Rafting adventure at Cetina River

Have to say that I have some pressure inside me now. Writing pressure. So much have happened during these past weeks and I would have loved to share some of it with you but circumstances have been against that. I fractured my finger and there has been few different type of splints in it. First it was tided to the finger next to it making my right hand almost useless and now the splint is just in the actual fractured finger making my life a bit easier. Meaning also that I can again write using both hands. I normally write with a pretty smooth 10-finger system but with this weird 9-finger system that is now in use there seems to be a lot of mistakes to correct and my brain is going way more faster than my fingers can function causing some turbulence between them. But here we finally go and in this text you can find out the reason for this slightly disadvantaged state I´m in.

My sister came here from Finland and we spent a wonderful week during which we experienced and saw a lot and we talked even more. We have always been close and now as we live in different countries these moments of actually being together are priceless. Can´t wait to see her again in Finland in few weeks time as I go there to spend couple of months enjoying the northern summer. Anyway, one of the things we did while she was here was rafting down the Cetina River.

I have previous experience on the subject once in Bali, for my sister this was the first time. We were the only customers on this a bit different ride. We were accompanied by an experienced rafting guide Toni and also Nickolas who was at the end of his instructional training to become a rafting guide and now it was time for his assessment test so Toni monitored his level of expertise while we were going down the river. When we arrived at the starting point we were given the necessary equipment meaning helmets and life jackets followed by instructions and few demonstrations before we actually started our ride. Because there was just two of us actually paddling, it was time to time serious work in the bright sunshine during the peaceful calm parts of the river and it didn´t take long for the first drops of sweat to ride down our backs. But there was also time to wonder the great wildlife around us, the clear water revealed the fish and we also saw few small snakes swimming. The lush greenery, small waterfalls bringing the water from the streams and the majestic canyon landscape created such a framework that one could not ask for more.

The three-hour ride, a total of about 11km, was mostly fairly peaceful with a few small easy rapids coming from time to time and we managed to get through them easily. The most challenging part of the entire ride was after midway, at one point in that part we were even told to sit on the bottom of the raft instead of the normal place on the edge. And that's where I hit the finger to something causing the fracture. I didn't even notice it at the time so not sure what exactly happened, we were just laughing as the rapid pushed us from side to side in the raft. Only after we got back to the calm water I noticed a little feeling in my finger and that is was in a bit weird position: after the knuckle the first joint wanted to go to almost 90 degree downwards and then end the finger was even too straight. I was able to keep the finger in normal position without pain but it didn't feel quite ok. A more experienced guide explored my finger, it did not reveal any sharp or sudden pain related to bones being broken but it clearly began to swell. At that point we just assumed the joints had taken a bad hit but that´s all. We exchanged places so that I was able to keep my hand in cold river water while Tony paddled on my place. After about 15 minutes I continued paddling again, still no pain in the finger. At the end of the ride we helped with one rescue test that Nickolas had to pass. My sister and Toni throwed themselves into the river and shouted for help, Nickolas then had to rescue them with the rope within given time. I took time as catching the rope in the water and holding on to it might have been difficult with my injured finger. Nickolas passed the test with great time.

Although I was unlucky with my finger, I can highly recommend rafting adventure. During the trip you have the opportunity to stop swimming and even cliff jumping if you wish. At the end of our ride I also took a refreshing dip in the river, my sister already got that done during the rescue mission. As a nature experience this is at the very peak, the canyon of the Cetina River is truly impressive and the river environment is wonderfully green, water clear and pure. And after the ride it´s nice to have lunch in the city of Omiš, where the river meets the Adriatic. So if you happen to be around Split or Omiš, then do book a ride to enjoy beautiful Cetina River by rafting.

Some whoosh and shake in Dalmatia

Yesterday evening it again attacked us. It came behind the mountains, strengthened with the support of the freezing forces of the north. While diving into the pass between mountains it was pressed like a diamond under pressure and its power got more scary. From the pass it hit us, it was everywhere and it surely showed its mighty power. Bura, that gloomy northern wind.

The local meteorological center had already issued a formal red warning to the Dalmatian area in good time, luckily bura is not coming as suprise. The motorway was completely closed from traffic, often there is only a ban on large vehicles such as trucks and vans, but now all. There are breaks in the ferry service to the close by islands at sea and boats are urged to stay in ports. Here, the coast was warned of damages on buildings and other structures. When the wind blows up to 140km/h (that's about 39m/s) you surely should hold on to your hat.

When the night fell on us, it finally hit our village. Kitchen hood was buzzing and clattering even though it wasn´t turned on. The gusts bumbed into the walls of the house and howled around corners, on the balcony citrus and laurel trees were blowed from the dust and spider's quite effectively. The electricity broke down a couple of times darkening the whole village and rain was hitting the windows with the power of the wind. I went to bed being happy I had strong concrete walls around me instead of that straw house that sheltered three little piglets in the children story in witch the wolf blowed the house away.

In the middle of the night I woke up to the sound of my wardrobe doors clattering. At first I wondered how the wind could catch them until I realized the bed was shaking. Mother Nature sure was putting on a show and added an earthquake to this spectacle. Fortunately, it quickly faded away. As I learned in the morning the center was located little over twenty kilometers from here and it was  3.6 magnitude on the Richter scale.

The morning was sunny and calm, new day started out as usual. Even confusingly usual, where were the damages of the storm? Here the plants have bura resistance in their genes, they do bend but do not break under these winds. The tile roofs are not torn to the wind, they are firmly attached to their base. Except some occasional light garbage containers or other small stuff, everything is where it should be. In January last year, bura was windmilling deserted Christmas trees as tumbleweed at the desert, nothing like that this time.

The three buras of March are kind of concept in here. Actually, they are quite expected cause after the storms warm days are coming and it´s time to head towards summer. There is already a lot of buds in the lemon tree waiting for the nice sunny days so they can open.