Stage 8
Week 2 - Stage 8, Monday 14th May
Tiuccia, South of Sagone to Porticcio (74kms)
Total Ascent - 1,923 metres
Total Descent - 1,926 metres
Up at 7:30am for ablutions etc. My next door neighbours have invited me over for breakfast which is kind of them. We talked about our day ahead. They were heading off to Corte and I was going where the road takes me!. After breakfast we said our "farewells" then I set about cleaning the bike. At 10:00am I'm all packed-up and ready to go. Ten minutes down the road and I stop for a coffee and to fill-up with water. The temperature is already on the climb - another lovely day ahead! A quick check of my trusty IGN 1: 1000,000 map...ooh! A landmark day - I'm on to my 2nd map.
I head inland, climbing up and away from Tiuccia along the D81. At 12:15pm I arrive at a roundabout. The road sign states; left for Afa or straight on for Ajaccio. The D81 is quite a busy road and the past 22 kms have been not very pleasant. Therefore, rather than encounter even heavier traffic, the nearer I get to Ajaccio, I decide to take the minor road to through Afa. Shortly afterwards the road reaches the N193 - the main road between Ajaccio and Corte. Thankfully, a quick right and then left and I'm off the busy N193 and on to the D303. This quiet road skirts around Monte Aragnascu (888 metres) and the village of Bottacina. Another right and left to cross the N196 and I find myself South of Ajaccio Airport on the outskirts of Porticcio.
My first impression of Porticcio is rather disappointing, but no doubt it comes alive in the heart of the summer. The first campsite I came across was similar to others on my journey, still rousing from its winter slumber. The skeleton staff were cleaning and repairing the site from the months of closure. I pushed on along the coastline and came across a sign for the Kalliste Hotel. The hotel was mentioned on a couple of occasions while I was researching this trip. A thought crept into my mind, "I'm tired after 3 nights camping. What the hell, it's only 2 Star so shouldn't be too expensive?"
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Week 2 - Stage 9 >
I'll let you be the judge: 75 Euros - no restaurant and breakfast is extra. All in all, not the best day I've had! Oh well, back to the hills tomorrow. Thank goodness. Hopefully I will get a decent nights sleep, before nodding off I remember that the campsite at the end of tomorrow's ride advertises a gym, swimming pool and spa treatments. ZZzzzz
