Claire and Charlie visit us in Croatia

Claire and Charlie visit us in Croatia

Monday 2nd August... Linda - At last the week begins for the arrival of Claire and Charlie tomorrow. This means we've had a very busy day, which started by leaving our anchorage in Solta at 7.30am followed by a two hour crossing to the mainland. It doesn't matter what time we travel or where we go, bigger boats always seem to want the same patch of sea as us. Today, it was the Solta to Split ferry, which passed very close behind us. 

Yes he's going behind us

Then as we were about to pass through the gap between Split and the island of Ciovo, this tanker came out and anchored. 

Then a crane being towed by a small tug. This one not that close though.

We arrived at Marina Kastela just before 10am and checked in. This is the first marina we have been in since arriving in Croatia. The surroundings looked quite pleasant against the mountainous backdrop again. Just after we had berthed we noticed a fire in the hills to the west of us. It was out of control with more and more smoke and with the binoculars we could see seaplanes flying around the hills and coming down to scoop up water. 

Nearing Marina Kastela

Looks pleasant surroundings

Mm, yes nice

Colourful

The fire just starting

About half an hour later, taking hold and spreading

The fire was a long way off, the other side of Trogir so no danger to us. We had a lot on our itinerary, check-in,  laundry x 2 loads, charge all electrical gadgets (now we have mains electricity in the marina), defrost the fridge, Dean haircut, go shopping to Lidl 😀, find a campingaz supplier, fill water tanks, and not forgetting wash the boat down (Dean's still at it and it's now 7.15pm). No dinner or showers yet. When we got back from shopping there was ash in the air and on the boat. Good job Dean hadn't already washed the decks!

Well done Dean,

 and thankyou for buying 24 cans of Cider 😀

...and two packs of English Mature Cheddar 😀

So, I've just popped my head outside and can still see some smoke from the fire, and the seaplanes still flying around. There was something on the news about it...good job Claire and Charlie weren't arriving today as there was disruption to planes landing.

https://www.total-croatia-news.com/news/55030-fire-in-seget-gornji

Tuesday 3rd August.... Linda - Arrivals Day, yippee! Last job before the big meet up was to go to Konzum supermarket for the last bits and bobs, plus Dean got his campingaz bottle filled for less than a fiver, now that's what we call a real bargain. 

Nice morning to be landing in Split

When we got back we grabbed a quick coffee and checked the flight info.... plane was 20 minutes early so we dashed to the bus stop to get the earlier bus. We had been at the bus stop for about one minute when the bus came! Dean hadn't even got our bus fares out of his pocket 😀. 

We arrived at the airport just as the 'landed' sign appeared on the board, and went straight to the arrivals to wait eagerly for Claire and Charlie.

Yay, at last they're here

We caught the bus back to the marina, it was a piece of cake, so easy, and cheap compared to the taxi prices quoted by the marina. 

Bus stop trio

By 1pm we were back on Thesee and ready for a snack and a bit of a rest for everyone. After all, Claire and Charlie had been up half the night to catch their early morning flight to Split.

There is a swimming pool in the marina and it was too good an opportunity to miss. So when it opened at 4pm we all got our cozzies on and spent over an hour in the swimming pool. It was quite posh, one of those pools with dedicated swimming lanes, and the shallow end was deep too at 1.6 metres. 

When we got back it was time to start dinner, and we noticed that the fires in the hills had re-ingnited.  Charlie was on binocular fire watch, giving us updates and watching the seaplanes coming down to scoop water and drop it on the land.  It was such a shame to see it spreading once more, and by bedtime the flames were visible over a very large area. 

Charlie keeping his eye on the hillside fires

Now at the wheel getting ready for tomorrow's expedition

Thank you Claire for all our goodies

Weetabix, Jelly babies, Stuffing, Caramels, and Covid self tests

amongst other things 

Dean and Charlie putting the flag away for the night

But before it got dark we managed to fit in a game of Rummikub. Dean was tonight's Champion player. 

A bit blurry, but you can clearly see

the flames on the hillsides

Charlie is going to add a blog post about his exciting day.

Charlie - We woke up at 3.45am and travelled to the airport. I was excited and nervous about my first plane ride; we went through security and the boarding process. After 2 hours at the airport, we were finally on the plane. The view from 36,000 feet high was stunning! We landed and came out, checked our passports and saw 2 gleaming faces. It was around 32 degrees and we went to the boat on a bus. When we got there we settled in and a few hours later we went practice swimming. We came back to the boat and played rummy cub and watched the hill fires with the binoculars. Then we all went to bed. 

Wednesday 4th August... Linda - Visitor Day 2, and it was full steam ahead. Grandad went to pay the bill for the marina and then we left for Necujam, on the island of Solta. It was a good choice as we could swim and mess about on the water with boat toys. But first things first and Charlie got some practise tying knots before we left, and learning the 'ropes' as they say.

Tying a clove hitch

Pulling the Topping Lift

Claire and Charlie helped to release the mooring lines and we were off across the bay. Charlie and I got the fenders in and stood at the bow to watch for other boats whilst Claire helmed, and Grandad put the fenders and lines away in the lockers.

Charlie and I on the lookout for other boats 

in the marina

On our way, Claire helming and Charlie looking 

for the green buoy navigation marker

Make room for this incoming superyacht

Aah, here's the green marker

Charlie keeping an eye out for fishing pots

Arriving at Necujam

On the way we saw a SHARK. Yes a shark, it was almost basking in the sunshine. It was quite something, we could see its fin and tail swirling around in circles. 

When we arrived at Necujam we dropped anchor and before long were in the water, swimming and paddle-boarding. Charlie stayed in the warm water for ages practising his swimming, and Claire had a swim then went off on the paddleboard.

Charlie's joint paddleboard experience

How cool is this?

Now for a swim

Look at him go

Now all three in the water

Claire decides to go for a solo trip

Already at knee height

After a couple of hours having fun we took the dinghy off and went ashore for a walk. Grandad and Charlie went for a spin in the dinghy before Claire and I got in and went ashore for a legacy walk and ice-cream. Then later on we had a BBQ with sausages and home-made kebabs. After dinner there was enough time to play Battleships. Tonight's game champions are Claire and Charlie. 

Grandad and Charlie going for a spin

This is great isn't it Charlie?

Are you holding on?

Now all of us in the dinghy going ashore

Charlie in charge of the painter

so that it doesn't get tangled in the propellor

Ice cream time

Dinner time

Thursday 5th July... Linda - It got a bit blustery early this morning around 8am, so we moved to a more sheltered part of the bay in Necujam to sit out the storm that was brewing. We had only been in the new spot for about 30 minutes when we had a big squall come through with huge ice cube size hail stones.

These are the massive hail stones that rained down on us hard

this morning

Calm after the squall

After the bad weather passed over we left and went up to Vinisce. Charlie did an amazing job steering us out of the inlet, and monitoring all the gadgets as we crossed the bay to Vinsisce. It got very blustery as we neared Vinisce and the wind has been going all afternoon, annoyingly.

Here's Charlie at the helm as we leave Necujam

Getting some lessons from Grandad, on all sorts of navigation skills

So we arrived at Vinisce, it was calmer than out at sea but the winds still strong. But we managed to find a spot and anchored successfully. Most of the day we've been playing games to keep occupied as the sea was quite rough. Too rough to go in, so we played cards, rummikub, and mastermind.

Later on we all went to a local restaurant for dinner. They pick you up from the boat and take you back after the meal. Not done this before. 

Charlie getting showered off the back of the boat

Boat taxi just arriving

In the water taxi

At the dinner table

What a day, we deserve a little tipple

Friday 6th August... Linda - We are still in Vinisce tonight and the weather has been kind to us. First thing today was Dean and Charlie on the paddleboard around the bay. There was a slight wind from the east and it made it a bit uncomfy to swim from the boat, so we all went ashore so that Claire and especially Charlie could go in the shallow waters off the beach. Charlie is so enthusiastic about getting in the water to practise his swimming. Dean and I sat in the nearby beachside cafe watching.

Here they come

On the shore in better water

You're doing great Charlie

Happy days, just can't keep Charlie out of the water

There's a little shop here selling everything beachy. Dean bought us all a prezzie. Claire had some flip flops, Charlie a ball and a snorkel, and I got some polaroid sunglasses (at long last). Thank you Dean. A short walk about up to the fishing boats and back followed. 

The fishing boats

Holidays

It's pretty here

In the dinghy back to Thesee

We had some lunch, played Mastermind and then Tri-ominoes. Charlie was the Triomino champion with a score of over 400. Wow! Later on a motor boat dragged its anchor straight past us. It seemed like they had no idea what was happening, and basically dragged the whole way through the anchorage. It was kind of wierd. We thought they would drag out to sea, but it appears that they came to a standstill at some point. Then when they left they tried to drive away with the anchor still down. Even more wierd. As we were watching a large cruise ship went past the bay. MSC Splendida again. 

The rogue motor boat, and MSC Splendida

Dean and Charlie washing up and drying (as always)

Thankyou

Saturday 7th August... Linda - A new day and another anchorage to visit. This time is was Uvala Stiniva on Brac Island. Yes, Dean and I visited once already. We know there is lovely water and Charlie was itching to do more swimming, so a good choice. I hope anyway, as there's some wind tomorrow. The journey was pretty straightforward. Claire and Charlie amused themselves reading on the three hour trip.

Half way there

Arrival at Uvala Stiniva and time to tie stern to the shore. We think we chose a good spot though, and got there early. For Dean it was s a bit of a nightmare with shore lines as there was not many suitable rocks!

Dean almost looked like he was doing ballet

as he tip-toed along the jagged rocks

Once sorted and tied securely, Dean and Charlie went snorkelling. In fact Charlie spent most of the afternoon in the water. 

Setting up for the snorkel

Ready to go

Swimming with the floats

Off they go

Now Mommy and Charlie having a dip

Charlie's doing really well in the water

Snorkelling

Look at Charlie go..

Mommy and Charlie again

Yikes, Charlie is even jumping in now!!!

Perfect sunset tonight

Sunday 8th August.... Linda - I'm blogging early tonight. I was so tired last night I could hardly type let alone check my writings. Perhaps it's the heat, and maybe the wine? So no wine tonight (not yet anyway). I think I've now corrected all my errors from yesterday's blog! On to today....

What a fabulous day we've all had. The wind was supposed to blow hard today, but we must have been so protected in our anchorage that we hardly noticed it at all. We've all spent most of the day in and out of the water. For me, I've been in four times, that's unheard of. It has been very hot though and the water is just irresistible. One time, I stayed in so long that my fingers went all wrinkly!

First dip of the day

Charlie and I with our floaty noodles

Grandad and Charlie swam to the front of the boat with their snorkels on. Then Charlie held onto the anchor chain and watched Grandad snorkel to check the anchor. Then Charlie completed his first circumnavigation of Thesee. Congratulations. 

Daredevil Claire on her first stand up

A bit of a wobble here

Dean took Claire and Charlie to the beach for a game of ball in the water, but they never actually got to play...... because...... 

👍 CHARLIE SWAM ALL ON HIS OWN WITHOUT HIS FLOAT  👍 

Hip Hip Hooray for Charlie 

Here they are coming back after the excitement

Then when they returned Charlie swam around at the back of the boat too, without his float again. It was amazing and so exciting that Grandad and I did a little dance. Then later Charlie and I played catch in the water with Grandad. What a fabulous day. 

Monday 9th August... Linda - After a quick swim with Charlie this morning we left the very lovely Uvala Stiniva and travelled West North West on a 300 degree heading to Trogir. Just before entering the bay into Trogir we took a minor detour between the mainland and a small island at Sveti Fumija. It's a pretty area with 5m depth at the shallowest part. 

Is this Mackerel Sky?

Sveti Fumija

Charlie keeping a lookout for the upcoming shallows

Another yacht coming in under cruising chute

We've not been to Trogir before. Our plan was to go onto the town quay in the old town, which stands on an island. The island is connected by two small bridges to the mainland and to another island called Ciovo. On arrival at the town quay there were a number of superyachts berthed but still plenty of space. We berthed alongside but was very quickly shoo-ed away by the neigbouring yacht crew and the harbourmaster guy telling us we must leave as they have a huge superyacht due to arrive. It was all quite abrupt as he took our lines off and threw them back to us with haste. 

The most annoying and frustrating thing is that Dean had tried various phone numbers and times to book a space, even talking to the Port Authority, but no-one seems to know what's going on and there is absolutely no information on the internet to tell you anything about the place. We had to put Plan B into action and go into Marina Trogir on the opposite side. To be honest it was a better idea, as we have a much nicer view of the old town, and we have better facilities here, and also it's a lot more relaxed away from the crowds, and grumpy harbour men. The staff here at the marina are so helpful and polite.

Mini cruise ship

On approach to town quay

We had a bit of lunch, did some laundry, and late afternoon walked around into the old town. Today it was very hot and we sweltered as we walked. I believe it was 32 degrees with a 'feel like' factor of 37 degrees. First job was checking out the bus station for Claire's journey back to the airport tomorrow. Then the pharmacy for some ear drops for Dean, then a walk about the town, drinks, ice-cream and back again. I was not overly impressed with the town. Yes it was nice, but we've seen better old towns, if you like. 

View of the old town from our Plan B marina

Walking into town, first bridge coming up

Town quay, or should I say 'Superyacht' quay?

Many bell towers here

Not sure which one this was

Grad (old) Trogir

Quick look at the castle

I think this was St Peter bell tower

The Palace??

Here's Dean, Claire, and Charlie 

looking for an ice-cream shop

Charlie treats himself to a Croatia cap

Which flavours to choose?

Yay, ice cream

We walked back through the ACI marina

It was gone 6pm when we got back to Thesee, quick showers, and then Dean took us all out for dinner in the marina restaurant. It was a bit posher than we had expected. The meal was delicious and the wine too and a good night was enjoyed by all. 

Tuesday 10th August... Linda - Sorry to say cheerio to Claire this morning as she took the bus back to the airport, leaving Charlie here with us for another two whole weeks holiday. By the time we'd got a bit of shopping, collected Dean's dive cylinders, had a coffee and fanta, and got back to the boat it was midday and time to leave. We topped up the diesel fuel tank and then we were off. As we headed out across the bay at Trogir, Claire's plane took off over our heads and we were all waving madly in case she could see us. 

A couple of anchorage options today. First we went back to Sveti Fumija but decided to abandon that idea. It's a tricky place for anchoring and we weren't happy with the options available. So next choice was to cross to Otok Drvenik Veli just an hour away. Time was getting on and we hadn't eaten lunch so we had it en-route. As we approached the Blue Lagoon on the east coast there seemed to be space to anchor, so we did, and just chilled out for an hour or so. It was busy, and a bit rolly at times, but on the whole OK. About 4.30pm we nipped round to the south coast and into a bay called Uvala Solinska. It's due to be calm tonight. We haven't got the best position, but that's what happens when you arrive late in the day. So no swimming today. Maybe we can get a better spot in the morning when people start to leave. 

Dean and Charlie writing up the Cruising Association 

reports for our Trogir experience

After we had anchored we played two games of Tri-ominoes. I must say the last game was one of the most exciting I have ever played. Charlie was leading from the beginning, and he showed extreme sportsmanship when he pointed out that I had forgot to add 40 points to Dean's score. This reducing Charlie's lead considerably.  It was a long game, and in fact we used up all the pack of Tri-ominoes and had to look at the rules for what to do as this has never happened before. Then although we all had a few Tri-ominoes left to play none of us could go. Rules check again! With all the ins and outs and additions and subtractions to all our scores there was just one point in it. Charlie with a score of 305, and Dean just pipped him with a score of 306. 

The next blog post will be called 'Out to the islands again, with Charlie'