15 August 2025 (hazy and very hot) 40km

Last night a combination of noise.

The guy in the tent next door to us, probably in his seventies, snored on and off all night.

His wife/partner/bit of stuff, who was a good many years younger, was either someone like Julia...sleeps like the dead, or snores too, so it doesn't bother her.

A Croatian/ Bosnian/Serbian family, Mum Dad and two young boys, three and maybe fifteen months were pitched on our other side. They were all in a two man tent.

We think the wife probably kicked him out during the night, as he was curled up outside the front flap on a rug.

He was also snoring, so in essence you could say we had stereo last night. 

Plus, if you throw in the disco beat coming from the beach somewhere til 4am, the incessant mosquitoes and the woman with a loud cackle of a laugh, sleep was very hard to come by. I wonder if that woman was actually laughing at my misfortune?

5.16am up and rocking. Up to the roundabout and right turn for Split.

After trying to book flights yesterday, we are still no closer to deciding where to go or what to do, but this morning we have laid out a more concrete option. 

We reckon we’ve got about twenty one days in Schengen countries, so that is the maximum amount of time we can spend in Croatia and Corfu/Greece.

We've ruled mainland Greece out as it's too stinking hot.

Corfu we've kept up our sleeve, just for cheap flights to England and there is a place with bike boxes.

Flights from this area to NZ are double what we would normally pay, but London has more options.

So, one possibility is late September, fly to England for a month’s cycling (probably in the rain).

The main road was quiet this morning and with a beautiful surface, we were ticking along and chatting.

About 10kms in, we pulled into a "Tommy" supermarket, one of the bigger ones. Checked the opening time, 7am.

It was 6.55am but there were no lights on and no one waiting. Strange.

A young guy was collecting plastic bottles to cash in and he told us that it's a public holiday in Dalmatia today, so everything shop wise, is closed.

He was originally from Holland, but his family moved here during Covid and never went back.

Said he wouldn't now as they have a much better lifestyle.

So, with only a nectarine, apple, prunes and nuts, we headed into Trogir to see what was happening. On the way in we must have passed twenty mini markets and supermarkets, all taunting us with their empty carparks and closed doors. Talk about annoying.

We came across a market with all your trinkets and bags and clothes, but no cooked meats or chicken.

I could have gorged on pastries, but I couldn't do that to Julia.

Instead we grabbed bananas and enjoyed all our food in a shady park. 

While Julia went to find some wifi to tap into, I sat writing. The sweat was running down our legs and armpits and it wasn't quite 10am.

Decided to walk the bikes down to the harbour for a look. Very nice and very expensive. The boats there were luxury super yachts or cruisers...oh how the other half live. 

Rode on around the harbour until we came to a campsite. Checked in for Euro 37 and set up as close to the water as we could be, without being in it.

Julia's side has a sea view and mine has a view of the bar...so it's a win win.

Very cramped down here and the tent next door is equipped for party time, so it'll be very little sleep for me tonight.

The camp has live music from 7.30pm. Talk about a glutton for punishment. 

Obviously as soon as we set up the tent, we were in for a dip. If Julia rolls over in the night, she'll be taking a midnight swim. 

After no proper breakfast we thought we'd try the camp bar. But it was too straight for me, so we wandered down to an eatery at the front of the camp.

Got a chicken and mushroom risotto with a rocket, parmesan,and tomato salad. I got a beer and Ju had an orange juice. Delicious. So much so, we are going back at dinner. 

Before lunch we'd chatted to Brody and Aimee. They both seem to be in good spirits, which is good to see and their van reno is coming along, slowly but surely. 

Another post lunch swim, followed by shave and very unfortunately, a one temperature shower.

Not hot, but definitely not cold. Back at the tent, it was uncomfortable. Didn't want to swim as just cleared off the salt and felt clean.

Julia went in and I figured I was a little dehydrated, so filled water bottle. Worked out that we will go into Split tomorrow.

Was hoping to get the early ferry and probably will, but it will allow more tourists to get in there. 

At 7.30pm we wandered over to the cafe, which was now a restaurant. This enables them of course to sprinkle a couple of fancy dressings on your plate and charge more. Call me cynical.

Anyway, we enjoyed another lovely meal and they had a singer/guitarist playing for two and a half hours, who was great.

Pete looking a little bleary eyed....or is that you? Sampling the local brew.

His song selection was perfect the whole evening which made it thoroughly enjoyable. After we'd eaten our mains, we splashed out on dessert.

I had a cheesecake which was delicious, but probably a little rich, whilst Julia had a chocolate souffle with ice cream.

Once again, a lovely setting.

As we ate and listened to the remaining tunes (ooh, I do like a good tune) we worked on our exit route from Europe, with the prices sky high.

More on that tomorrow. But what a lovely view to look out on as we go to sleep with some equally soft, sleep inducing music drifting across the water and nobody in at the party tent next door.