2019 Croatia - Blog 4
The day started with a bit of drama. Several of us had picked up colds and coughs. In Perth, they would have kept us out of the water, but not here. We weren’t going to miss out on any swimming, so each of us battled on. However, overnight Marta’s condition had got significantly worse. In the morning, without a doctor on the island, she needed to go to Sibenik and ended up being taken by Naval Patrol boat and Ambulance to hospital.
Craig kindly volunteered to accompany her. Craig said the Ambo and Naval medical staff were amazing and so helpful. At the hospital, after a serious of thorough tests, she was diagnosed with early-stage pneumonia. Doctors prescribed antibiotics and another meds and allowed her to return to Prvic, much to our and Marta’s relief. Craig couldn’t speak more highly of the professional treatment and assistance they had received. Thank you Craig for sacrificing your day to help Marta.
Back on the water we headed west, in ideal conditions, for a series of short island to island crossings. The Pink ladies took pity on Steve’s plight in the all girl group and went “butch” for the day. Unbeknownst to Steve, they had turned themselves from the Pink ladies into the Pink Lads, complete with moustaches, beards and bulges. The group now compromised: Bob, Jack, Harry, Larry, Barry and Steve. Wee stops were now slash stops and the conversation interrupted by the occasional burp and fart - not all of which was new. Thank you girls for being so thoughtful.
Our first swim started with a crossing between two uninhabited islands, from Majak Veli to Rava. Then across to and around the very small island of Ravna Sika. From there it was back across to and a coastal swim clockwise around Rava. The last leg was a short crossing to Politenica. All in all a very pleasant 3.8km swim.
Back on the boat, we motored to a protected bay and disembarked to enjoy a short walk, coffee or soft drinks at a secluded restaurant called 7th Heaven and it was! Each day has been a little hotter, with today in the mid-thirties. Not surprisingly, several of the girls, or should I say blokes, opted to swim back out to the boat moored in the bay rather than the short ferry in a zodiac.
We then travelled a short distance to a beautiful sheltered bay off the island of Kayan. We found a mooring buoy close to another boat belonging to a couple attempting to get an all over tan. Our presence obviously annoyed them and they soon pulled anchor and left us to enjoy lunch on the boat. After lunch, Kres (correct spelling) and Simon enjoyed some free-diving amongst a school of fish that had been attracted to some bread in the water.
Our afternoon swim was amazing. The wind had picked up and was blowing about 20+ knots from the northwest. The east coast and bays of the adjacent island of Kaprije offered some sheltered flat water mixed with some downwind swimming. Now that we swam in two groups, Simon joined us in the water for each swim. This afternoon he donned flippers and swam alongside underwater taking videos of each swimmer. No one complained that the swim was only 3km, bringing our 3-day total to 21.6km. No wonder we were all starting to feel a little weary.
Craig had provided us with updates on Marta’s condition during the day. We were relieved to hear Marta was feeling better and resting comfortably back at the hotel. Before we went out to dinner, Ann and Cathy took soup, bread and a boiled egg up to her room and refused to leave until they saw her eating.
It was Pizza night. Craig booked a table at the best pizza restaurant in Luka, which coincidentally was the only pizza restaurant in Luka. Over pre-dinner drinks, we all chatted and laughed about the day’s antics. Barb announced she was introducing a new award for the kindest act of the day, which of course went to Craig. He couldn’t have been happier receiving the Shark Cap which he proudly wore for the rest of the night.
Of course the highlight of the evening was the Pricilla Award. Lynette had extensive notes. Ken has been in the running every day and was again. Others with significant performances included: Ken for suggesting Marta could be wheeled around on a table, and grabbing a No 2 floating in the water to throw at fellow swimmers; Pete for watching topless ladies and not entering the water when told; and Hazel for putting her bum right in front of Simon’s camera and blocking everyone else out of the shot.
However, in a déjà vu situation, while everyone else was not on the boat, Ann’s hat had blown Into the waster and had been retrieved by Kres. Ann, who is more sneaky than people think, swore him to secrecy. Only to realise that he is not to be trusted, when Lynette announced her name and handed over Pricilla. Well done Ann.
After dinner it was a short walk to get ice creams and then an early night. Tomorrow is Barb’s birthday.
We can’t wait ...