Not even 2 km that already Jade's bike gots a flat tyre. A sign? No way. At most a setback. At least that's the mindset that we did start this beautiful day with. The rest of the group decides to wait in the Parc of the Hospital of Porec while Jade and I cycle quickly back to the city center to get her bike fixed. Can't blame my friends. It is only 10am and already 30° hot. Half an hour later, we would be ready to start the tour if only we would find the starting point. In the a small local shop, we succeed in buying a bottle of water in Croatian but not to get any information regarding the tour. Finally, through several tentative iterative roads, we got on the right one, a small white gravel way crossing the wonderful green Croatia, passing in front of its family houses architectured under the Toscan influence and the villages where time stands still. First hill... Outch! I am a better rambler than cycler:-) But I can't show my despare to the kids. I feel I need to stick to my motivation booster role. Kids suffer from the effort and the heat and their eyes are to young to appreciate the nature organized along the vineyards, neither be impressed by the light playing in the threatening thunder clouds. We stop for picnicking in the lovely village of Jehnici where we are welcomed and hosted in the front yard of a Croatian peasant. Time to continue the biking day, this time without the children. Luckily for them. The way leaving Jehnici is uphill in high grasses. The more we advance the more challenging the road. After having pedalled across a corn field and an ultimate effort upwards, we reach a bridge that is not on the map. Oops! It is time I mention that my brother in law took over the card after the lunch break (N'est-ce pas Xa? :-) A quick look at the map confirms that we got lost and that the way out is another 10 km up, still on gravel and in the heat of August. I don't know which one of my heart, soul or body refused to give up and made me continue but I still barely can't believe that we made it to the source Badavca. And there "waouh" ... "surprise" ... bad surprise: nothing! Can you imagine? 8 hours biking, sweating, suffering, ... to find a puddle! And a thunder storm! If you happen to bike in the Porec area you will definitively enjoy the beauty of the landscapes but save the trip to Badvaca, unless you are looking for deception :-) On the return, stop by the locally held bars to refresh!
