Corsica 1: Getting there

Casting off from Marseiile, black diesel from the ship’s funnels

Passing the entrance to Marseille Vieux Port at sunset

Dawn over Ajaccio, Corsica

Check-out ride from Ajaccio to see the Iles Sanguinaires

View south from Bocca San Bastiano (465 m.).

View north from Bocca San Bastiano (465 m.).

Halt on the D81

Golfu di Liscia

Halt on the D81 - Monte Rotundu - Capu a e Macenule (1226 m.)

Riders on the D81

Costa Rossa, Corse

Porto-Ota, Corse

Stablemates: Versys 650 twin with Zero S (electric)

Civet de sanglier

Casting-off from Marseille at sunset, black diesel from the ship’s funnels. Calm crossing, fine dinner. Dawn reveals the skyline of Corsica, that the French call the Isle of Beauty.
Hired Versys 650 turns out OK: no-one I know rides one and of course it’s quite different to my RR. This one’s tyres have enough rubber, the brakes are OK though not as sharp as a sportsbike with sintered pads, but the engine could do with a service. Check-out ride from Ajaccio to see the Iles Sanguinaires, then I found the D81 north out of Ajaccio, the road up the west coast of Corsica.
Quickly it gets hot... a matter of technique not discomfort, but yes, the gear gets wet and sweaty... I stop for a coffee and water at the Bocca San Bastiano (465 m.). Tantalising views of the granite peaks to the north and silver sand beaches below.
Beautiful, beautiful place this. A combination of French colonial island infrastructure with the scale of Côté d’Azur developments. I’ve ridden past silver sand beaches not inundated with people. Natural beaches much the same as when Napoleon was here.
Most of Corsica is granite so not the volcanic cinder of mid-ocean islands. Craggy down south, where the boat docked and more rounded granite here further north on the west coast.
The hired Kawa Versys 650 twin is fine for the job; it’s heavy but there’s enough power to spare even for the big hills on the main roads.
Onwards past beautiful beaches, magnificent mountains and finally to Porto. Warm welcome at the hotel - the owner runs a Zero S - and relaxing with the view. Brill meal (Civet de Sanglier) at the restaurant associated with the hotel. Arrived...

Corsica 1: Getting there, from Marseille

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