Today was a highlight I have to admit.We debated if we could do the full day walk today but the weather was cooler and the big walk yesterday gave us confidence we could manage the challenge of such a climb so we made the decision just before leaving the hotel.
Our driver collected us at nine and we set off to Poklon about 45 minutes away.Some of the trip was on toll roads and we drove through National Parkland to Ucka first and then further up the mountain we arrived at Poklon.
We were struck by the views immediately.Kvarner Bay lay out in front of us,blue as blue dotted with islands ad far as the eye could see.Rijeka was spread not below us,much bigger than I imagined.
Poklon is named after the first tribes but it was a pilgrimage site too for the overland route to the shrine so there is a large cross recognizing their faith, as in subsequent years during the wars, access was impossible and Poklon was where they could see the shrine so they worshipped there.
We headed off to climb Vojak, the highest mountain in the Ucka National Park, in fact the highest in Croatia. From here (I never said we climbed from the bottom!) Poklon is about 900 meters above sea level and we climbed to 1,401 metres to teach the summit of Vojak.
The trail was through some lovely beech forest and we had a few hit and misses with the directions we were given but we followed the road upwards and eventually the structures on top of the peak came into sight.These were telecommunication type structures but we kept walking until we got to the climbing tower and observation point built by Austrian Hungarian interests,now restored by the local community with a shop and viewing tower.Spectacular views all over Istria.
We spent a bit of time here and Brad's great nephews have bibs featuring local butterflies.Little will they know how hard she worked to get them for them.
The butterflies are colorful and in large numbers.We have seen brilliant blue ones each day along with admirals and today there were lots of rich dark ones with red markings,almost clouds in places.
We might have seen a buzzard and a jeweled salamander but they did not emerge for us. Lots of lizards however scuttling over the rocks when disturbed by our noisy appearance.
Our very first live farm animal we saw today as we approached Lovran was a goat with kids.Not sure where they store animals but plenty of meat on the menu.
Well atop the mountain we were but we had to get down and it was a long way down,rough tracks,hair raising at times but well signposted and plenty of markings on the rocks to guide us down 1386 meters until we hit the coastal town of Lovran. Much of the track was through the bush on well formed bush tracks but then it would change to rocky steps, perpendicular at times and every step had to be carefully placed to avoid an accident.
One excitement was the wild flowers on the first part of the track.There were lots of familiar ones but in small alpine sizing such as geraniums, but the excitement was the low growing rose like a spinossa or Scots rose.So pretty and vigorous with a single white flower.Then further down the mountain there were roses like our briar rose growing wild along the pathway.A photo stop was required to show rose lovers back home.
Several hours had passed and we still had two hours to go at our lunch stop according to the sign but I am afraid it took us much more than that. Eight hours in total.Not bad for the old girls!!!
At one stage I was in sight of the town and we had a long trail of steps to climb down.They stretched out as far as you could see and I was seriously wondering if we would make it.Brad was finding it tough so we had a stop and some sustenance which was just enough to get us down the last stretch to the town.
What a relief to emerge onto the main street and find our hotel was right there.
High fives all round.We had done it but we both have decided this is the last effort at this degree of difficulty.
It is such a pleasant little town to wander around.The night was warm and dinner was needed after our revival time so we found a beach side place to dine and then ate a ice cream sundae at one of those fancy parlors they have here.We have been promising ourselves one since we arrived and today we earned it!!!!
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