22.09 - Day 251 - Lumbarda to Ston to Dubrovnik, CRO
Sunday 22nd September - Lumbarda (Korcula Island) - Ston - Dubrovnik (Croatia)
My suggestion to enter the Ston Wall running event doesn’t win me any friends when our alarm goes off at 04:15. We’re on the first ferret of the day at 05:10 - though definitely not the only people - as we traverse from Korcula to Orebic on the mainland in the dark.
At least the others snooze on the 1 hour drive to Ston where we park up just after 06:30. I obtained our bibs, as well as a couple of sweet treats to sweeten the deal from the bakery.
After fueling up, Kate, Sienna and Seb head off at 08:00, first km on the road before turning and entering the Walls of Ston.
These centuries old narrow stone ramparts were to defend the salt flats that had been cultivated.
It’s a slog up and up hundreds of uneven stone steps - Sienna and Seb in tortoise and hare fashion - guess which child was which. As per the fable, the tortoise won out, Sienna waiting near the finish so graciously the three of them could cross the line together with identical times of 56 minutes 33 seconds after completing the 4 km.
(We had to refer to it as an event, not a run because the latter naming convention was a distinct turn off for Sienna).
Meanwhile, those of us on the 15 km and 42 km full marathon had been sent on our way a little earlier at 07:30.
The flat roads by the salt flats were much appreciated after the walls section - which to give it a Sydney comparison was like doing Heartbreak Hill in the City 2 Surf, except 50% higher and on stairs only a metre wide. Granted there were probably only 90 of us rather than 70,000.
Unfortunately we then had to run up another similar length hill - where my token effort of preparation: pasta and tuna for four prior meals and no beer for three days probably wasn’t enough.
At least coming back down was much easier. Under 100 minutes felt like a win (placing 32nd which I'm sure will be my highest ever finish....), and meant I finished a few minutes after Kate, Sienna and Seb.
The obvious reward was ice-creams at 09:30 in the morning as we watched the 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes handed out in the 4 km and 15 km races, the poor marathon runners out in the hillside somewhere.
We drive south along the road that wraps itself to the coastline so you see every inlet and bay - one of these drawing us in where we dive into/ the clear water to re-energise. Actually Sienna and Sen are immediately asleep in the car as we arrive in Dubrovnik around lunchtime.
We’re staying in Mokosica in Tete Maxe, an apartment above an old lady’s house who spends most of her time sitting at the front, smiling at us each time we go past. On the upside we have a three bedroom unit, recently updated (bar the bathroom including a weird Hungry Hungry Caterpillar toilet seat).
We catch the 1A bus from outside leading us 25 minutes to the Pile Gate of the Old Town. It might be shoulder season, but this is easily the most crowds we’ve seen since the Tower of London.
After purchasing three 3 Day Dubrovnik Passes (Seb is to be 6 for the next few days much to his angst), Seb votes we visit Fort Lovrijenac, on a small headland jutting into the sea. Ascending more stairs for the day we wander around the old fort, which has a few cannons and cannonballs positioned - but not a single sign, plaque or information board - so it’s left to us to bring it to life.
Which also partly explains all the walking tours we see over the next few days - many with laminated sheets to show which scenes of Game of Thrones were filmed where. Impressive views over the Old Town - but we’ll save that for tomorrow.
After dinner back at the apartment and a late night shopping trip to our new favourite Lidl, it’s time to end this extra long day.