Swanning around Skradin

We'd been idling in Vinisce, partying with a couple of Australian boats. John and Denise on 'Mia Sirena' and Earl and Di on 'Saturn'. Vinisce was one of those large but protected anchorages, with a good holding bottom, where you can just sit back and relax. And so we did, with some great company.

Pavlov at anchor in Vinisce

A Croatian wedding procession, every horn is blaring.

But the day of Michael's arrival loomed, so we headed back south to Trogir and anchored just out of the channel, and managed to get our tender into the little creek that divides the medieaval town of Trogir from the mainland.

Trigger's little creek that makes it an island.

Venetian castle in Trigur

The ferry dock in Trogir

The main promenade.

It's only 6 km to Split airport from Trogir, so it was an ideal pick up point. We wandered around Trogir which is quite a charming and busy little town, Megan even managed to score a hair-cut, which for this Leonine mane is a major event. The next day, we caught a bus and met Michael at the airport.

Gate into the walled city of Trogir

Interesting Venetian architecture

Church tower

The town loggia, a kind of coat of arms.

Fantasic stone masonry

Clock tower in the town square

Michael, Megan and Pav on the dock in Sibenik

With Michael ensconced in Pavlov and after another night on the hook just off Trogir, we made our way north, dropped into Kremik and had our new alternator replaced again!, and then settled down in a great little anchorage in Morinj. This is a large lagoon just south of the entrance to the Krka river. There was an arched suspension bridge with a charted height of 20.5 metres under it. Pavlov's mast is about 18m from the water, but it was still a nerve racking moment to see if we'd get under it alright.

Chart of the Krka river to Skradin

Anchored at Rasline, in the large lake on Krka river

Bridge on the way to Skrandin

River banks

The town of Skradin

From there, we headed into the Krka river, and stopped briefly at the large town of Sibenik. We docked at the town quay, and the port authority gave us two hours there for free. If we stayed 10 minutes longer, the fee went to 350 kuna (about AUD$70). We hurriedly explored Sibenik, then decided to get off and go up-river to the major attraction of the area, the Krka National Park waterfalls. First stop was a great little anchorage outside the village of Rasline which is on the lake that swells out of the Krka river. After a delightful and calm night, we headed off the Skradin and found a great and free anchorage tied to the shore just in front of the marina (where folks are paying 450 Kuna per night!)

The main street of Skradin

Pavlov anchored in Skradin

Ferry taking us to the falls

The Krka river north of Skradin

Our ferry docking at the Krka National Park

Skradin is a very pretty town that provides services for visitors to the Krka National Park which is one of the crowns of Croatian natural heritage. We were able to catch a ferry from here up to the base of the waterfalls. We spent a wonderful day, hiking around the falls, looking at all the wild life and swimming in the refreshing fresh water pools.

Michael and Megan in the park

Swimmers at the base of the falls

A small section of the falls

Another view

Further up the falls

The Krka river, linked travertine pools with falls.

The wild life was fascinating as well. Megan trod on some snakes as she swam the line to shore while we were anchoring, so we had to find out more about those. The rangers told us about the snakes in the park. There is only one that is poisonous, lucky for Megan. We loved watching iridescent blue dragon flies and carp swimming in the river.

Can you spot the sea snake?

Old mill at the upper falls

Fish and lilies 

Carp swimming against the flow

Megan on the trail around the upper falls

More views of the upper falls.

The falls are majestic and very beautiful. The whole river system, with all its sheltered anchorages is well worth exploring for a few days. Today we are heading off to anchor in a secluded little cove  at Beretusa, that we saw on the way up-river. After that, we'll spend some money and go into the marina at Sibenik. Megan is dreaming of a Lidl (the large German shopping chain where we can cheaply buy goods to restock the boat), and Steve clearly has the weight of the world on his shoulders.

Megan asking whether she can go the distance

The skipper, holding it all up as usual

Parental bliss