Nahaj, the 16th century castle, a symbol of the city of Senj viewed from a half hour into our hike up the front mountain.
The harbor and part of the town.
We meet so few South Africans on the trails that should we wish to see more of them, we have to travel to South Africa or remain in San Diego. It changed last week when we met three women, great-granny, granny and a friend, in Plitvicka. It was most pleasant chatting with them. Like many South Africans, they live outside the motherland. It was a first meeting of ex-patriates from the Isle of Man.
A week later, we completed a rather bold hike and returned to the supermarket to restock. As we walked up the to the revolving entrance door, we noticed a couple of mountain bikes against the wall, one with a South African flag displayed prominently. That was even more novel. We decided to hunt them down in the market, prepared to lobby cabbages and tomatoes at their feet should we have felt they would not stop to talk with us. Should they resist further, I was even prepared to grab a frozen salmon from behind the counter and whack the male—such was my resolve. Down the aisles we treaded cautiously, seeking out probably two or more funny speaking people who might even appear strange, too—it’s been said of us, why not them? As we passed the cereal section, but not quite reaching fresh eggs and freezers, we spotted two cyclists dressed in the appropriate gear although looking scruffy. I asked Jen to approach from the rear and block or cut them off in the event they were shy and bolted. It turned out to be an exaggeration as they were like most, friendly. We spent twenty minutes conversing which conversation resuming at the cash register after we had parted the first time, and then again outside. Coincidentally, I would give odds that cashiers in Croatia have not served two sets of South Africans unknown to each other in sequence, ever. The De Decker’s, Mary and her husband are incredibly fit and strong and have the correct amount of craziness, maybe even more then the prerequisite quantity. They began riding in the south of Croatia and are continuing north. They hike as well but ride more often. Their children have done some incredible ultra-marathons with a son being one of few finishers in his section of the ‘Yukon bonanza’ recently. Vrystaat! Actually, they are from George, in the Western Cape, a place we hiked a couple of years back over two visits.
Anyway, after our third tangle with lightning, rain and first with hail the previous day, we read the weather report more carefully and stayed in town. Because there are only short hikes in Senj proper, we tackled the mountain that overlooks the city. We walked well over 3,000 feet at which stage we pulled out breakfast and ate it at lunch time. Our second most difficult task of the day was finding midday shade—who says life is without its challenges? Along the route, we followed the progress of a beekeeper. Interesting what life presents each day. At one hive, the bees were buzzing outside the man-made hive. Fortunately, we were at least twenty yards from them. The thought of an attack for Jenni's sweetness was frightening.
An hour up the mountain.
At over 3,000 feet above our commencement point of sea level, looking toward Rijeka up the coastline.
A view from our top with the telephoto.
The castle from distance and height with telephoto.
At midnight.
Big water.
See opening text for context. (Fashion setters.)
Cheers,
Jenni and Jeffrey
The next 'night' we watched the 'day' end.
The land of castles and earlier wars.
And many beautiful scenes as we hike back from the top of a ski slope.
No comments:
Post a Comment