BCA24 Rovinj to Grožnjan, Croatia – Balkans Cycle Adventure

Balkans Cycling Adventure – BCA. Cycle Day 24: Rovinj to Grožnjan (Istria), Croatia. 53.4 km (839vm). Connal Tours European Cycling Tour 2024. Connal Kit for all your cycle touring clothing.
The ups were tough. Turned out to be an amazing ride. On quite busy roads for the first bit. On the profile where you see the first big down & up – very interesting. All forests down to the big body of water – the Lim Fiord (Channel), then straight back up again. Problem was a storm came over us on the uphill. Didn’t have time to get jacketed up. Narrow road, traffic, rivers of water coming down the road. In the sunshine it would be quite spectacular. We were drenched. Once we got to the top, we found a very useful bus stop to finally add jackets (albeit after the main event). From here on it was sunny.
Stopped for a coffee at the first available and explored this town whilst soaking up some sunshine. Not sure if the looming black clouds were still chasing us or we had got through the storm. Started to dry out a bit. A fully decorated bus stop provided another stopping point for more wardrobe adjustments. Assuming the local children had done a full inside and outside paint job on the shelter.
Then rolling along through more olive plantations and vineyards, knowing we had another burster of a down and massive up to get to our destination. As we started the down the full expanse of the Mirna Valley opened up before us with villages dotted around on hilltops and hillsides. The view just got better. The up had a walking section over 14% that we really can’t ride with fully loaded heavy bikes. Only a few hundred metres then a flattish entrance to this magical town perched on the hill.
Grožnjan, known as the artist hilltown of Istria. A group of artists settled here in the abandoned houses in the 1960’s and revitalised the town. Restored houses, car free streets, with a creative heart. Add the wine and olive oil from this region to make a great place to explore.
Our apartment overlooks the valley from the city walls. Cobbled streets, artisans, old church and the sculptures of boats made from scrap metal (by Igor Hajdarhodžić). Tribute to another artist/sculptor who drove the revitalisation of this town. Truffle tasting with a truffle hunter. White & black truffles. Restaurant with a view to die for. Truffles on a pizza of course. Photos from the restaurant show the hilltop town of Motovun bathed in sunshine. Night view across the valley. Each group of lights is a village.
Cycle Day 24 of 45 over 10 weeks cycle touring covering over 2400km in a loop circuit of the West Balkans in Europe through 8 countries. Connal Kit for all your cycling touring clothing. Connal Tours European Cycling Tour 2024. connalkit.com.au 3June2024.