25.09 - Day 254 - Dubrovnik to Povlja, CRO

Wednesday 25th September - Dubrovnik - Povlja (Brac Island), Croatia (Day 254)

Whilst we might have wanted to go further to keep chasing autumnal sun, we’re not allowed to take our car into Albania to get to Greece. Nor Montenegro, nor Serbia. It’s a really big detour through Romania and Hungary, so instead we turn our eyes back north. 

We’ve planned the overnight ferry from Split to Italy for next Tuesday so with our six nights we have lined up another island jaunt. 

It’s a 2.5 hour drive to the town of Makarska - we can see it’ll be windy as the road winds up the coastline which means the views will be great - they are and that Seb might get unwell - he does. That’s despite a travel sickness tablet. Kate also wants to drive as she tends to when we can see winding roads on the route. 

At Makarska the smaller car ferry has its fill of 22 cars on the open deck for the 50 minutes across to Sumartin on the island of Brac. The sun continues to follow us though it disappears not long after we arrive in the sleepy village of Povlja - white stone houses perched on the hillsides overlooking a narrow inlet with small boats - after 15 minutes passing heavy olive trees. 

Apartment Andrej, like our last place, is above the grandmother's house, Sienna and Seb happy with their two single beds rather than having to share a double. 

On a shortened walk - as peals of thunder start to rumble through the valleys - we pass two almost empty beaches and a couple of locals with an afternoon beer at one of the two cafes. 

The forecast for tomorrow is for clear skies but for now, as the kids re-find their excitement for the small Lego selection they have in their rucksacks, the storm arrives. Water cascades down outside and rolls of thunder last 10-15 seconds. It is late September after all, so we’ll accept a few storms if it means good weather most of the time.