Sibenik - 27/05

Mainland Europe - Day 32
Rovinj --> Sibenik

I think you could call Yvonne and myself 'concept campers'. We both really like the idea of camping, the natural outdoor setting, getting back to basics, the 'concept'. However, when it really comes down to it, we both seem to always find some reason not to actually do it.

Leaving Ireland we were equipped with a 30 euro two-man tent from Lidl (something like Aldi for the Aussies). When we came across a beautiful camp site at Sibenik, on the Croatian coast, there really was no excuse not to finally put our tent to use. After all, the sun was shinning and it was lovely and warm. On top of this we had just spent a whole week in Rovinj, just a few hours north where the weather was amazing every day, perfect for camping.

We found a great site, no more then 10 metres from the water. With a hammer borrowed from some helpful Germans, our little tent was up quite quickly. It was a hot afternoon so I took a dip the Adriatic, then we both sat on the beach and enjoyed the view. Our first camping experience in Europe was going perfectly.

It was just around sunset when the winds started. From almost nothing to a gale within minutes. All around the camp ground people were tightening guide ropes and hammering pegs in a bit deeper. So as not to feel left out, we did likewise. With only a small torch for light, Yvonne and I retired to our tent as the sky darkened. The batteries on the netbook were fully charged and we settled in for a movie. The wind continued to shake our little tent until around 11pm we both slipped out to brush our teeth.

In the distance a fierce electrical storm was raging. We sat for about 20 minutes and watched dozens of lightning strikes light up the sky over the ocean. It was amazing. Well it was amazing from a distance, but when the storm hit our camp site it was mildly terrifying. It was so loud that we could hardly hear each other speak. And So windy that our tent was practically folded in half.

After a while I guess I got used to it and drifted off to sleep, but Yvonne didn't sleep a wink until 3am when it all subsided. In the morning we walked around the camp site and surveyed the damage. At 7:30am half the campervans had already left, maybe they'd left during the night. A lot of the people in tents were gone too, some must have been early risers, but others simply left the remains of their tents and hit the road.

We'd survived virtually unscathed. Our little 30 euro Lidl tent had held together and kept us bone dry. A few of the pegs were loose and we found one rip, but otherwise we were fine. I was even able to scavenge some extra pegs from some of the abandoned remains of our less fortunate neighbours. This all said, I think it might be some time before we get the urge to camp again.