Croatia Sunday 01 July 2012

Sunday 01 July


Bloody hot again!

Am up at six to sort myself out before being picked up at seven by the parking man to fetch the coach.
He is a couple of minutes late but that is no problem as I quickly clean the windscreen before driving to the hotel.
I am loading the main cases, and any overnight bags, at 07:30 from the main entrance and will then disappear only to return at 08:30 at the top road to pick the group up.

As I’ve said earlier it is very tight to turn and reverse down to the front of the hotel. There is a car park man in his booth operating the barrier for the harbour car park. He is totally unhelpful as I struggle to turn the bus in the small space. Eventually I make it but wished I could have run over his foot or something!

The cases are loaded and I’m leaking again!

I go and park in the town coach park and then go off for a coffee.
I’m sitting in a seafront cafe as an Italian coach is loading his passengers and luggage. I hear shouts and wails of laughter and look around to see the most funny sight. One of the passengers, an elderly man, is walking to the coach carrying his suitcase in one hand and another bag in the other when all of a sudden his trousers drop to the floor! There is a clatter and bang as he drops his suitcase and bag and almost falls over himself trying to pull them up again and very nearly knocks himself over in his haste to right his strides, his baggy white drawers looking resplendent in the morning sun!

Am still giggling as I drive to the hotel at 08:30.

We are soon away and at the border with Slovenia within half an hour, where we are ushered through with no passport or paperwork checks.

There is then about 45 minutes on country roads before reaching the motorway towards Austria.

We have a fuel stop and then a wee stop close to the border before crossing into Austria. Just as we have crossed the border a Parry’s coach is coming the other way and it is my mate Chris who I have been texting all week as he knew I was in Opatija and I knew he was on his way. Really good to see him and he seems pleased to see me.
I’ll have to be careful here as I’m smiling a bit much for a Sunday morning!
Once into Austria I turn off the motorway and head for the mighty Grossglockner High Alpine Road, a spectacular journey up and over some magical scenery. And we have a clear blue sky.

I reach Heilinglut at 13:30 for our lunch stop. This is a charming small town with the most photographed church in Austria, as seen in many pictures and jigsaws. This is also the start of the Grossglockner and a great place for a lunch stop.
Leaving here at 14:45 we begin our climb on a road I never tire of driving and today it is very quiet with traffic which helps on the many hairpin bends.
We have another stop close to the summit just as it looks like the weather is closing in. The sky has gone very dark and the wind has got up.
Luckily the proposed storm seems to bypass us and we have a nice journey down.

After a short way we pass a lay-by with two mean looking at their scooters. Nothing unusual in that but these scooters were not the vespa type but the type you put one foot on and push with the other. The sort of thing we all tried as kids.

Now you won’t believe this but I laughed again, and out loud this time.
I was driving down the mountain with a few cars behind me when in my mirror I could see this man on his little scooter behind me and his mate a few cars back. No this isn’t right!
And the old speedy overtook me with one hand on the small handlebars and the other in his pocket!
He was stood upright on the scooter, chin up, grey hair flowing behind him steering with the one hand and even gave me the stare as he went past as if to ask what I was doing on the road!
I could of wet myself at the sight of him passing me. And not long after his mate came by though not as cool as he was holding on with both hands!
This is one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time!

We arrive back at the Bruckenwirt at 17:00 and just as last week a storm is threatening. We could do with one as it is very muggy and close.
Coming across country seems a longer drive but is actually 54km shorter.

I had a small problem in that I needed to print a form off, sign it and then scan it back but have no printer and no idea how! The lovely Manuela at reception came to my rescue and did all of the above very quickly.

Dinner was very good again and the main waiter/barman Martin is very jolly and on the ball. This is a very well run hotel and I like it here.

Euro 2012 final is on tonight between Italy and Spain but find it painful to watch so go to bed.