Author: bengarbutt

Wheel wonder – Dinara’s wild delights

Heck of a day that, some unbelievable scenery through the Dinara national park with barely a soul encountered.

I began in Knin, famous for it’s impressive fortress. As I climbed towards it immediately after breakfast my inner monologue was berating myself for needless elevation gain. But when have I ever regretted the view from a castle? Never – especially when I reached the top and the cafe owner, informing me that he didn’t open until 10am took pity on me and brought me a cappuccino on the house. As I am repeatedly proving, and contrary to most news reports, there are plenty of good people out there.

A dirt track took me up into the isolated splendour of the Dinara national park. Mountains surrounded a verdant valley of scrubland.

At times it felt like going through an African national park, although mercifully without the wildlife.

Actually the most wildlife I see is in the tarmac. Crickets pop off into the verge. Small basking snakes hurriedly slither away before I can photograph them. I micro-swerve to avoid the beetles and caterpillars. Now and again a resting butterfly shoots up and brushes my cheek in its escape flight. 

I stopped to see “The Eye of the World” – a geological feature; a freshwater pool which bubbles up seemingly from the centre of the earth, to form a pristine river.

Soon enough I was down from the plateau and entering Sinj, my destination for the evening.

I got asked today what earworms I’ve had. Easy. Talking Heads – Road to Nowhere. No idea why!