It was a good trip over to the very isolated Kornati National Park Islands consisting of over 140 separate islands in the group.  These islands are mostly uninhabited and forest fires, attempts to clear  the land and cultivate have denuded the islands and the exposed rock formation against the blue Adriatic ocean gives them spectacular panorama.

Fritz, the Austrian  sailor we met in Miljet recomended a bay in the south west corner of Dugi Otok.  Stan navigated us right into the correct bay called Sakarun.  The restaurant Golo which Fritz told us about run by a Croatian family was there and that we must go in and introduce ourselves to them early in the day if we wished to eat at their restaurant and tell them what we wanted to eat from their menu as they have to go out and catch the fish, pull up the vegitables and slaughter the lamb then cook them before 7pm.

Peter and Jan volunteered to go ashore and place our orders of Lamb under the Bell and a plater of fresh fish from the Bay.  We had a long rest in the warm afternoon and went ashore in the dinghy around 7pm.  The only afternoon interuption being from the local whoevers that come to collect a fee for just being in the park.  However Leo had already paid a hevty fee of around $140A the day before when we anchored overnight at the other end of the Kornatis.  This seem to satisfy them but they did ask for a couple of beers which we passed over to them gratefully.  They also will take your rubbish ashore if needed. 

We pulled the dinghy up to the little jetty outside the Restaurant Goto and walked up the path to the patio in front of their typical island house which was filled with wooden bench tables,  lights twinkling in the trees and vines.  We were served wine from local vineyards and the lamb was served on a sizzling platter surrounded by home grown potatoes in olive oil and herbs.

The grilled sea bass and prawns were served on a platter with a side dish of mashed potatoes and zuccini and herbs. When we had finished all this we had individual lemon butter crepes sprinkled with sugar.  A most enjoyable meal.

Every table was taken even though there was only about 10 boats in our bay, diners seem to appear from every other bay so good is their reputation. 

We were all very rested so we made a real night out of it mixing and chatting with people from other boats from England, Germany and Italy.  Two English couples arrived in style from their big motor launch all dressed up but the ladies took off their shoes and really got into the swing of the outdoor atmosphere.  The guys were very confident of winning the cricket against the Aussies and kept rubbing us about winning the World Cup Rugby which they had attended in Sydney a couple of years ago.

The storm clouds were gathering again and it was a pleasant relief when it began to rain just after we had got back to the boat.  The rain really clears the air and the humidity drops so it is a lot more pleasant to sleep.

Tomorrow Stan will navigate us out of the Kornati Islands and over to the mainland and the city of Zadar.