Good evening from Rijeka.
The first real day in Croatia could be entitled: Off-road adventure in Croatia – between toll traps and wild horses. The day began with a small mishap – again. We had just set off when the navigation system promptly directed us onto a toll road. Despite all our efforts to avoid the highway, our vehicle found itself in front of a large toll station. The detour only cost us just under €4, but we were very frustrated that we had once again fallen into a toll trap. Be that as it may, we just used the really well-developed highway and made up a few kilometers. The day will certainly be long enough again 😉
As soon as we had left the toll station behind us, it wasn’t long before we were winding through completely different Croatian landscapes in the hinterland. We drove along narrow roads, serpentines and uphill stretches until suddenly signs appeared that caused us unexpected excitement: “Winnetou signs”. For fans of Karl May’s novel characters, this was a small highlight. It almost felt as if we were riding through the landscapes that once served as the backdrop for the famous films.
Our first off-road route of the day got off to a very exciting start. The unpaved road led us through a rough but beautiful landscape. The views were simply breathtaking, even if the horizon was unfortunately lost in the hazy light. Nevertheless, the expanse of the Adriatic coast with a view of the island of Krk was impressive. It was as if nature had been staged especially for us. We thought we were at the highest point of the route and made the most of the views with all the technology we had. Although we no longer continued directly along the edge of the mountain, we were still going upwards. This meant we still had a few nice spots. At the very end of the trail, there was even a viewing platform with a stone bench.
After this exciting section, we continued onto the second trail. However, this turned out to be less adventurous. The trail led us through an area full of mossy boulders and rocks. Despite the idyllic atmosphere, it turned out that the route was scenic but not very challenging to ride. Sometimes it’s the combination of nature and challenge that makes an off-road experience unforgettable – and this time it was nature that took center stage. However, the track was quite long overall, so even the most beautiful forest is just forest at some point. A small highlight was still waiting for us, even if we only fully understood it after consulting Aunt Google. A herd of horses appeared at the edge of the forest. Even with a brown and white spotted foal. My guess: wild horses. Didn’t Croatia still have wild horses? Yes, they still exist here, or have returned. Released during the turmoil of war in the Balkans and left to run wild over the years, there are now several herds of feral domestic horses in Croatia.
Conclusion: The day brought a mixture of unexpected surprises and quiet moments. Even if not every trail offered the expected adventure, Croatia left a lasting impression with its wild beauty and the little coincidences we encountered. We can only talk about a small part of the country – but we really liked the area of the trails – and our low-budget accommodation was also a positive surprise. As a student residence, it has adequate workspaces – a relief not to “have to” write the blog in bed 🙂
