DayThreeBB MountainRideHvar.

The day is grey and the wind slight. I had my first breakfast on the boat, as yesterday I was concentrating on not being ill! This is a German tour company so I was most pleased to find that they did provide cereal, as well as the usual meats, cheeses and hot breakfasts.

Kitted out for my ebike. Certainly takes the strain off the legs. We left the port and virtually immediately started the 8 km gradual ascent to the highest point of this large island. We were sheltered from any wind. As the day was humid, the wonderful herbaceous scents for the scrub and the pines filled the air. And as I was not struggling with the bike, I could gently roll along and take deep breaths. It was peaceful, views terrific and I could stop and take photos knowing that I could easily catch up to the group. So I was still at the back of the pack, but for a different reason!

I certainly admired those who were ascending with normal bikes...particularly one of the younger Germans who has one arm amputated from the elbow and so relied heavily on his legs for power. Deserved a few medals, despite his regular stops.

After a casual 1 1/2hrs or so, we had reached the top. Time for a cuppa. Us Four decided that we would let the rest roll into Hvar...and return...and we would descend to have lunch in Stari Grad. We gave them a hearty farewell and wandered the summit for a while. Hmmm...raindrops.

It rained steadily for our easy roll down the hill. We rode to the town centre where everyone was in wet weather attire and all indoor restaurants were doing a roaring trade. We opted for a hot chocolate under a dry awning and we bought some pizza and burek ( flakey pastry stuffed with ricotta) from the pakora ( bakery). Fortunately we had wet weather gear ourselves so it was really only our shoes that were wet.

After watching the passing parade the weather cleared a little. I wanted to return to the roads of yesterday so Tony and I went exploring. It was most pleasant on our own, stopping for photos and visiting another hilltop village. I will not be buying one yet,but using the ebike has been wonderful.

We joined Marg and Paul for drinks in a different bar by the port and then to the boat for dinner. We then learned that the other group had descended to Hvar in the dry, but on arrival the heavens opened big time. The tide was washing over the cobbled promenade. An urgent phone call by Mateo, one of the two guides, to a friend who works in the town, enabled them to find a restaurant used by the locals in a back alley away from the crowded ones around the plaza. The owner happily received 28 very wet bodies and the bikers were most impressed with the food. A win win.

The distant harbour is where our boat is moored.

Tony and Paul taking a breather.

The tour must go on. Watching the passing parade from our dry awning.

Finally, some lavender bushes, and we rode to the church in the distance.

Tony patiently waiting for me to take another photo.

A poignant war memorial.

Opening the door to our cabin. Boats are regularly moored alongside one another and the passengers from each boat cross through one boat to the next to reach to dock.

 

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