August 6th to August 23rd


We were in Cavtat, Croatia and decided to reset our anchor because there
were strong winds approaching and a storm brewing.  So Rudy and I set out
two anchors for the first time on Boundless.  There was only one other boat
in the bay with us. Later that night, Ken called to say his plane was
delayed for two hours.  Rudy went to shore to change the time for the taxi
and was back on the boat when the first storm blew through the anchorage.
Then Ken called to say his plane was delayed another hour.  We got to the
airport and picked up Ken and Christine.  The taxi dropped us at the dinghy
and we got to the boat and were settling down (1:30 a.m.) when the second
storm came with thunder and lightning that sounded like the 4th of July!!
The 60-foot motorboat dragged one of his anchors and was getting closer to
us.  Between the high winds, other boats close by, the shore and us; he was
having a hard time at the height of the storm. He decided to drop one anchor
and all of its chain and deal with pulling only a single anchor. He
re-anchored in farther out in deeper/rougher water, but the holding was
better.   In the morning, the captain then got in his dinghy and located the
anchor they dropped and went out to sea. He did what he had to, to save his
boat! We were lucky because our anchors held through the storm. We didn't
get a lot of sleep, but we also didn't have to move Boundless at the height
of the storm. This was how Croatia greeted Ken and Chris.  But there is more
to come!!!

Wednesday we walked thru the town to get money, food and add Ken and Chris
to our crew list.  The harbormaster was kind, courteous and efficient!!  We
then left for Luka Zaton. The seas were still very rough and unsettled
because of the storms. Glen Lyon joined us and Rod told Ken and Chris his
famous dinghy story.  We took a cab into Dubrovnik after waiting for the bus
for half an hour.  The bus passed us 3 minutes before the cab drove up!!!
We walked around the walled city and had dinner and dessert.

August 8th we traveled to Luka Polace, Mljet and had a peaceful afternoon
swimming and relaxing until the German flotilla arrived.  There were about
10 kids yelling and screaming and that stopped about dinnertime, then the
grown-ups(????) started!!!  There was singing, shouting, screaming and more
singing until about 2 a.m.

That morning we started to go to Korcula to see the walled city there.  The
winds were great and we were moving over 8 knots and decided to go all the
way to Stari Grad, Hvar.  We traveled 65 miles with the sails up most of the
way!!!  We anchored and then went to the Hermitage for dinner.  After dinner
we dinghyed to the other side of the canal for dessert and to use the
Internet cafe.  The skies started to come alive with sounds of thunder and
lightning that lit the entire sky.  We went back to the boat leaving Ken at
the Internet café.  Rudy went back for him when things had settled down and
Ken told him that they closed the café down almost immediately after we left
because of the storm.

On August 10th we traveled to Agana Marina in the town of Marina.  Since
another storm was approaching, the marina filled up fast.  The next morning
we had a Sunday bunch at the community room in the marina.  It was a great
feast and a great get together sheltered from the rain.  We played dominoes
during another storm and then we watched movies on the boat.

On Monday we took a bus to Split and walked around that walled city.  Chris
and I decided to climb to the top of the tower, which was 200 feet.no
elevator!!!  Rudy and Ken rested down below while we experienced the
beautiful view.

On August 13th, we went to Uvula Vinisce and had a pleasant quiet evening.
The next day we went to Komiza on the island of Vis. There were only a
couple of boats in the anchorage, but we had entertainment with the boats
med mooring or trying to.  About 20 more boats arrived and now we were
surrounded!!!  We had dinner at the restaurant facing the entrance to the
anchorage on the left hand side.  It was great!  That night the winds died
down and about 1 a.m., the sailboat next to us, hit us on our stern!!!  We
were up for a few hours trying to push off and to see if there was any
damage.there wasn't.  We think our davits hit his mid-section.  Two men came
over in their dinghy to give us their name and phone number just in case and
the next morning as they left, they came over again to make sure we had no
damage.  We then went to O. Bisevo to see the Blue Grotto.  Rudy drove the
boat while Ken, Chris and I went to the cave in the dinghy.  After paying
our 20 kn, we turned off the motor and we entered the dark narrow passage
into the cave.  The cave opened up and we then experienced the natural
phenomenon of light entering the bottom of the cave.  It gives a blue hue to
the inside of the cave.  It was very beautiful and worth the visit.  Then
off to Stari Grad again!!  This time we had different excitement!!  The
motor stopped!!!  We didn't know if it was the water pump or the alternator
and we couldn't find out until the motor cooled.  We anchored under sail and
then used our dinghy as a tugboat to med moor with lazy lines with help from
Bill on Soleil Sans Fins.  The problem  was the alternator and Bill gave us
a spare. We had a lovely dinner with the four people on Soleil and the four
from Boundless.

August 16th found us going to Split to drop off the alternator at the marina
to be repaired after Rudy changed the water pump and tried to fix the
alternator.  Then we went to Agana Marina to wait to hear what the problem
was.   We were told to call back tomorrow morning.

The next morning, Rudy called and found out that the alternator was repaired
and now it was almost like new!!  We traveled to Trogir to pick up the
alternator, get diesel, groceries and have dinner.  Trogir is an interesting
little town with many interesting shops.  At 5:30 a.m. the next morning, Ken
and Chris left for the airport and we went back to the Agana marina to
repair and clean the boat.  The following day found us still doing our
errands until the afternoon when we took a break.  We hopped a bus to Trogir
to visit with Persistence (Di and Will who crossed the Atlantic with us).
As we walked thru Trogir, there was an ice-cream man flinging scoops of ice
cream into the air and catching in the cone below.  Once he threw it so
high, when it landed d the cone broke from the impact!!  It was quite a show
and he sold a lot of ice cream. We had dinner and then took a double decker
bus back to the boat.

On August 20th we left the marina at 6:15 a.m. to catch up with Soliel Sans
Fins in Korcula.  However, after about 3 miles out the engine stopped!!
AGAIN!!!!  So back to the marina using the dinghy as a tugboat again.  This
time it was a little trickier with only the two of us on board.  The marina
called the mechanic and he found the problem. the solenoid in the fuel line
was kaput!! (We needed a translator for all the other words!)  Rudy and the
mechanic drove to Trogir to buy the part and after paying we were off
again.this time 6 hours later.  We arrived in Vela Luka, Korcula about 7:30
p.m. about 30 miles from Soliel sans Fins.

After passing the walled city of Korcula three times, I finally got to see
it on August 21st.  It is smaller than Dubrovnik, but more charming.  The
city has a square and from the square the streets run off it like the spokes
of a tire.  The streets are laid out so the winds blow thru the alleyways
cooling the walled city. This was done because the mountain facing them
radiates a tremendous amount of heat into the city.    Ingenious!!!   We
went into almost every shop and then met the crew on Soliel for dinner.

Midnite on August 22nd, we had another thunderstorm. It started again at 8
a.m. lasting to 12:30 p.m.  We decided to leave and had to ask the boat in
front of us to move so we could pull up our anchor, which was under his
boat. (he came in while we were in town).  We left for Lastovo (our Last
stop in Croatia) around 1p.m. and got there about 5 p.m.   Customs was easy,
friendly and very quick.  We spent our last kns. on drinks and found a very
quiet anchorage.  We left for Vieste, Italy at 5:30 a.m. where we will meet
up with Soleil again for dinner. Life is tough!

REFLECTIONS ON CROATIA:

This was a very beautiful, relaxing, comforting and friendly country.  There
were so many places to anchor and just chill out.  The reunion on Stari Grad
also provided us with the opportunity to meet 30 other boats, which we
enjoyed meeting again in many different places throughout Croatia.

This country produces wine, many fruits and vegetables and Lavender, the
product I enjoyed best.  Hvar is the biggest producer of lavender, which all
of Croatia is known for and has one of the oldest theatres in Europe.

As we sailed along the coastline, we observed how the stone terraces line
the hills and mountains like steps of a ladder climbing to the  heavens.
The amount of work that was needed to pluck those stones out of the earth to
make the ground suitable for growing crops is unimaginable!!  Many are now
unused, but still part of the earth's beauty!!

We enjoyed our stay in Croatia and are now looking forward to our stay in
Italy.  Ciao