From the limited time we’ve been in this area, I’m convinced that this is the best time of year to be here. The weather is perfect for cycling (high teens to low 20’s), there’s activity in the towns and most businesses and services are open.
The only downside, and we’ll take this over the high season alternative which looks like this could be a general nightmare area to be on a bike, is that there is more limited ferry service onto some of the islands.
That’s our issue today. Our plan, well really TA’s plan and itinerary from a few years ago that we’re more or less copying, is to go from Rab to Cres, and to do that we have to do a two ferry shuttle, first from Rab to Krk and then from Krk to Cres.
The only ferry today from Rab to Krk leaves at 5:45 am. Ouch.
It really wasn’t to bad. We were well organized last night and simply got up, put on our cycling clothes that were laid out beside the bed (just like the kids when they were in pre school!), brushed our teeth and headed off to the ferry terminal about 1 km away.
The first ferry was an 80 minutes journey so we had enough time to eat our breakfast and have a cup or two of coffee. When we docked in Krk, our next ferry was about 5 metre to our left and was already boarding. Down the gang plank, turn left and ride up the next one, then set sail for a 15 minutes cruise to Cres (the island, not the town). Easy!
So by 8 am we were on the ferry dock at Cres with the town just a short ride away. A short ride with a pretty descent climb, this is Croatia after all. We had a check in at noon so we were in no hurry and we let the ferry traffic get on its way, leaving the road to ourselves for a very enjoyable ride into Cres town.
So that’s it for the day, a short but very nice 14 km’s of riding (although I think we can claim 50 km credit for getting up before 5 am) and then a day of hanging out in Cres and attending to various domestic duties (like catching up on this journal and getting all our laundry done - exciting but necessary stuff!)
Even though it was a short day, or maybe because it was, I had lots of time to take pic’s, so here they are.
Out the door of the very nice apartments ‘Vila Sabbia’ a the ungodly hour of 5:15
Loaded and ready for the 80 minutes sail to Krk (somebody should donate some vowels to the Croatians). We’ve got an immediate transfer to a ferry to Cres when we get there
We literally rode off the ferry from Rab and then joined the vehicles loading onto the adjacent ferry for Cres. Zero wait time (except for the 2 person queue to buy the tickets for the Cres ferry that for some reason we didn’t purchase last night when we bought the ones to get us off Rab!) This guy must have done something bad and is being sent to detention!
Settled in for the next short 20 minute sail to Cres, the island. Cres the town we are going to is on the other side of a 300 m ridge. Of course it is, this is Croatia!
Getting ready to ride and letting all the car traffic get away. Perfect morning to ride and by the time we’d stripped off our ‘ferry’ outer layers, we had the road more or less to ourselves. Perfect.
Construction work on the first 1 km of the ferry access road. Looks like it was needed as even early morning on a Wednesday in April there was a lot of traffic using the ferry
Reaching the summit. Notice that all of these ‘head on’ climbing pictures are of me. Yes, K’s been waiting for a while. Pictures of her climbing are always from behind, and usually zoomed in quite a bit to see her.
We had a couple of hours to check out the town before we could check into our apartment. Grabbed a coffee, some pastries , went to the bank … took the ubiquitous ‘laundry’ photo. The usual stuff.
Orata (Sea Bream) with a mixed salad and Blitva (the classic Croatian potatoes, chard and garlic), washed down with a nice Malvasia. If you’re a red meat fanatic, this area is probably not for you.
Mike HadenMy favourite time of day in much of Europe as the sun sets and the lights come up and the temperature falls a bit and the social hour warms up. Reply to this comment 13 hours ago
Today's ride: 14 km (9 miles) Total: 1,005 km (624 miles)
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Scott AndersonRachel Price and the Lake Street Dive! I think we saw them perform live four times, the first in 2013 at the Sisters Folk Festival - not long after your video was taped, I think. There's a night I'd love to go back and live again. Reply to this comment 22 hours ago
Lyle McLeodTo Scott AndersonThat must have been great. What a voice. I didn’t really find out about them until about 2016, Callum introduced us to their music. Always good to have your kids bring new stuff home. Reply to this comment 21 hours ago
