We have made our way across to the Istrian Peninsula (North West Croatia), and since we have been away the temperature has been in the mid to high thirties, dropping to mid twenties over night. Sharon refuses to say it’s too hot – that’s not in her nature – but there have been signs of cracking.

Scorchio!

Our priorities on campsite selection have now changed with shade becoming the number one feature, but with every site full to capacity this has not always been easy or even possible to achieve!

In the shade at last!

At least at our current site just outside Novigrad we have a pitch with some of the precious shade and perhaps lulled into a false sense of security we decided to set off on a 35 km bike ride over a combination of quiet roads and farm tracks. The temperature was up at 36^oC and the sun was blazing in clear blue skies. The ride looked and was fairly flat apart from one road climb which on a normal day at home would have been a breeze but here had me sweating profusely  and Sharon glowing heavily by the time we reached the top. Luckily in the next village was a shop selling cold drinks, and whilst I sat in the square Sharon went in to purchase some. When she returned with drinks in hand she said they had two chiller cabinets with 5 shelves in each – 1 shelf containing soft drinks the other 9 containing a variety of cold beers! Looks like someone has got their priorities right.

Novigrad bell tower apparently modeled on St Marks

You can’t complain when its hot, dry and dusty!

We arrived back and cooled off with a swim before cooling further with a cold beer and have put our planned longer ride for tomorrow on hold!