WINDING ANNE UP

SETTLING IN TO THE PACE OF THINGS

I hitched into Krk the other day to get petrol because this marina in Punat has eco park status of some sort and no petrol services are allowed. I got a lift by a friendly marina denizen who kindly drove me in to the petrol station, waited and drove me back despite actually heading to a beach the other way.

I'm told the marina is the biggest in Croatia. It certainly is well run, maintained and serviced. Seems a lot of people with boats in the marina pop down for the weekend or few days and don't necessarily go anywhere. The result is quite a bustling place with people hanging out on their boats with the feel of an aquatic caravan park.

After yesterday's outing I did my first 'Med Mooring' back at the marina berth. That is, I reversed all the way in and tied 'stern to' on the dock. It went perfectly, text book fashion. Call it beginner's luck.

We dined at one of the marina restaurants and had our cheapest meal in quite a while. $15 AUD for two for pizza and salad. Cheap when you don't order grog with it. Speaking of which, we bought beer in two litre plastic bottles yesterday like those family sized coke bottles. They cost $3.60 AUD each. Can't complain about the price, tastes good too, thank god for good refrigeration on board.

We bought a Croatian flag at the chandlery and Bill wound Anne up. Up the mast that is, to thread a line to the spreader for our courtesy flag. She looked terribly competant in that fierce Croatian heat.

Off to the shops for provisions today, top up the water, say goodbye to comfy showers and toilets and we'll head south out of here.

GOOD FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES