~* Taking our beloved mountainbikes to the south: crabs, forest fires and nude camping in Istria 14.-19. 07. 2006 *~

: Master of the crabs

After driving the good old Volkswagen from Austria through Slovenia to Croatia, my long-time biking pal Franz and me arrived at the city of Pula and the campsite Stupice, happy to jump into the Mediterranean after driving roughly six hours.

We met a good old friend there who showed us around and introducted us to some nice scout people whose good deed of the day was to (illegally) harpoon some fish, yes.

Well, after pitching our tent at parcel U112 (so if you camp there, remember us!!) we got on our bikes to explore the cape Kamenjak. Kamenjak is the most southern part of the peninsular of Istria and has been a natural preserve once. The area is famous for its numerours orchids. While some parts of it are closed for cars, it's hilly terrain is ideal for hiking and biking.

Along the shore, over rocks and through woods and narrow pass-throughs we came to the south-west coast. From our high viewpoint we could look down on the rocks forming giant steps going into the water. There were some people on those steps. We watched a marvellous sundown for a long time.

Later we used a small gas cooker to prepare us some warm food on the rocks of the breezy shore close to the campsite, a ritual we would repeat later on because of our enormous pasta-stock.

: Peninsular of Kamenjak

: bikes in a small car

: fast Franz

: red ground

: abandoned stone bit with Franz

: Franz R.

: crabs bay!!

: little one missing four legs

: killer lizard

: killing!

: a squid

: they are a couple

: shrimp by franz

: small crab eating by franz

: big one caught with towel

: handling the beast

: horses

: free parking

Back in the city of Medulin we decided to join hundreds of others walking the tourist mile, eating icecream, buying souvenirs, going to the amusement park...I liked it! A thing I didn't like so much was the forest fire burning on the other peninsula just across the bay. The large fire coloured the night sky red.

When buying my souvenirs from a young boy I asked him:

"Do you know what's burning there?"

"I think it's Premantura."

(shitshit, the place were we stayed) "Really?!? What?!?"

"I think it's campsite Stupice... I THINK!!"

(shitshitshitshit)

I wasn't so worried about my tent, there wasn't much in it. After a long time Franz asked me if I would call our friends at the campsite. Shit yes! I had a guilty consience that a hadn't thought about them earlier. I was relieved to hear that they are alright. The wind was blowing in the other direction, so there was no danger for them at this time. Nevertheless some people got quite worried.

When we tried to get back to the campsite, the police had blocked the road, all we could do was wait. After an hour they let us through, I had expected worse. Glowing tree trunks and burned earth were right next to the road. After a traditional late night dinner on the windy rocks at the shore we went to sleep.