Monday 28 June 2010 Zadar (a new adventure begins)

Monday 28 June 2010 Zadar

Sandy and I arrived in Zadar with heavy hearts, we had such a nice time in Mali Losinj and this ferry ride seemed like the start of the journey home.  We talked about chartering a yacht in Split but that involved a bus ride, another hotel and more packing and repacking.  I think we are getting tired of living out of a suitcase, or pannier in this case.

After much discussion we just couldnt decide what we wanted to do, bus to Split, ferry to Italy to make our way to England or ferry to Italy to fly straight home.  Neither of us knew what was the right decision and after wandering around Zadar I said “Stuff it, lets just go home”.  We headed to the ferry office to by tickets and Sandy just knew it was the wrong thing to do and asked “Can we just have a cup of tea before we buy the tickets?”  I agreed and just at that moment Sandy motioned across the other side of the port at the line of nice yachts and said “They look like charter yachts?”  “Sure do” I replied and then I pulled out the iPhone and Googled “Zadar Yacht Charter” and the search results showed a map of exactly where we were standing and a number of charter companies on the other side of the water.  “Lets go and have a look” Sandy suggested.

To get to the other side of the water you can walk 500m to the footbridge or catch a rowboat skilfully rowed by an old man the 50m to the pier on the other side.  We took the rowboat.  This man has oarmanship (???) to be proud of.  He effortlessly glided us, and four others, across the water and only accepted $2.50 for the two of us.

We then walked to the first yacht charter office we saw Torete Yacht Charters and spoke to the man.  Next thing you know were onboard a Bavaria 34 having a look around and discussing rates.  As I dont have a valid Croatian license we had to ask to take a skipper but were actually really glad of that as he's a top bloke and will teach us all sorts of good things about sailing in Croatia.  On Friday if were having fun I'm going to sit my boat license exam and then extend the charter for another week without the skipper.  That is if I remember all my lights and shapes etc.

So we've gone to the shops and bought provisions, unpacked out gear and settled down to a lazy afternoon on the boat before we head out tomorrow.  Life is grand again.

This reminds me a great chat I had with Kevin (English bloke who was cycling with his equally top wife Mary who we met in France) where he quoted from Wind in the Willows;

"There is nothing--absolutely nothing - half so much worth doing as simply messing about in boats."

We do have a small confession to make, we both didn't really have suitable boatie type shoes so we went and bought ourselves some 'Crocs'.  Yes I know they are the ugliest creations ever and in the past I have always bagged people who wear them but I've seen so many yachties in them that they must be OK.  As it turns out they're bloody comfy :)