globalrider
Alps Adventurer
Corsica - a motorcyclist's paradise!
Having spent many years riding around in Europe, primarily the Alps, Corsica has always been on my list of must-ride places.
Its interesting how a ferry ride can be just enough to put even the most enthusiastic of travellers on a different path, an easier one, one with a road instead. Well after having toured Corsica and Newfoundland, let me tell you, having to take a ferry is worth the trouble.
I started my day near Rovereto, Italy and planned to make it to Livorno later that afternoon. The SS12 is a direct route, one that actually starts at the Brenner Pass. The portion of the SS12 from Verona to just south of Maranello is quite uneventful; straight and flat is not my idea of motorcycling road. But once south of there to Lucca, it gets to be a challenge especially if you need to make time.
Arriving at the ferry port in Livorno just after 18:00, I proceeded to book the ferry and cabin for the night. This avoids having to fight early morning traffic and having to find the ferry port the next morning if staying in a nearby hotel. Besides the cabin was just as cheap, if not moreso than a hotel.
While waiting to board the Moby Lines ferry at 20:00, a KTM Adventure rider from Austria joined me in the two-man, two bike line-up...
There were about 8 people on board for the night. Privacy wasn't an issue!
The ferry departed Livorno at 09:00 the next morning, arriving in Bastia, Corsica at 13:00. Along the way the islands of Elba and Capraia to name a few, were visible.
Arriving in Bastia, Corsica...
Whenever I tour, I usually take a hotel or B&B in an area for a few days, making it my home base so that I can explore the area in detail. Hotel Maxime in St. Florent caters to motorcyclists by providing locked garage parking.
Residents and tourists knowing how to slow down. An evening in St. Florent...
The map to get is the Michelin 345 Local - Corse-du-Sud, Haute-Corse with a scale of 1/150 000. That scale provides very good detail. You'll notice both N and D series roads. The N roads are great for making time, but are boring. When there and if you enjoy back-roads riding, stick to the D series of roads.
The following day, a ride around Cap Corse and the view from the northern most point...
The Gorges de l'Asco road (D147) can hold some surprises. I came across this boulder upon exiting this hairpin...
Further along the Gorges de l'Asco road before reaching the summit. Monte Cinto at 2706 m (8878 ft) is Corsica's highest peak and adjacent to the end of the road. This road may be a dead end, but the ride back was just as enjoyable...
Returning down the Gorges de l'Asco road, east of the town of Asco...
Roads, nice and narrow, and free of traffic. On the D5 between Bigorno and Murato...
On the D5, overlooking the town of Lento...
Pigs are a common sight along and on the roads in Corsica...
The island's west coast are where the twisties are. The Les Calanche road (D81) just south of the town Porto offers this incredible view overlooking the Golfe de Porto...
The town of Propriano...
I made Hotel Beach in Propriano my home base for another few days. They also offered secure locked garage parking for motorcycles.
The view from the town of Bonifacio looking along the coast westward...
At the southern most tip, the town of Bonifacio and also the ferry port to the town of Santa Teresa Gallura, a short hop to the Italian island of Sardinia...
Between the town of Zonza and the Col de Bavella on the D268...
The view from my cabin in Solenzara...
What more could one want other than a cabin with the Mediterranean Sea right out the back window. I stayed at the Hotel Mare e Festa in Solenzara making it my third and last home base while on Corsica...
By the way, Hotel Mare e Festa was by far the cheapest at Ôé¼40 a night (June 2006) and it even included a full breakfast. The other hotels all ran about Ôé¼60 per night and a full breakfast was extra for another Ôé¼7.50.
Taken between the town of Aull?¿ne and the Col de St. Eustache on the D420...
Move along...single file please. Taken on the D69 near St. Antoine...
On the Bocca di Scaledda on the D27 north of the town of Bastelica...
Continued...
Having spent many years riding around in Europe, primarily the Alps, Corsica has always been on my list of must-ride places.
Its interesting how a ferry ride can be just enough to put even the most enthusiastic of travellers on a different path, an easier one, one with a road instead. Well after having toured Corsica and Newfoundland, let me tell you, having to take a ferry is worth the trouble.
I started my day near Rovereto, Italy and planned to make it to Livorno later that afternoon. The SS12 is a direct route, one that actually starts at the Brenner Pass. The portion of the SS12 from Verona to just south of Maranello is quite uneventful; straight and flat is not my idea of motorcycling road. But once south of there to Lucca, it gets to be a challenge especially if you need to make time.
Arriving at the ferry port in Livorno just after 18:00, I proceeded to book the ferry and cabin for the night. This avoids having to fight early morning traffic and having to find the ferry port the next morning if staying in a nearby hotel. Besides the cabin was just as cheap, if not moreso than a hotel.
While waiting to board the Moby Lines ferry at 20:00, a KTM Adventure rider from Austria joined me in the two-man, two bike line-up...
There were about 8 people on board for the night. Privacy wasn't an issue!
The ferry departed Livorno at 09:00 the next morning, arriving in Bastia, Corsica at 13:00. Along the way the islands of Elba and Capraia to name a few, were visible.
Arriving in Bastia, Corsica...
Whenever I tour, I usually take a hotel or B&B in an area for a few days, making it my home base so that I can explore the area in detail. Hotel Maxime in St. Florent caters to motorcyclists by providing locked garage parking.
Residents and tourists knowing how to slow down. An evening in St. Florent...
The map to get is the Michelin 345 Local - Corse-du-Sud, Haute-Corse with a scale of 1/150 000. That scale provides very good detail. You'll notice both N and D series roads. The N roads are great for making time, but are boring. When there and if you enjoy back-roads riding, stick to the D series of roads.
The following day, a ride around Cap Corse and the view from the northern most point...
The Gorges de l'Asco road (D147) can hold some surprises. I came across this boulder upon exiting this hairpin...
Further along the Gorges de l'Asco road before reaching the summit. Monte Cinto at 2706 m (8878 ft) is Corsica's highest peak and adjacent to the end of the road. This road may be a dead end, but the ride back was just as enjoyable...
Returning down the Gorges de l'Asco road, east of the town of Asco...
Roads, nice and narrow, and free of traffic. On the D5 between Bigorno and Murato...
On the D5, overlooking the town of Lento...
Pigs are a common sight along and on the roads in Corsica...
The island's west coast are where the twisties are. The Les Calanche road (D81) just south of the town Porto offers this incredible view overlooking the Golfe de Porto...
The town of Propriano...
I made Hotel Beach in Propriano my home base for another few days. They also offered secure locked garage parking for motorcycles.
The view from the town of Bonifacio looking along the coast westward...
At the southern most tip, the town of Bonifacio and also the ferry port to the town of Santa Teresa Gallura, a short hop to the Italian island of Sardinia...
Between the town of Zonza and the Col de Bavella on the D268...
The view from my cabin in Solenzara...
What more could one want other than a cabin with the Mediterranean Sea right out the back window. I stayed at the Hotel Mare e Festa in Solenzara making it my third and last home base while on Corsica...
By the way, Hotel Mare e Festa was by far the cheapest at Ôé¼40 a night (June 2006) and it even included a full breakfast. The other hotels all ran about Ôé¼60 per night and a full breakfast was extra for another Ôé¼7.50.
Taken between the town of Aull?¿ne and the Col de St. Eustache on the D420...
Move along...single file please. Taken on the D69 near St. Antoine...
On the Bocca di Scaledda on the D27 north of the town of Bastelica...
Continued...