I got away on time and commenced the ugly exit from Split. Speaking of Split, when I arrived yesterday, it was another one of those “Selfie Sticks at ten paces” types of places. It was nice-ish but full of tourists.
I had booked a room without realising that it was a room in someone’s house with a shared bathroom etc. They were the nicest people, a mother and daughter, well, a grandmother and mother who looked almost identical. I wandered around Split for hours, and while it’s nice, it’s not breathtaking and it’s simply overrun. I suspect that most are here so they can go somewhere else – via the large ferry terminal.
So, I left in the morning and dropped by the local Decathlon store – a very small detour. It’s new gear day !! I got a new pair of sunnies, new shorts, new gloves (hi viz this time) and a cap. My floppy bucket hat from the Laneway Cafe in Cammeray has seen better days.
After paying, I returned to the change rooms, put on the new shorts then threw the old ones out. I felt like Jack Reacher from the Lee Child books, as I put them in the bin.
That left me delayed but back on track after some food and coffee.
Remarkably, the route took me past a Roman forum and other ruins. Really nice. Then it was boring and at times busy until I got to the nice town of Trogir after 30kms. It was only here that things quietened down and the good riding began. If I had my time again, I would have caught the ferry to here, as there’s nothing exciting in between – er except for Decathlon.
After making some lunch by the water in Trogir, the traffic was better. I went through some beautiful areas which reminded me a little of of Les Baux-de-Provence near Avignon. That changed when I took a gravel road for about 10-12 kms and continued climbing. It brought me to an area of large allotments and hobby farms rather than large sprawling farms and some of the recently built houses were really nice – but quite isolated.
It was all uphill though and no matter how beautiful the landscape, the heat and the effort took a toll. At the top, I knew I had a couple of great downhills to look forward to. Unfortunately, the rest was undulating and on a busy road, which I was in no mood for.
I went past some large and expensive be camping grounds that didn’t inspire me, so I decided to book a room in Sibenik for about the same price. That added another 10 KMs to the day but I’m so glad I did. Sibenik is beautiful and my room was on the edge of the old town so it was really easy to have a look around.
The place felt like Sicily with similar ancient stone paving the streets. My room had a small balcony, so I quickly got some chips and beer and relaxed in the cool of the early evening.
I had carried “This Moment” up a few very narrow flights of stairs – minus the front wheel or it wouldn’t have fitted. The building itself is about 500 years old.
Dinner was a pizza at the local Italian restaurant / bar while I watched Germany demolish Scotland in the European championships. It had been a tiring day for my first day back in the saddle and I was a bit concerned about trying to make it all the way to Zadar tomorrow. I think an easy day is in order.
