Having the van on the driveway finally we of course decided immediately to head off. I had a very good idea of how the van worked as I had owned a similar set-up before, but we knew nothing of this particular make and model.
Tuesday evening was spent sorting out the basics, water, toilet, bedding and filling the kitchen cupboards. And whilst Leela was in work, I loaded food, clothing and our camping things and waited patiently for her to arrive home.
Then with absolutely no thought or preparation we were off at 5pm on a Wednesday evening which just happened to be also my birthday. Next thing we knew we were driving south in our new camper with pots and pans rattling behind us and bottles falling all around me. We drive through Slovenia in the slowly setting sun stopping at a roadside vendor to pick up some wonderful fresh fruit and veg. It couldn’t have been a nicer first journey.
Arriving in Croatia at dusk and with our final destination of Baška another hour or so away we decided to make the first night in the van a wild one! And we found an incredible location just under the KRK bridge at a small dock. Parking up in complete darkness we switched off the engine for the night opened the door and opened an ice cold beer from the fridge to celebrate my birthday and the beginning of our new life in the van.
Going to bed I checked the battery situation and I was surprised to see it was nearly empty. This was very strange after a four hour drive but by this time I didn’t really care and would think about it in the morning.
The following day the excitement was quite high so we were both up and awake at a ridiculous hour. The electrical situation had of course not improved but safe in the knowledge we would be going to a camp and would have a hook-up we decided to worry about it when we got home and just enjoy the weekend. So we went for a short dawn walk on the dock and some naked swimming as we watched the sun rise hitting the spectacular bridge that links the island of KRK to the mainland.
Some breakfast later and we were meandering our way down the island heading for the south most tip. Camping FKK Bunculuka was our destination and we have written much about this camp and Baška before so I will skip the details, only to say that its a really wonderful camp and location and to be finally there in the van was a dream for us.
Only having a few days to spare we packed as much as we could into this time. Running, swimming, basketball, SUP and generally just having a wonderful time in nature and also at the van. Sunday came around way too quickly and we were already packing up to leave, but we knew that now we would be able to plan and go on longer trips soon enough and would return to Bunculuka for sure through the year as this was our favourite place in Croatia to visit.
A truly wonderful first trip in our new home on wheels.
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