In no rush we took to the streets this morning to improve upon our "cheapie" Youth Hostel 3 euro breakfast (an orange, a roll and a cuppa) loading up as well with some goodies from the local bakery !
With stomachs filled, bags packed and bikes loaded it was time to get this epic under way. We posed briefly for a few pics on the waterfront before seeking advice on how to get out of town.
N.b. pics alarmingly read as "shits"until I picked up my predictive text error just now !
Now call me stupid but the advice from our Croatian friends to keep turning left after heading out meant I thought, that it was pretty likely that we'd be back on the hostels doorstep within a few minutes !
We need not have worried though as we were lost within the first few kms ! Kev tried to pull over a pedestrian who simply started walking faster (I don't blame her ) while I pulled over a holidaying bike rider who left us holding his bike while he raced over to the local service station to ask for directions on our behalf, amazing !
Our new found friend then cycled with us ensuring that we were on the right road before saying goodbye !
We were pleasantly surprised by the low traffic levels heading away from the beautiful Istrian coastline inland beyond Visjnan.
After nearly 30 kms we had our first view of Motovun our village destination, perched on top of what appeared to be an impregnable fortress - an impressively steep hill against a beautiful valley backdrop !
A solid 8% climb soon brought us up to the old town itself with its stunning 180 degree views !
Having to wait for our apartment to be cleaned we took some lunch although Henley felt his green salad would have struggled to have fed a pigmy rabbit !
When H still grizzling we retired to our nearby apartment with some of the best views you could find anywhere ! A magnificent balcony and an incredible bedroom window outlook giving us surround sensory overload !
With nothing to do other than take in the views we eventually headed back up the road for dinner in the setting evening sun with Kev this time going for something more protein enhancing !
Back at the apartment standing on the balcony watching the sun going down was one of those moments you'll never forget- the spell subtly broken when Henley yelled our delightedly from the bathroom " Hey Litchy" I've finally been able to flush that damned thing down the toilet ... !
Tomorrow the going gets tough as we head off road on to the Parenzana trail on our journey through Slovenia back into Italy.
Good to see the trip is off to a flying start guys! No injuries yet?
ReplyDeleteMike - what do you think of the new do on kevvy? have any of the local shown interest in, who i am calling, the Lex Luther of Diamond Creek!
You blokes are missing out on the weather down here by the looks of your photo's... 3 degrees saturday morning.... beautiful!