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FOLLOWING
THE TRAIL OF MATHIAS SANDROF – AN ADVENTURE QUEST
Wednesday, June
22nd 2006
Okay, not
exactly the way Jules Verne described it in his novel -
although we will not take the underground passages of the
Pazin Abyss to reach the Lim Fjord and Rovinj, we are
going to use the widest array of transportation in true
Jules Verne style: In Pazin we board a train which will
take us to Kanfanar, and then we continu on foot below
the ruins of the Kašteljir hill-fort to the old source
of the Perilo, and again further along the shady path to
the bottom of the valley. From here, up to Dvigrad, the
trail is a bit sunnier.
At the foot of Dvigrad, having stopped for a break and
refreshments, each of us will mount a bike and we'll took
a pleasant ride the next 9 km down the dirt road to Lim.
Arriving at Lim, we will board a boat which, some 30
minutes later, will set us ashore near the Pirate Caves
at the mouth of the Lim Fjord for lunch. After eating,
we'll set off by boat to an island located exactly in
front of Rovinj. There will be just enough time left for
us to have a cup of coffee and ice cream in Rovinj,
before boarding the bus at 5:00 PM that would take us
back to Pazin.
But, this isn't really an ordinary outing, and here’s
why:
Jules Verne in his novel describes Mathis Sandorf being
carried by the flooded waters of the Pazinčica River
through underground passages and finally seeing the light
of day some five hours later in the Lim Fjord. Long ago,
this story was passed from one generation on to another,
until it was recorded by the French travel-writer Charles
Yriarte, from whom it was taken by Jules Verne. Back in
1934 experiments were made by marking and tracking eels (Sella),
which proved that the Pazin Abyss is connected with the
springs in the Raša Valley. Later tests used dyed water
confirmed these findings.
The researcher Mirko Malez, however, whose 1967 studies
of the Pazin Abyss produced the best and most accurate
plan, as well as the most detailed description of the
abyss up to date, still stands by the theory that the
waters of the Pazinčica flow into the Lim Fjord,
especially when the water table is high. And this despite
his knowing about the experiments with the eels. His
theory is backed by personal experience. Namely in the
1960s during one of the times the Pazin Abyss was
obstructed, Malez witnessed the sudden expulsion of muddy
water, under pressure, from the springs at the beginning
of the fjord, and he recorded a full three meter rise in
the level of the water, which caused damage to the local
mussel farms.
During our trips in previous years, we managed to locate
several fresh water springs along the shore from the
Fjord Restaurant up to the Marimirna mussel farms.
We also spoke to some fishermen, but they had never seen
the waters of the springs in the Lim Fjord to be the
colour of white coffee, specific of the time the Pazin
Abyss was flooded.
As we want to continue our research this year as well,
Eugen, Sebastijan and Valter of the Speleological Society
of Istria will bring along some special equipment.
APLICATIONS:
before June 19th 2006 in
Tourist office in Pazin
by phone. (052) 622 460 or just mail info@tzpazin.hr
PRICES (for
booking before June 19th 2006):
Jules Verne Club members 100 KN
other adults - 150 kn
children up to 4 years. - 80 kn
children up to 12 years- 100 kn
booking after
June 18th
full price - 250 KN
ADDITIONAL COSTS:
for a bicycle transportation - 10 KN
bycicle hire (book please in advance) - 50 kn
DISCOUNTS:
For moutain bikers driving directly from Pazin
to Lim- 10 kn
IMPORTANT:
ATTENDING THIS QUEST IS
AT YOUR OWN RESPONSABILITY!
