6 August 2025 (cool start, overcast, burning off to sunny and warm) 0km

Awake at 5.30am. Finished yesterday's blog and sorted through the front bag removing anything I didn't need to take to Plitvice Lakes.  Rode down to the shop for 6.50am, hoping she would let us in early....No chance.

7am means 7am... 

Bought some yoghurt and bananas, to go with our prunes, muesli and walnuts and I bought a bun, which I also put banana on.

Raced back to camp and threw the food down us, before meeting Matt from reception, who was taking us to Plitvice. 

The drive took about twenty five minutes but didn't seem that long as Matt had some very entertaining stories. He dropped us at entrance 2, as Nigel thought this was the best place to start.

Climbed out and walked over a bridge down to a bus stop, where the bus picks you up and transports you to the start of your adventure. 

Different entrances and different routes to choose from. 

We used the "H" route and began as soon as we got off the bus.

By this time it was 8.30am and absolutely chocka.

One hundred people per bus and they just kept coming. Off at a good pace with cameras in hand.

We'd  worked out that we weren't going to focus on the same angle which would save us time and we could maybe open up a bit of a gap.

We were soon at the front of our group and began to work our way through the previous group.

However, we both agreed, it was a human conveyor system.

That being said, we totally saw why it was done that way. Any other format and it would be complete chaos. 

It was great to stretch the legs with some good length strideouts, rather than the up and down motions of the past nine weeks.

The scenery was stunning, but trying to take a composed picture, either with Julia or without, was hopeless.

As you walked, you were physically preparing in your mind, the next locality in which to shoot. 

Even then, you may have a dozen people that you are trying to work around.

Also had the instagrammers to contend with, who take a lot more time and a lot more room than your average tourist. 

With their "over the top" poses, they also made sure they blocked off others coming through.

If we hadn't had such amazing scenery to shoot, it would have been interesting photographing this lot, especially the get ups. One girl walked past with a plastic corset on and platform shoes!

Our route took us around the top lakes first and then a fifteen minute boat ride took us across a long lake to view a waterfall. The walk to this waterfall was stunning. Julia and I especially enjoyed this section.

After, what had looked like rain after an hour, the sun came out and the colour on the water was beautiful.

The actual waterfall at the end we found a little disappointing from the bottom. It looked far more impressive as we walked up and away from it to the exit.

We waited about ten minutes to catch a bus back to the beginning.

Bought a coffee from a highly overpriced cafe there and I was able to get a sandwich and muffin. Julia had smuggled in some gf biscuits so just had those with her coffee. At 1pm Matt arrived to pick us up. 

On the way back to camp, we got talking about the rubbish lying at the side of the country roads.

The next thing, we are out the van at regular intervals picking the stuff up and placing it in his van.

For two hours we did this.

I don't think that stretch of road has ever been as clean.

Shaz, Toff, Dave, Hack and Sandra know exactly what I'm talking about. 

Back at camp, we offered to help Matt sort all the rubbish into the recycling bins but he declined, saying we had made him very happy by just helping collect it. So we rode down to the little shop to buy some food for dinner and then back to camp.

Julia's phone had frozen.

No on, off, nothing.

Googled the problem on my phone and got it sorted. 

Both showered and washed clothes. Charged phones and had a lovely dinner of egg, tomato, cheese, ham and I had some little buns to go with it. 

After a nice cup of coffee we sat blogging and writing a review of the camp for Matt, who we said goodbye to tonight as he is off on holiday. 

So...another country tomorrow.

Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Will be interesting to gauge prices for everything actually. 

Croatia has been cheaper than the past few weeks.

Let's see what happens.