BIOGRAD NA MORU TO PREKO, UGLIAN (21 miles)

Soft pillows, Air Conditioning and no mozzies make this one of our best nights yet. We wake to sunshine and once again enjoy the spectacular view from our terrace of the rooftops of Biograd to the sea and our destination of the island of Pasman beyond. We catch the 10 o'clock ferry and have a sunny 15 minute crossing to Tkon on Pasman. Our route takes us northwards on the only road of the island and it is lovely and flat and there are very few cars. We pass through several rather deserted villages before arriving at the bridge that joins Pasman to its neighbouring island of Uglian (we will sail under this bridge tomorrow on our way to Dugi Otok) We take photos and then see a tempting sign to a cove. The sun is still out so we take a detour passing through olive groves and fig trees down to a sheltered cove: more rock and concrete than beach really but we find a secluded spot for some sunbathing, reading and eating our picnic. As the cloud starts to build we make our way onwards to Preko, stopping at the ferry port to buy our tickets for tomorrow. We cycle around the seafront and try to find our apartment. There are no numbers or signs and eventually we find ourselves in the wrong house, luckily rescued by Maria, our landlady, before the German occupants return. It has now started to rain - heavily. We are shown into a capacious apartment with a fine terrace overlooking the sea (which has now turned grey and stormy) Maria gives us a welcome drink of homemade nut liquor which is warming and rather delicious. We have tea and a hot bath listening to the thunder overhead and the torrential rain outside. We decide to adjust our plans for tomorrow (radical move off piste!) and book a night on the southern aspect of Dugi Otok - thus allowing us the opportunity to explore the National Park area without too long a cycle in the rain as it appears the forecast is still not very promising. More impressive rainbows before the rain finally abates. We walk along the seafront to Konoba Josa where we eat inside but with pleasant ambience, vintage radios and a few locals. We have fried calamari and grilled fish and return to our convent like apartment ready for a good nights sleep.