Beginning of summer

So here I am again. It's been a long time again....

After long winter that lasted through most of April, May was rainy and still cold and in June summer came. Just like that, without transition, it got hot and dry and nature, that didn't even had the time to recover from winter yet, was faced with next crisis. Even if we didn't have corona, it is a very unusual year.

Captain sailed Heron from Monfalcone, where she was wintering, to Croatia already in May and is still on board. I stayed at home and was busy taking care of house and garden, was meeting friends a lot (finally!) and made some trips with my mom. First was to the Slovene coast, first we stopped in Strunjan and then in Piran. It was beautiful, although quite hot. But we had a great day, good food and mom was very pleased.

Tartini square

Few weeks later we drove to the hills, first to Bohinj lake....

...and then over the Planina Uskovnica (the road was very bad and driving quite adventurous, I don't think I'm doing it again)...

...to Rudno polje and Pokljuka and back home.

In June I joined Captain on Heron for couple of days. We started in Petrčane N of Zadar and sailed to Murter first. It was really nice, weather was great, not too crowded, so we even had some pretty bays all to ourselves.

Town of Betina

And finally I got to go snorkelling again. I saw lots of old acquaintances. I think this is this Red triplefin (Tripterygion tripterinotus or rdeči sprehajalček)...

...and this is Red anemone (Actinia equina or rdeča morska vetrnica), a very rare sight for me with tentacles partially exposed.

I was really happy to find this pretty guy, this is the third time I saw him - he is a Tripterygion delaisi (Yellow triplefin  or rumeni sprehajalček).

And this is a smaller version of  Red triplefin, I couldn't find English name (Tripterygion melanurus ali pritlikavi sprehajalček).

And this is green algae called Green sponge ball (Codium bursa or kroglasti kodij).

And one more Red anemone

And this is Twin fan worm (Bispira volutacornis or dvoperjaničar)

Another bay on S of Dugi otok, where we were the only boat anchored for the night...

...with a view to Kornati.

We sailed through narrow and shallow pass of Proversa Mala...

...and then back through Proversa Vela. This pass was dredged by army to 5m depth so it sees much more traffic, although it is still quite narrow.

Later we sailed by on small town of Sali...

...and made a stop in front of even smaller town of Žman and had a great dinner in local restaurant.

After a week I was back home. 

One day I found this beast in my garden and I couldn't resist a photo. It is Praying mantis (Mantoptera or bogomolka)

In couple of days I'l be joining Captain on Heron again, this time for couple of weeks. So you can expect more snorkelling photos...