Saturday and guest blog with Elisabeth Haug
Now we are almost halfway through our journey, on Saturday (read today) we have been out for 3 weeks and we then have the same amount of time left. Things happen that you have not planned for better or worse. It means that you have so many memories to deal with later. I think you benefit from the holiday well into the autumn when we sit and remember the trip. What may not feel so funny at the moment, usually becomes a good laugh later.
Table of contents
Pag - Gradac
This week we have travelled from beautiful Pag, via Gradac to Dubrovnik, about 45 kilometres. We started the journey with the distance Pag - Gradac, about 32 miles. The last miles were on the coastal road from Makarska to Gradac, about 45 minutes' drive. What wonderful views. There were small communities along the way and small swimming coves most of the time. We could stop at every corner.
Gradac
Once in Gradac we would stay a couple of days with good friends. What a city!!!, so cosy. It was wonderful bath, high mountains behind and a nice pedestrian street full of restaurants. Unfortunately, there is no camping or parking space so we were grateful that we could borrow a car park.
Thank you Mario and Angelica, and of course Mario's wonderful parents. Elias thought he had another grandma. Elias said: "Bosanna gives me so much attention, she is so nice". It can't get any better than that for a seven-year-old. 🙂
The road from Gradac to Dubrovnik
Between Gradac and the border with Bosnia (which we have to cross to get to Dubrovnik) is, according to the inhabitants, Croatia's most fertile land. If you spit here, something starts to grow, they say.
There is so much to see on this road, again nice bays, small villages, nice views. It really is a good time to get off the motorway and take the coastal road for this stretch.
Dubrovnik, Camping Solitudo
Camping Solitudo is located in the centre of Dubrovnik with walking distance to the old town (or take bus number 6) and nice restaurant streets. The city is more expensive than previous places we have been to, so you should check carefully before you sit down to eat. The Old Town is very expensive compared to the rest of the city. The campsite has several beaches to choose from and we chose the one that is a little quieter, nice to snorkel and nice views.
What about the fridge and food storage facilities?
We have now been without a fridge for just over a week. It's a challenge not to have the ability to chill food and many people have advised us to buy a decent cooler. Well, that's probably a good idea. But where should we buy one???
We have spent days looking and now we have finally found a marina shop that orders one for us. We have to wait in Dubrovnik a few days and according to the plan it will arrive on Friday (read yesterday) In the picture we are travelling by bus from the campsite, changing in the old town to find the shop. It was a fun adventure in itself.
If I were to give a boot to Folksam, I would appreciate that they have claims adjusters who know what a motorhome is and what they actually undertake when insuring a motorhome that is going to Europe. For a week, they have sent us from one workshop to another. A hole in the wall in the middle of nowhere that has barely seen a motorhome. Well, we'll fix the car when we get home.
A nice phone call
"Hello I am calling about your fridge. The fridge is here."
Oh my God, what a nice conversation. Even better that he could drive it out to the campsite. Complete happiness to be able to move on and live as usual again. The old fridge now serves as a pantry and a portable fridge next to the bed 🙂.
Montenegro, here we come!
So it's been an up and down week, with hot water to drink, no food to prepare and, I'll admit, a somewhat agitated mood due to some difficulties.
Then there have been fun evenings, new places we have discovered and nice new acquaintances we have made. Motorhome life as it should be, an ordinary wonderful life. Sometimes good and sometimes a little tougher. New challenges and experiences await. The plan is still south with the first stop Montenegro, nothing booked, nothing planned. See you next week.
Did you miss the last post about the trip? Read the Cosy start to the week, challenging end
Top photo in the post: Robert Lundström. Taken this week with a drone. View from the campsite in Dubrovnik.
Mr Frank Olsen says:
Yes the coast between Split and Dubrovnik was really great ! And that Dubrovnik was expensive yes it is absolutely sure, Solitudo camping was the most expensive of the more than 150 campsites we were on during our long trip last year. But great it was, and the city wall walk around the old town in Dubrovnik was fantastic !
A tip for Montenegro is to drive around the Bay of Kotor instead of taking the ferry across at Kamenari. We took the ferry but read afterwards that it is really beautiful around the big bay so we regretted it a bit! Good that it worked out with a cooler ? Good trip to Montenegro and Albania!
22 July 2017 - 8:46
Elisabeth says:
Thank you very much Frank. It will be exciting to see this country that we now come to 🙂 .
22 July 2017 - 20:41
Peppercorn says:
Can Per take the bus back and help me park at Mario's?? I'll give him a beer. Have a good journey. It is fun to follow you here. And thanks for the tip about the coastal road.
22 July 2017 - 9:25
Elisabeth says:
Of course Peppe, I'll send him on the bus 🙂 !
22 July 2017 - 20:42
Hasse says:
Too bad no one could fix the fridge. Such experiences are important to share. The chain is just right, sharpen up! But at least the lager is cold now. Drive carefully.
22 July 2017 - 14:00
Elisabeth says:
Yes, Hasse, I will take a few things with Folksam when we get home, but now I am enjoying the rest of the trip.
PS The beer tastes very good cold, especially when you have been without. 🙂 DS
22 July 2017 - 20:46
BP says:
Absolutely wonderful pictures! However, the beach looks a bit uncomfortable and hard with all the rocks;-)
Then I understand that you are happy to finally have a working refrigerator again. But of course it's strange that you can still manage, but not as well;-)
22 July 2017 - 20:43
Elisabeth says:
Hello ,
I agree that the beach is somewhat hard but Per insists on his sun mattress from Thailand, I myself have a slightly softer version 🙂.
Yes, life goes on, but choose a lot yourself, in what way. Positive and make the best of the situation 🙂 .
22 July 2017 - 20:50