Boat Ride to Mljet Island, Walk around the Lakes, Kayak to Kozarica

After a breakfast of pancakes topped with homemade jams, eggs from Seka’s chickens and teas made with herbs from her garden, we loaded the kayaks on the transport boat for Mljet Island.

The kayaks were left in the town of Pomena while we took a walk through the National Park, which makes up the western third of the island. The target was the 12^th Century Benedictine monastery of St Mary which sits on a small island in the middle of one of the park’s two lakes. Currently the monastery is under renovation – it was being used as a hotel until 1998 when it was returned to the church. Our lakeside lunch attracted the usual swarms of annoying yet harmless yellowjackets.

After stretching our legs we were in the kayaks again for the paddle from Pomena to Kozarica – halfway along the northern side of Mljet. While usually the southern sides of the Dalmatian Islands are the most spectacular to cruise, the deserted channel between Mljet and Peljesac makes for an enjoyable afternoon sojourn.

Long distance paddling conversations can deal with some ‘deep’ topics – such as “What’s the plural of mongoose – mongeese or mongooses?” Turns out either is acceptable. Why did this question arise? Mljet used to be over-run by snakes. So some bright spark decided the solution was to introduce mongeese to deal with them. The mongooses soon accomplished their assigned task; the island was rid of snakes. However, the little creatures were still hungry so they then also rid the island of all its small bird-life. When we ever learn!

We pulled the kayaks out in the little port and crashed. In the evening, guess what! – More domestic wine on the terrace, with Howard leading the charge.

More pictures from the day’s activities can be found here.