We left Plitvic after a chilly night and chose a different route back down to the coast to what we had taken from Senj, heading for Karlobag. We drove up high to start with, through a very rural area where some of the villages had been abandoned and there were many road side graves and memorials. We stopped for an early lunch at one of the high spots adjacent to a fire look out tower and then pressed on towards the coast.
Inland Croatia - on the road from Plitvicka to Karlobag
On our way we came upon a smoke filled sky with black and grey plumes that stretched for at least 2km alongside the motorway, we were unsure but it definitely looked like a wildfire. We drove alongside and decided to step on it getting into Velebit National Park before we knew it. We rounded a corner and went through a tunnel and found ourselves at the top of the world (we had climbed the hills for ages though) with a view out towards more islands and along the coast. It was spectacular and we spent the journey down to the sea stopping off at several viewpoints to take it all in.
Amazing view of Croatian Islands
One for the family
Our Lego Storm Trooper mascot (which we found down the back of a chair when we bought the van) saw us through despite the engine getting to over 100 deg C and boiling the radiator water all over the road during one hill-climb pit stop. The Force is obviously strong with this one, at least so far. Aaron - that photo's for you.
Van mascot showing his dark side, by force.
The town of Karlobag was picturesque with obvious war damage such as the half demolished church that was still being used. We trundled along the coast yet further and found an Auto camp - in principle someone's back yard that has been converted for camping. The site was small with only about 15 spaces. Luckily, there was one just right for us and we squeezed in.
We stayed for several nights as the site was so quiet and everybody was so friendly. The toilets were clean and well kept, one shower with no queuing necessary and right on the sea edge - beautiful! Sorry, but there were several more wonderful sunsets and a moon set which I for one had never really seen.
Fire-plane swoops down for water near our camping spot
On one of the days we were quite surprised to see two planes come over the mountains behind us, swoop in to the sea and take on water - they did this about five times... we think this may have been related to the fires that we had passed but we are not sure.
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