It’s been an interesting Spring, rather wetter than usual, so we really appreciate when the sun comes out. That’s especially true when the forecast said clouds and rain, but outside the window we have a perfect blue sky! So it was on Thursday last week, and we took ourselves up to Pitve to hike the trail to the top of the island. There’s a lovely graded path, specially built as a donkey path to get to the vineyards on the southern slopes, long before the tunnel was built.The trailhead is signed “to Srakinj“, carved on a large lump of stone. Wonder where that is/was? As we climb, there’s a lovely view of the valley above the Pitve tunnel, covered with clumps of yellow broom.
U Srakinj
Trail zig-zags up
Yellow broom
The path is covered in wild flowers, and we’re on the lookout for any different orchids, or indeed any other flowers that we don’t already know. At altitude, it’s possible they may still be in flower at the end of May. In this relatively untouched area, it’s a good hunting ground!
Grassy bell
Orchis rhodostephane
Common centaury
Moth
Wild mignonette
It appears to be thistle season! This particular variety, the musk thistle, is striking as the bud starts to open, with that deep pink heart set in a green rosette. The leaves are also painfully jaggy, as I discovered to my cost trying to get into the undergrowth to take photos!
Musk thistle flower
Coming into flower
Covered in seeds
Towards the top of the switchbacks, there’s a fine view back the way we’ve come. The start of the road across the top can be seen snaking its way up on the other side of the valley. That is the “up and over” alternative for vehicles that can’t fit through the tunnel, or when that’s closed for maintenance. Our walking trail will meet up with the road shortly, as it comes round to join us on this side of the valley.
Valley view
As we meet the road, we turn left and follow it up the hill. It’s really only a single track and it’s not as if there are many cars. Only one truck passed us in the time we were there. There’s more flowers at the top of the trail, and swathes of glorious blue sage everywhere! I was taking lots of photos as some of these plants were new to me, and I would have to look them up.
Lesser calamint
Grass lily
Sage
Sage bushes
Burnt candytuft
Golden drop
There’s been some buildings up here at one time, and fields marked out by drystone walls. Now it’s left to the wild plants, the aleppo pines and the flowers, particularly the cheery pink of rock roses. Looking north towards Brač, we’re high enough to glimpse the mainland mountains behind it.
View towards Brač
Even the road is covered in flowers at this point! Looking east(ish), you can see the tail end of Brač, and the high mountains of the mainland with Biokovo behind a line of clouds. Now, isn’t this an inviting road to follow!
Road over the top
It’s clearly not always peaceful up here, though. This is hunter country, as shown by this hide by the side of the road. Fine views from there, and the patchwork construction makes for an interesting photo!
Hunter’s hide
The views are glorious from up here, especially on such a clear sunny day. Here’s one of some impressive rocks showing how the sedimentary layers are now pushed up vertically.
Vertical rocks
That’s about as far as we went on this day, but you can follow the road down the other side towards Zavala, back down to the Pitve tunnel by the long way round, or head further east towards Humac. Options to try another day! After our picnic, we headed back down the way we came, by the donkey trail.
Don’t underestimate the value of Doing Nothing, of just going along, listening to all the things you can’t hear, and not bothering. ~ A.A. Milne
Taking the high road – a wet May means lots of wild flowers! It's been an interesting Spring, rather wetter than usual, so we really appreciate when the sun comes out.
