Day 18 End of the Road

Before going to bed last night I looked outside at the terrential rain—the street in from the of hotel is flooded and people were wading though it. This morning it is sunny, clear, breezy and a little cooler. Fortified from the hotel buffet breakfast I began my last day of riding. I leave the walled city center and go through the large tree covered plaza which is filled with tables and tents for the regular market—local products, fruit and produce.

The ride today is short and easy and should only take a couple hours. I am quickly in the countryside and enjoying the cool morning air and beautiful scenery. I have mentioned the many stands along the roads during this trip. Selling honey, cherries, and other agricultural bounty. The honey stand today looks quite professional while many have been a simple table will jars and bottles. Many times this bottles have looked like reused water bottles.

I also pass a couple memorials along the way. I haven’t mentioned them before but I have seen dozens along the road. Some are quite large and some have a photograph along with them. I am not sure of the purpose or reason. In the United States I know sometimes people put a marker on the road where a loved one had an accident. It is hard to believe that the large number of these I have seen throughout the trip are accident victims.

After some rolling hills and a brief climb I come arising a bend and there is the sea. From here it is mostly downhill to Dubrovnik. I am coming in the north side or the city near the main harbor where the ferries and cruise ships are.

My hotel is very close to the ferry station so it will be easy when I depart on Sunday. I find my hotel guesthouse and check in use a little past 11:00. The first thing I do is sort my clothes and find a laundry nearby. The lady weighs my clothes and gives me a price. Happy to have someone else take the time, I pay and am told the clothes will be ready at 3:00.

Since I am on the opposite side of the city and quite a ways from the old walled center I look for what I might do on this side of town. I find a market and bakery near the hotel and buy a savory and a sweet snack then take them to a park next to the hotel where I find a bench to relax, eat and look at maps. I decide to bike around the modern harbor and on to the public beach. I have been to the city with Crystal more than 15 years ago so I do remember a little about the old city—it is an amazing place. I expect that it has changed some, and I have read that it is a very touristy city.

I find my way to the public beach which is pretty understated and not crowded. The beach does not have sand but is a pebble beach. I wade in at first and am surprised that the water is cooler than other places on this trip. I walk around snow and out to a dock which has stairs to under the water so I take the plunge and go swimming. I should say that I am wearing my swim trunks and a shirt which are the only two pieces of clothing I didn’t take to be laundered. The water is so clear and cool. Enjoyed the refreshing swim then stat for a while drying off before biking around the peninsula then back to the hotel where I grabbed a bag before walking to the laundry. Bag packed with fresh, clean clothes and I return to the room and am ready to bike to the old city center.

I choose the road which is goes high above the old city and gives great views of the castle and walls as I approach. Then it i through the gates and wandered the streets. The center of the city is flat and laid out in a grid pattern with long rectangles rather than square blocks. The west and particular the east sides of the old center are built on hills so they are longs series of stairs. The old city is so intractable and preserved and is worth joining the hordes of people here to admire all it has to offer.

Just before heading out there is some activity at the end of the street I am on—it is near the church. Soon people are exiting and the bride and groom are walking down the street with a band and all the wedding guests. There are attracting quite a bit of attention and cheers from the tourists.

It is late afternoon now so I bike back to the hotel and find a restaurant nearby to relax and eat. Again, I am craving something different so I choose a place known for its burgers and sandwiches. I get the pulled pork barbecue sandwich and it was very good. The sun is going down and the air is cooling off. Since I am in the new harbor I just walk across the street and find a bench to watch the sunset.

While I still have a sightseeing day here tomorrow and another week in Italy, I feel a little melancholy as I have finished the bike portion of the trip. I have so enjoyed my time on the bike and although it has been challenging at times I truly enjoy the type of travel the bike affords me. Like I said, I have tomorrow as a sightseeing/rest day, and then on Sunday I take the ferry from here to Bari, Italy. The ferry leaves here around 11:00 am and arrives at 7:00 pm. That is 8 hours to reflect on this trip. All those hours alone on the road gave me plenty of time to think, now I need to sift through all those thoughts and see what I do once I am home.