The route of the stage
Today we made an excursion on the whole Mljet island to get to the national park, which is located at the west end of the island and visit the salt lakes which are the main attraction. The lakes have a short access to the sea and are on the same level. On paper it is certainly the hardest stage of the whole tour. In fact, on the clock, at the end of the day, we find ourselves marked 68 km and 1450 meters in altitude.
To be clear, a whole 4 Dolomite passes. In truth, apart from small stops to catch our breath, we carried the bike by hand only a small stretch with a 12% gradient, this on the return, while on the way, an 11% we did it and above all Cristina very easily. Sometimes he passed me over because I went too slowly, or he forgot to change and went up, even with 4 ratios smaller than mine, when it is said that those who have bread but do not have teeth !!! The road had two ridges on the 250 meters above sea level, however, with continuous ups and downs that normally reached 8/9% of the slope. To create greater difficulty, an extremely bumpy road surface, for a good 20 km, practically seemed to be on cobblestones. We raced on the crest of the island but with little sea views, unlike Dugii otok last year. Only in the descent towards Polace we were able to enjoy a magnificent view of its inlet. To reach the national park another 10% climb and then get to the garrita where you have to pay the ticket. The entrance would also include a small boat trip, to reach an island in the center of the largest lake, with a castle and a restaurant. We didn’t have time for this extra fun so we reluctantly gave up. The park is very beautiful and well-kept. Different benches in arriving at the lakes allow a peaceful and quiet stop, which we did to eat a sandwich. After that we made the whole tour of the larger lake, with a photo where the two lakes meet and a small emissary brings sea water to the smaller lake. On the way back, on a hairpin bend, we hear an incredible croaking and we stop to observe a colony of toads, inside a spring water collection tank, which competed with each other for the voice. The conformation of the place and the arrangement of the rocks made it a perfect natural theater. On the way back we found numerous orchids and in particular the first ophrys oestrifera or cornuta really very beautiful. Upon arrival we reassured each other, not to be overly tired but, with a great hunger. Let’s see what the only tavern in the place will offer us tonight.
Here the video of the stage
Photo 2 - The big lake of the National Park
Photo 3 - The castle on the island of the large lake of the island of Mljet
Photo 4 - the Gulf of Polace
Photo 5 - the Gulf of Polace
Photo 6 - the Gulf of Polace view on Orebic (Sabbioncello) peninsula
Photo 7 - the Gulf of Polace
Photo 8 - View from our B&B in Sobra
Photo 9 - The fountain with frogs
Photo 10 - Hybrid Orchis xbergonii
Photo 11 - Ophrys oestrifera
