Saluti a tutti di a Corsica!

[Scapadu]

Originally Posted by Global Rider

I took the D180 from the east to the west coast and back. Was it that twisty? Nice!

Yes this is this one really, i hope you also tried the D35 just above north, it is another peace of cake

Originally Posted by Global Rider

There are no >>>> signs in Corsica advising you of an upcoming tight right hairpin.

Once you have been in Corsica, you do understand they would need so many road sign of that kind that it would just be a wall of >>>> all alone the roads
The solution is to put one over your dash board so that you do think there is one everywhere

[Scapadu]

I dont know if this is your....cup of tea, but Corsica is also a place for good food specialy for "Carne", "charcuterie" in french, something delicatessen i english i think. But this is the top one like herunder with Salciccia and Coppa.
Very good stuff at pit stop between 2 rides

[macamoose]

Scapadu, that looks spectacular.

It is rare in America to find any dish like that, maybe in the North End of Boston.

Corsica is definitely on the must visit list. What a beautiful island, simply amazing.

Thank you,

Thad

[pburke]

It's been a long time since I have seen view from Corsica I didn't know already. Your photos are great since they are not the usual post card angles you get on the internet.

I think I'll be scanning some of my old slides to add to the collection here :)

it's been a few years since I last looked at my photos from Corsica, so that will be quite fun to revisit.

I doubt I'll ever ride a motorcycle on the island - too much to see up in the mountains where you can get to only on foot :)

Really miss the place - had a friend in Venaco who probably isn't alive anymore. If you ever get there in your travels, ask for Sylvestre Rinieri - he used to be the self-appointed traffic regulator at the narrow spot on the main road in the middle of town.

Do they still let you ride that little train across the mountains with your feet dangling out the luggage compartment, or have the safety nazis arrived in Corsica as well?

Peter

oh - some pix from the 80s:

http://didnt.doit.wisc.edu/outdoor/corsica_01.html

[Scapadu]

Originally Posted by pburke

I think I'll be scanning some of my old slides to add to the collection here :)

Your pics are great, the end of the 70s was my favourite period in Corsica . I have many old slides and paper photo from Corsica to as i switch to electronic camera 2 year ago only

Originally Posted by pburke

I doubt I'll ever ride a motorcycle on the island - too much to see up in the mountains where you can get to only on foot :)

Most of the time i spend 70% of my time hicking the many trail way of the island, there is still much i have never done, which is not the case for the roads beacause to rode all of them several time already.

Originally Posted by pburke

Really miss the place - had a friend in Venaco who probably isn't alive anymore. If you ever get there in your travels, ask for Sylvestre Rinieri - he used to be the self-appointed traffic regulator at the narrow spot on the main road in the middle of town.

I almost each year go in this area as i have old friends at Vivario and Tattone a few KM from Venaco. I will see that next trip.

Originally Posted by pburke

Do they still let you ride that little train across the mountains with your feet dangling out the luggage compartment, or have the safety nazis arrived in Corsica as well?

I think you may be disapointed, they did not implement some "safety nazis system" (this would for sure not last long in Corsica), but for safety, reliability and comfort, they have started this year to renew the track way and brend new train will be in place shortly, those are with air conditionning and for sure will no more allow this kind of fun.

Hope to see you one day there, with a bike, there is good bike rental there (with bike like Yamaha 600XT, with is in fact the very best for twisty Corsica).


A dopo. Scapa.

[kktos]

@scapa
u miss a pict of the cheese. ;)

@peter
beautiful picts u have here.
liked the faces, Sylvestre and the old lady. look very italian to me. but after all, we're in Corsica, where italia and france meet.

thxs for the day dreaming, guys.
/thierry

[pburke]

Originally Posted by Scapadu

I almost each year go in this area as i have old friends at Vivario and Tattone a few KM from Venaco. I will see that next trip.


I think you may be disapointed, they did not implement some "safety nazis system" (this would for sure not last long in Corsica), but for safety, reliability and comfort, they have started this year to renew the track way and brend new train will be in place shortly, those are with air conditionning and for sure will no more allow this kind of fun.

Hope to see you one day there, with a bike, there is good bike rental there (with bike like Yamaha 600XT, with is in fact the very best for twisty Corsica).


A dopo. Scapa.

Tattone, remember that place well. I once camped right outside of town, walked the road from there to the valley behind D'Oro and then from there up to the cabin on the Rotondo peak (is that still there?)

XT600 rental? sweet - I used to own an '84 Tenere and a '86 regular XT600. I'd say it's the right bike for the place. When I hiked up some of the mountain roads to get near the areas I was interested in I was always thinking about the bike I had at home... On the other hand, we hiked to areas few have ever seen (The GR20 got boring after the first year), usally off trail. For example, we crossed the ridge west above Venaco all the way to Rotondo once - death march without water over huge boulders for 10 miles at 8000+ feet in a super windy, hot, dry weather. Adventure, I guess, as I'll never forget that day.

New train? I guess you can't stop progress. I'll never forget that old train, it was something that was right out of the early 1950s and operated on its own schedule. 2 hours late? Normal. Nobody at the train station? Sure, they are all doing siesta - who would want to ride a train in this heat?

I'll definitely come back one of these days. First I gotta do the Trans America Trail, though

Peter

[GB]

Beautiful! Absolutely stunning (for us north americans, who live in the land of the flat and ugly). You should post this in the Ride Reports, or ask to have it moved there and it's done!

[pburke]

it's his "20+ years multiple times on every road of Corsica" ride report :)

I can only add pix without bikes - got about 5000 slides in storage that really need some digitizing before the bugs eat the old Kodachromes. I may just go back to the slide trays this weekend, as it's supposed to rain here and I am having a bitch of a time changing my rear tire, so no riding

[Scapadu]

Originally Posted by Gadget Boy

You should post this in the Ride Reports, or ask to have it moved there and it's done!

That would be good if it ssems to be it's best place.
A ringrazia vi.

[GB]

Since you've PM'd me to get this moved to Ride Reports, I'll do it for you. More people should see this beautiful island and your ride report.

[Uzay]

Hi,

One of the beautiful places in Mediterreanen, wish to ride there as well.

Thanks for sharing the pix.

[Scapadu]

Thanks to Gadjet Boy for the move.

As this thread will now probably (who knows) make the decision for some of the World Riders to come i will add a few advises to the pics.

1/When to come: The very best period is between meedle of may to end of june.The reason are 3.
The Weather is perfect, perfect temp, no rain.
Not much people (in term of tourist)
The nature is splendid

2/How to come:
If you intend to come with your bike, have a ferry in France or Italy.
There is 2 majors compagnie, SNCM http://www.sncm.fr/ and Corsica Ferry http://www.corsicaferries.com . It is much interresting to purchase the ticket via Internet 3 to 4 months before to leave (up 50% discount).
e.g. I paid this year end of may from Marseille France to Bastia and back, 2 persons + Bike + private cabin €180.

If you intend to come without your bike or because you fly to Corsica, there is several bike rental shop that can rent you bikes like yamaha 600XT which perfect for riding the island

If you dont choose to rid (personnal or wife reason ), you can of course rent a car. In this case you should prefer a small size one for easier access to many places (there is no highway there anyway)

3/ How and where to sleep: if you are a camping fan you will much enjoy the place and will have a lots of place available whereever you choose to overnight, (even more true in the recommended period).
At camp site you can also rent small bungalow (a good deal compared to hotel most of the time)
If you are a Hotel fan (because of Madame again), there is many possibility with hotel and gîte, prefer the small place and small villages. If you intend to move a lot and will need a new place next night, try to ask at the place you are if they have a good address at your next stop place (Corsican always have a family or friend anywhere on the island and they do like to be helpfull in that way).

4/What and where to eat: Great food and many restaurants, please avoid what i call the "tourist trapp" and prefer the small place where there is not to much choice on the menu but with real local specialities. If the cook is the owner it is a chance, if there is not many waiters or waitress this is a good signal, this means this a family restaurant. Generaly speaking, do ask people where to go, people much like to share good restaurant address.

5/ If you ask: What should i visit first? Go at rondom and here again listen to the people and follow their advises depending whether you prefer mountain or seaside area, however unless you will be there of at list 3 weeks you will really visit just a part of the island. Trying to visit all of it in less than that time is just a dream (and even with 3Weeks).

6/However what would be the must to do:
This is just a list not necessarily in my favourite order in heart(except for a/), but i would recommend it for a first 2weeks trip because going from a/ to f/ in order is a good program to follow with nice scenary road inbetween:
a/The Cap Corse tour (very north of corsica)
b/The Balagna (north east of Calvi)
c/Calanque of Piana (south of Calvi)
d/Restonica canyon (west of Corte)
e/The Bavella pass (west of Porto Vecchio)
f/City of Bonifaccio


Have much fun. Scapa.

[aylorr]

Thanks for a superb ride report!

[Global Rider]

Originally Posted by Scapadu

2/How to come:
If you intend to come with your bike, have a ferry in France or Italy.
There is 2 majors compagnie, SNCM http://www.sncm.fr/ and Corsica Ferry http://www.corsicaferries.com . It is much interresting to purchase the ticket via Internet 3 to 4 months before to leave (up 50% discount).
e.g. I paid this year end of may from Marseille France to Bastia and back, 2 persons + Bike + private cabin €180.

There is also Moby Lines. They operate out of various ports, but the one with the shortest time to Corsica is out of Livorno at 4 hours.

A Moby Lines advantage is that you can arrive the previous night and board the ferry between 20:00 to 21:00 hours and stay in a private cabin with shower for €60 (accomodates 2). You have to spend the night somewhere and better on board than to have to get up early the following morning at some local hotel to then find your way to the ferry port. I had the ship to myself; there must have been under eight people on board that evening. This also avoids the crowds the following morning at 9:00 when everybody else boards. You arrive in Bastia at 13:00.

I didn't book in advance and the Moby Line charges for a private cabin for the night, myself and motorcycle ran me €91.80.

For the ferry back, I booked through a travel agency in St. Florent with Corsica Ferries. Charges for myself and the motorcycle were €31.08 and €5 for the travel agent booking fee.

Originally Posted by Scapadu

If you intend to come without your bike or because you fly to Corsica, there is several bike rental shop that can rent you bikes like yamaha 600XT which perfect for riding the island.

That is an ideal size for Corsica. Where can you rent those? The only bike rentals I came across while meandering through towns was in Propriano and all they had were 250 cc and under. Our GS Adventtures are far more than one needs there.