Bugbear
Registered user
A mini-tour - three old-ish expats 
: who live in France, a TDM and two V-Stroms take a trip to Corsica.
Day 1.
An 08.00 start saw me meeting up with Andy at 09.15 in Le Dorat.
This is the route we took to Millau. and we are now ensconced in the hotel waiting for the restaurant next door to open.
Nice ride down with some excellent back roads from Rodez to Millau.
Bloody hot for the last 200k though.
We and we are now ensconced in the hotel waiting for the restaurant next door to open.
View from Hotel Room in Millau.
Day 2.
A reasonable start slightly delayed when Macdonalds didn't open until 09.00. Bacon & Egg Mac-muffin and a coffee in Millau town then off to tackle the mountain road above the town, brilliant.
Picked up the motorway and down to Arles services where Lawrence was waiting. Then it started to rain and it continued all the way down to the ferry terminal in Toulon.
Fuel stop just before the rain.
And then there were 3.
They wouldn't let us into the terminal so we stood for three bloody hours waiting in the rain. (tip: Don't get to the Ferry early)
Finally boarded at five-thirty, bikes packed in like sardines. Into the cabin to get into some comfortable (dry) clothes and into the bar for a nice cup of tea (alcohol) for the other two.
Had a nice meal later and then to bed for the night crossing.
Lawrence tucking in the a meal on board with a very expensive bottle of wine.
Day 3.
Corsica shrouded in mist and rain didn't look enticing as we coasted into the ferry berth. Chaos in the car decks as cars tried everything to get off before their neighbours. We were stuck in a dead-end with about thirty other bikes and we're pretty-well last off. (Did I mention don't get on the boat early next time)
Pics of arrival in Bastia. The weather forecast had changed from 'wall to wall' sunshine to a week of thunderstorms. Thankfully, it didn't happen and we had no rain for the whole time we were there.
Finally off and headed north to Cap Corse. Once clear of the traffic in Bastia the reason for this visit became clear, just brilliant bike roads. Spoke too soon, got to the top of the island and the beautiful road turned into crap, pot-holed and loose gravel. This didn't last long though and quickly changed back to perfect tarmac.
The route for the day.
Twenty kilometres later the good stuff was back and we enjoyed probably some of the best bike roads we have ever experienced. A totally brilliant days riding ended when we finally reached our hotel in Algajoles.
Shower and change, bikes away in the excellent locked garage and we are ready to explore the town.
Andy & Lawrence chilling out.
Decided to eat in the Hotel and what a poor decision that turned out to be, 27.50 a head and the food, quite honestly, was crap.
Day 4.
With the forecast being good we decided on a half-day ride-out, with lunch out, then back to the inviting pool back at the hotel.
Pic of planned route. (we didn't stick exactly to it)
The coastal route down to Calvi is good until the road turns to crap about halfway along. Scary drops that concentrate the mind brilliantly.
Lawrence spotted this lovely restaurant on the beach for lunch.
Spent the rest of the day relaxing at the Hotel.
Day 5.
All day to ride around then back to Bastia for the 21.00 ferry overnight to Toulon.
Set off from the Hotel after a leisurely breakfast taking the road to Corte. Got there and turned round and out, nothing to impress there. After a coffee break we headed for Aleria lakes, beautiful.
Nice lake-side setting for a coke & smoke.
Thunderclouds looming but we stayed dry.
Loads of time to kill so we headed north to the nature reserve at Lido de la Marana where we sat on the beach, admiring the scenery as only three old blokes can. Sand, Sea & Bikinis.
Waiting to board.
Different boat back and it was much better than the one we came over on, good bike parking and proper straps to tie-down with.
Had a meal, watched some World Cup Football and went to bed.
Day 6.
First sight of the French mainland
Finally leaving the boat for the ride home.
Lawrence left us in Toulon on his way home to Albe. Andy and myself headed for Millau, arriving around lunchtime. He decided to stay there the night and I decided to continue on home - with an overnight stop if my aches and pains warranted it. As it happens I had a good ride back apart from a lot of stops for the 'dreaded' 'bum-ache' (it only seems to get me when its hot - and it was 30º for most of the time)
Finally arrived home at 3 minutes past 8 in the evening, a total of 830 kilometres.
My wife cooked me a double sausage sandwich - delicious.
Trip conclusions:
We went on this short trip to 'suss' out the feasibility of a longer one in the near future.
The island is a true motorcycling mecca but a few of the roads are in a bad state of repair. The good ones, though, are just brilliant.
Ride too fast for the conditions and they will definitely 'bite you'. The 'drop-offs' really do concentrate the mind.
June is probably the wrong time of year, as other reports have said, May or September would be better IMHO.
We booked hotels before we left but it's not necessary.
Total mileage (kilometres) was 2234 and the 'Strom' performed perfectly.
Fuel average was 4.6 litres per 100 kilometres. (61mpg) UK - a tad better than my GS
All in all, a good trip.
Gary.
: who live in France, a TDM and two V-Stroms take a trip to Corsica.Day 1.
An 08.00 start saw me meeting up with Andy at 09.15 in Le Dorat.
This is the route we took to Millau. and we are now ensconced in the hotel waiting for the restaurant next door to open.
Nice ride down with some excellent back roads from Rodez to Millau.
Bloody hot for the last 200k though.
We and we are now ensconced in the hotel waiting for the restaurant next door to open.
View from Hotel Room in Millau.
Day 2.
A reasonable start slightly delayed when Macdonalds didn't open until 09.00. Bacon & Egg Mac-muffin and a coffee in Millau town then off to tackle the mountain road above the town, brilliant.
Picked up the motorway and down to Arles services where Lawrence was waiting. Then it started to rain and it continued all the way down to the ferry terminal in Toulon.
Fuel stop just before the rain.
And then there were 3.
They wouldn't let us into the terminal so we stood for three bloody hours waiting in the rain. (tip: Don't get to the Ferry early)
Finally boarded at five-thirty, bikes packed in like sardines. Into the cabin to get into some comfortable (dry) clothes and into the bar for a nice cup of tea (alcohol) for the other two.
Had a nice meal later and then to bed for the night crossing.
Lawrence tucking in the a meal on board with a very expensive bottle of wine.
Day 3.
Corsica shrouded in mist and rain didn't look enticing as we coasted into the ferry berth. Chaos in the car decks as cars tried everything to get off before their neighbours. We were stuck in a dead-end with about thirty other bikes and we're pretty-well last off. (Did I mention don't get on the boat early next time)
Pics of arrival in Bastia. The weather forecast had changed from 'wall to wall' sunshine to a week of thunderstorms. Thankfully, it didn't happen and we had no rain for the whole time we were there.
Finally off and headed north to Cap Corse. Once clear of the traffic in Bastia the reason for this visit became clear, just brilliant bike roads. Spoke too soon, got to the top of the island and the beautiful road turned into crap, pot-holed and loose gravel. This didn't last long though and quickly changed back to perfect tarmac.
The route for the day.
Twenty kilometres later the good stuff was back and we enjoyed probably some of the best bike roads we have ever experienced. A totally brilliant days riding ended when we finally reached our hotel in Algajoles.
Shower and change, bikes away in the excellent locked garage and we are ready to explore the town.
Andy & Lawrence chilling out.
Decided to eat in the Hotel and what a poor decision that turned out to be, 27.50 a head and the food, quite honestly, was crap.
Day 4.
With the forecast being good we decided on a half-day ride-out, with lunch out, then back to the inviting pool back at the hotel.
Pic of planned route. (we didn't stick exactly to it)
The coastal route down to Calvi is good until the road turns to crap about halfway along. Scary drops that concentrate the mind brilliantly.
Lawrence spotted this lovely restaurant on the beach for lunch.
Spent the rest of the day relaxing at the Hotel.
Day 5.
All day to ride around then back to Bastia for the 21.00 ferry overnight to Toulon.
Set off from the Hotel after a leisurely breakfast taking the road to Corte. Got there and turned round and out, nothing to impress there. After a coffee break we headed for Aleria lakes, beautiful.
Nice lake-side setting for a coke & smoke.
Thunderclouds looming but we stayed dry.
Loads of time to kill so we headed north to the nature reserve at Lido de la Marana where we sat on the beach, admiring the scenery as only three old blokes can. Sand, Sea & Bikinis.
Waiting to board.
Different boat back and it was much better than the one we came over on, good bike parking and proper straps to tie-down with.
Had a meal, watched some World Cup Football and went to bed.
Day 6.
First sight of the French mainland
Finally leaving the boat for the ride home.
Lawrence left us in Toulon on his way home to Albe. Andy and myself headed for Millau, arriving around lunchtime. He decided to stay there the night and I decided to continue on home - with an overnight stop if my aches and pains warranted it. As it happens I had a good ride back apart from a lot of stops for the 'dreaded' 'bum-ache' (it only seems to get me when its hot - and it was 30º for most of the time)
Finally arrived home at 3 minutes past 8 in the evening, a total of 830 kilometres.
My wife cooked me a double sausage sandwich - delicious.
Trip conclusions:
We went on this short trip to 'suss' out the feasibility of a longer one in the near future.
The island is a true motorcycling mecca but a few of the roads are in a bad state of repair. The good ones, though, are just brilliant.
Ride too fast for the conditions and they will definitely 'bite you'. The 'drop-offs' really do concentrate the mind.
June is probably the wrong time of year, as other reports have said, May or September would be better IMHO.
We booked hotels before we left but it's not necessary.
Total mileage (kilometres) was 2234 and the 'Strom' performed perfectly.
Fuel average was 4.6 litres per 100 kilometres. (61mpg) UK - a tad better than my GS
All in all, a good trip.
Gary.
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