The Idiot had MedTrekked just over 700 kilometers around the divided island country of Cyprus in April and May when he abruptly flew from the southern Mediterranean Sea to Dubrovnik, Croatia.

Why did he abandon the path when he needed only a few more MedTrekking days to complete the circumnavigation of the third largest island in the Mediterranean?

Did he want to get a look at sites and sights from the water?

View from the Med: Sailing into Korčula, Croatia.

View from the Med: Guiding lighthouses.

View from the Med: Tenderly leaving the Croatian island of Mljet with June Temple, Gordon Kling and Liz Chapin.

View from the Med: Breezing under the iconic bridge at the entrance to the Port of Dubrovnik.

Did he want to slightly increase limited sailing skills that still keep him emptying bilges and taking garbage ashore?

Sailing skills: “What’s that smell?” (Photo: June Temple)

Sailing skills: “What’s a winch?”(Photo: Liz Chapin)

Sailing skills: “What’s that reef doing there?” (Photo: June Temple)

Did he join a group of old friends from Cape Town (profuse thanks to Gordon and Anne Kling for the invitation!) because he desired sea-cooked food?

Sea-cooked food: Liz Chapin, June Temple and Anne Kling prepare lunch on board the Adamus, a 39-foot catamaran.

Sea-cooked food: Enjoying a very social on-the-boat dinner. (Photo: Liz Chapin)

Was he exhausted from constant MedTrekking, in need of some easier hiking, letting his numerous scrapes and scratches heal, or simply seeking camaraderie?

Easier walking: Following the crowd around the wall of Dubrovnik. (Photo: Liz Chapin)

Easier walking: Heading for wi-fi. (Photo: Liz Chapin

Easier walking: Discussing the status of the MedTrek with Gordon Kling. (Photo: Liz Chapin)

None of the above.

Alexander the Great told The Idiot to visit Marco Polo on the Croatian island of Korčula and get some advice concerning the next MedTrek outing.

The Idiot met Marco Polo in the tower (left) above his purported birthplace in Korčula.

Following that discussion, where will The Idiot be MedTrekking next?

Syria, Lebanon, Israel or ….?

Watch this space after The Idiot concludes his MedTrek around Cyprus this week.

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About Joel

Joel Stratte-McClure has been a global trekker since the 1970s. He lived in France for over 30 years, working as a journalist, before he turned his attention to a unique life-time-project of walking the shores of the Mediterranean. The first 4,401 kilometers are explored in his inspirational and entertaining first book "The Idiot and the Odyssey: Walking the Mediterranean." The next 4,401 kilometers are covered in the gods-filled sequel, "The Idiot and the Odyssey II: Myth, Madness and Magic on the Mediterranean,” published on Valentine's Day 2013. The last 4,401 kilometers will be discussed in the last book of the trilogy currently entitled "The Idiot and the Odyssey III: Alexander the Great Walks the Mediterranean."