It was difficult to say good bye go Lesley and Paul but it was time for us to go our separate ways. We are heading south and they are heading north. Over a quick coffee we managed to say our goodbyes. When I say quick, it probably took 2 hours because we get on so well.

Croatia campsites are great and compared to the rest of Europe they offering good value for money. Especially if you use your ASCI. They offer all the usual facilities included in the price from electric, showers, mini markets, bakery, bars, pools etc. The only downside they can be quite isolated. The majority of the sites are located so far out of the towns and villages it makes it hard to walk and wander outside the campsite. The facilities are usually excellent but we personally like to take Mac n Tosh on walks and stroll to local villages. With this in mind we head over to Camp Njivice in the north of the island. This campsite looks like it is within easy walking of Njivice town. With plenty cafes and restaurants nearby so we can hopefully spend a few days walking, wandering and enjoy a nice evening out.

After a quick shop at the new Lidl at Krk town we arrive at Camp Njivice. We arrive at the same time as half a dozen other vans, which causes a slight problem. Space is limited especially when the entrance to the campsite is under construction. I was just about to jump out of the van to check the availability when we noticed the surrounding area was covered in building materials. Cement mixers churning, hammers bashing, machinery whining and thick red dust every where. Not exactly the kind of surroundings we hoped for.

After a shuffle back and forth we headed over to the other side of the island to Camp Slummi, Klimno. We managed to squeeze in to the last available pitch on the 4 star ASCI site.

Our Bumble paid camping spot N045.153498, E014.617157

The pitches are very tiny and compact (as Craig demonstrates). To park up you have to tell your facing neighbour to shift. Then you all but drive over half of their pitch almost pinning them to the side of their van. Thankfully, our neighbour was extremely accommodating and moved chairs, tables, washing line and the kitchen sink to help us shuffle in to our spot. Once in place, we realise we are squeezed so tightly to our adjoining neighbour that we cannot use our canopy. Unless of course we poke them in the butt or chop down some newly planted oak tree. But in an odd way that’s part of the character and enjoyment of the place.

Two minutes down the hill is the village of Klimno. A small marina with a couple of restaurants and a supermarket. We had hoped to eat out but the lack of customers put us off. Shame really because the restaurant setting was rather nice. We slowly walk up the hill, passing camper van after camper van going in the opposite direction. We wonder where they were going, did we miss something? Craig suggests a ride on Eor so we pop back to base and jump on Eor. As we leave the entrance, the trail of camper vans arrive. They’d zoomed passed the well hidden Slumni sign on the way down. Sadly, the site is full and even the car park is full to capacity. Turning half a dozen camper vans around in a confined space, on a hill, on a blind bend is a struggle.

Eor manages to just squeeze passed before the chaos starts. We zip over to the neighbouring villages on the east coast Soline, Silo, Polje and Donja Hlapa. All similar in size and character with pastel coloured villas, stone cottages and obligatory church and tower. The views over to the mainland were stunning. The mountains were surrounded in dark clouds and distant thunder suggested another downpour maybe on the cards. We made a dash for it.

Slumni is a small, quiet and friendly campsite but it is far from 4 star. In the evening, we find that we are effectively dining with the people next to us. The waft of boiled sausages does not compliment our homemade chicken pittas. Nor does the sound of someone chewing their food and burping after every mouth full. The other neighbours seemed a little more refined even with 4 kids screaming for the last jam butty. We did wonder, if everyone opened their camper window then it would be like sitting on one huge table. Sharing bread rolls, flinging peanuts and belching competition.

Our pitch (25) is located near the facility block. This is a novel pleasure for we normally aim to create some distance between us and the loos. As well as sharing pleasantries with our neighbour, we nod at everyone bugger passing our van. We spend our meal watching a procession of strangers pulling up their flies and giving their hands a shake as they pass. And on that note, we retire to the safety of bed, as another raging storm arrives…after a cracking sunset