After a great night at Stanger, and a fabulous breakfast, the owner suggested that we not pass up the opportunity to visit Ucka nature park and so glad we listened! It is known as one of Croatia’s best kept secrets(another one) and is 160 sq km and covered by beech forests as well as chestnut trees and oaks. Sheep roam the area and it’s easy to hit one, if you were so inclined, but we managed not to. Apparently golden eagles fly overhead but we didn’t see one and I am also glad to report that we didn’t see a black bear that also wander around. Once again it was a slow long drive until it felt like we came to the end of the earth to a place called Mala Ucka which is described as a half abandoned village where a few shepherds lived. Given that we only saw one person, I’m wondering if in the busy season that means there are two people living in the village. We all agreed it was worth the long slow journey on scary roads and the attached photo indicates how narrow they are and how glad we were to only see three cars on the whole trip, all of which were parked in the woods……hikers, we guessed!