Day 9 - The Brbinj Figs

Highlights

Fresh figs from the thief

Family dinner

Learnings

Never assume you will not be too hot to wear your hair down... you will always be too hot

Always bring water

Coffee is worth the swim

Well the milk we bought for coffee finally went off, dang. I debated swimming to shore for a cafe latte but figured that was a lot of effort although I did bring a water proof wallet I decided against the water proof bag. I don’t think I really would need it either other than for this one moment - but - I would have had quite a different story to tell you if I had eh? It’s ok. Next time.

Instead I made some coffee on board and Jose the miracle bringer had some milk! Crisis averted! Mmm coffee. We left around 11 from magic cove with notes of a storm approaching for the night. We didn’t know where we should port since Zadar marina noted it was full.

So, we basically spent the day floating in and out of little towns looking for a good and safe place for the night. Seemed the word was out about the approaching storm, since every spot we checked was full. We even hooked a buoy in one spot where the attendant told us that we would actually be better moving down the coast further due to the safety concerns for winds in that area.

We were really in no rush - or at least the girls and I weren’t, but there did come a point in the day when we exchanged glances of ‘what if we actually don’t find a place’.

Alas, Adriatic Sea Hero Jose again comes through today finding the perfect spot - Brbinj.

We are staged and ready for the buoy capture. Myself with the rope to thread (this buoy had a ring) and Caitlyn with the hook (she’s become quite the master). We notice we are approaching a bit fast - Jose overestimates our skill perhaps - and Caitlyn catches it but it’s gone in a flash along with the hook! Now what!? We are all quite panicked thinking oh my goodness now we’ve done it - we aren’t sailors! We have failed you Jose! How do we do this now?!
There is no second hook btw...

In walks our land fish, Kathleen! This girl has nerves of steal when it comes to jumping in that water. Where the rest of us timidly dip our feet in first or purvey what might be in the water before jumping or even allow our sunscreen to set, Kathleen takes one swift wave of her hair over her shoulder and in she goes. So, in our moment of need, Kathleen is ready and poised - she’s on the edge in a flash and diving into the water for the hook which at this point has floated about 30m away. (Duh Meagan, of course this thing floats)

She expertly swims, retrieving the hook and bringing salvation with it. Here we were worried about a storm approaching but without the hook how would we ever tie in to stay the night!? Our newest sea hero. We attempt again, slower this time, and nail it. High fives and cheers - the swimming pool is open!

Turns out this little port is a main stop for the main ferry. We got to watch as a million vehicles (not exaggerating... well maybe a little) exited the ferry and another million lined the streets ready to board. I watched dutifully as I know in the next week or so I may want to do this once I come to terms that I won’t be sailing my whole trip. Sad reality is hitting me. As did I mention? This is our last full day at sea.

By this time it’s late afternoon and we make a plan to get on land around 6 for dinner. We can see two restaurants from shore.

Onto the dingy! Always a thrill - we now have a system and order - very Von Trapp style. Singing included in fact. We tie to the dock and make our way through Brbinj. The smallest town we have journeyed through yet, or at least the most rural.

We follow a pathway out into the fields, seeing more houses ahead. When Jose exudes some excitement pointing at the tree, he jumps into the bush and returns with a large bite taken out of a fresh fig! He pulls another from the tree and passes it along to us to try - wow. Is this real life? Yes it is. I always find figs in Canada to have a bitter sticky flavour - these though - these did not. I will forever dream of these figs now I believe as there is simply nothing better

than fresh fruit off a tree. Nothing. Jose the fig thief.

As we walk I realize not only fig trees line this path but so many olive trees as well - I never knew these small delights grew on such big trees! For some reason I believe they would be on vines or something similar to grapes perhaps? I think it was due to their size? Now that I think of cherries though, I’m really not sure why I came to this conclusion. I really wanted to pick one and try it ... I don’t know why I didn’t?

The path we are walking on I discover is actually a road as vehicles approach and pass us. What would they do it they approached one another? I have no idea - but it would be an interesting site. There’s no shoulder at all, someone would need to reverse to a home to pull over I think.

We come out the path into another marina! Whaaat. After looking at the map I realize how small this little

place is. Here the marina is beautiful - and upon further research Jose also notes expensive. We see another restaurant which over looks the marina - oh yes we decide this is where we shall eat of course. Sadly, they are completely booked! How!? Well, remember that boat from earlier? With a million cars... apparently they were mostly Italian tourists. August 15 marks the beginning of European summer where many countries actually give all citizens vacation time.

So we head back from where we came and dipped into the restaurant just beside where we landed the dingy. There were only 4 tables and we realized that this was just a husband and wife operation. No menu, just the lovely woman giving us details of what was available for offer. We all decided to go with fish of the day - and to start calamari :) everything was extremely tasty especially after a long day of heat and a few glasses of wine while we waited.

Tonight we decide to enjoy some dessert - I’ve seen it on every menu since arriving really to Europe even in Italy, they have the ‘Pancake’. A more North American understanding of this would be Crepe. You had a choice of jam or chocolate and today chocolate wins. I haven’t really been interested in sweets or chocolate just because of the heat, gelato doesn’t count. This was a nice light treat I must say. I thought it would be heavy and too sweet but it was just right.

Another late night, getting back to the boat around 11 or 12 the sky on the horizon started to flash with lightning. The storm was indeed approaching. We sat with Jose and enjoyed a glass of the wine Vesna gifted to us. What a special woman - so kind. We all couldn’t believe this was the last night, and with bellies full, glasses empty, and eyes heavy I snuck out to the helm to enjoy the light show and take my last chance to rest on the water under the stars awaiting the storm.