May 24, 2018
Today we did wake up with the chickens. I tossed and turned a bunch, so we got up at 5 to start our day. I think I was anxious, because one of the options for today was to hike Vidova Gora, and catch a midday bus across Brac to Supetar to catch an afternoon or evening ferry to Split. We didn’t have reservations for Split or chat with anyone about how ‘possible’ or ‘not possible’ our plans were. Plus, the contents of my suitcase are strewn about our hallway/kitchen/living & dining area and I’d like to take some time to organize it all, but we keep going and going. Nathan’s suitcase is in the most neat and orderly little perfect area in our bedroom. If you know either of us, this should not surprise you at all. Normalment.
Early on we decided to not stress ourselves, and stay an extra day. So I emailed the manager of our apartment to tell her we would stay an extra day. Notice, I did not ask if we could. It’s early enough in the season that I assumed they could accommodate our request. I also didn’t wait for an answer. I hoped it was ok and not to create an international incident. We packed our backpacks and headed out for pastries by 6:30.
By 7 am we were at the “trailhead” for Vidova Gora, the highest peak in the Adriatic islands at a whopping 778 meters or 2,552 feet. Chump change for us, except that we have on purpose left our hiking boots at home and we are in Tevas, looking like hippy folk.
We didn’t realize it at first but it quickly became evident we were the first hikers of the day as Nathan had to hike swinging two ‘spider sticks’ for the entire journey, marching like a complete dufus, slaying webs continuously along the trail – freaking gross – I think Nathan plans to burn his clothes tonight.
Just like when we were biking to Lumbarda or hiking Quilotoa Ecuador, locals made the extra effort to make sure we got on the proper path and did not get lost. Two and a half hours later we were at the top, looking down on Zlatni Rat, which you can see from this photo. Off the top by 10 am and down at the base by 11:30, we were hot and sweaty and in need of a chilly dip in the Adriatic. So to Zlatni Rat we went.
First though, we had to make a trip to the pharmacy. Again, normalment. Every trip there is a reason. This trip, the tops of my feet are so itchy. I left home with 3 itchy, reactive patches from some athletic tape I had been wearing. (Breaking in shoes; Suffer for beauty) Now, it’s those patches and bug bites over the top or just white-girl-skin-mad-the-water-and-environment-are-different itchy red bumps. Awesome. It might be sand flies, who knows, but Nathan’s not suffering from them. An allergy type pill and cream which turned out to be ointment for about $16. Whatever, just make the itching stop.
A picnic and our pharmacy purchases in hand, we walked the promenade (Shade, hallelujah) to Zlatni Rat. My hot and itchy feet needed a cooling. We spent the afternoon on the beach and in the water surrounded by sunbathing Europeans, and all that entails. 😉
Now, back from the beach, we are enjoying coffee and wine at a seaside cafe.
