to a couple with kids. I then rode the bike back through the camp to go and buy supplies for dinner. By now all my laundry was dirty as well and I dropped it off at the laundry inside the camp. Coming back to my tent as I park the bike and put out the side stand but this bike has got the irritating habit of pulling back in. I then dropped the bike with the engine still running. I could not belief my eyes, these Germans came running from all directions from their campers to help me pick up the bike. Then one guy in true German spirit first gave me a lecture because I did not switch off the engine quick enough. I tried to explain to the guy that it is a dry sump motor and that it first has to pump all the oil from the frame before it will run out of oil. The guy would not agree so in the end I let my do-gooder win the conversation. Another do-gooder brought me a beer as if I just went through a big ordeal. Well I appreciated everyone’s input and I must say I only had good experiences with everyone I came in contact since arriving in Europe.
Then it was dinner time after doing my Macaroni and cheese bit again. Also that red stuff called Merlot helped me to dreamland soon after.
The next morning I set the Garmin GPS for Austria. Although I thought that Italy, Slovenia and Croatia were included in my Tom Tom GPS Maps it turned out not to be so. That’s why I bought a car Garmin GPS in the South of Switzerland before I left there.
I traveled from the campsite but as I have a very good sense of direction it felt all the time if the GPS is taking me more East instead of North East. The GPS took me through some outlying areas and some areas are not even populated as all over you still see dilapidated houses from the war 25 years prior.
I eventually arrived in a small town. Having not eaten yet for the day I bought something from a lady in a mobile trailer on the pavement. While I was having my cold drink we discussed their war and settlement. After the chat and lunch I hit the road again going more East.
Eventually I arrived at the Bosnian border. After the lady stamped my passport she asked me where I was going. To Austria I said. No you are going in the wrong direction she says. I am just following the GPS I said but I told her it felt as if I was going in the wrong direction. She said I must go back to the small town and then take the road north. We made small talk and she said they need men in their country as the war has wiped out a large percentage of their male population. Sjoe what an offer.
I then drove around the building and had my Passport stamped back into Croatia. They were impressed at the sight of all the stamps in my passport. Then all the way back on a winding road to the small town and then north on the road that the lady explained.
At one place I past a town and slowed down to see where the entrance was. A car hooted and people pointed to the back of my bike. It turned out that my backpack came loose and the exhaust burned it to smithereens. I thanked the people who stopped me and ask them direction into town to the nearest fuel pump. Normally my Tom Tom is handy with things like that but the Garmin did not have that facility.
After refueling I took the road north again. At one tourist outlook point I stopped. A lady came walking past and we started to chat. It was not long and she bought one of my books. I was once again surprised at how easy my book sells here. I asked her about a camp site and she said just 4 km further there is a huge camp site.
Arriving there the camp site is huge. You drive some kilometers inside the camp site. The Plitvicka Jazera National Park with one of the most beautiful waterfalls inside is just nearby.
I decided to stay two nights as I wanted to see the falls the next day. As I said before, I am one for nature and birds more than anything else. The camp site is very hilly and I looked for a level piece of ground. The only piece I could find was quite far from the toilets and shower. I then decided rather to take that site as I hate to sleep at an angle. There was a nice permanent table and benches next to my tent and after pitching my tent I started to make dinner again on my small gas stove.
The next day I was off to the Nature reserve and waterfall. Although I have already seen The Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe and the Niagara Falls between the USA and Canada this one is anytime just as beautiful if not better. On My bucket list is still The Iguazu Falls between the borders of Argentina and Brazil. That is also one of the new wonders of the world. I plan to go and see that one once I am going to travel all the South American countries.
I had a Brut worst at a little café in the parking area before entering the National Park and waterfalls. A mistake I made was to come with my riding boots. I did not know I was going to walk 5 kilometers. All the way up from the road down a couple of hundred meters to the water level and the up again along another route through a natural tunnel. The whole thing takes a couple of hours but it is so worthwhile. That is just the waterfall then there are groups that walk for days through the forest of the national park. The European people really like walking and riding bicycles.
After a spectacle beautiful day it was back to the camp site for a good night’s sleep.
