Jotown leads them Home..!

It was a bit of a shock when the alarm went off at 5-30 a.m. this morning, but I knew that I had to get out eraly, otherwise I’d never get any good riding (or walking ) done.. so even though I didn’t jump out of the bed, I was fed,watered and on the road for 6-45 a.m., even at that time there were lots of cars on the road, going North and South…early starters – even the builders round the corner were at work as I passed by !

I rode North, again along the main coast road,the waters were glassy, and dark, as some ships were passing back and forth… Amazing the difference, between my road bike, and ‘shopper bike’, as the hills I had been struggling up and down, were a lot easier, although even at that time it was warm, and very dry atmosphere.. at just short of an hour I made it to the Port of Macinaggio, the most North Easterly port on the island, and very windy. Even some yacht people were struggling to fight against the wind, and get their yacht out of it’s berth

I then turned west, and immediately starting a gradual ascent, from sea level, up,up and up higher, keeping up a steady pace, hoping for the top to arrive..passing through Regiano, and getting to a viewpoint overlooking the North coast of the island,and the Isle de la Giragia in the distance – my journey hadn’t ended though, as the road kept climbing upwards, and I followed, quite enjoying the peacefulness of this northerly part of Cap C’orse, with road signs warning of ‘Mountain goats’ !- I did see plenty of evidence !

I eventually arrived at the top, Col de Sierra – only 360 mts high, but bucketloads of sweat beneath ! I was able to look down onto the East coast of Corsica, and in the distance Port Centuri…I decided not to drop down but to loiter for a minute or two then turn about and  retrace my steps, hurtling down to Macinaggio 1,000 ft + beneath me, once again it was fun, quiet roads, fast descent on twisting and turning roads, taking quite a lot of traffic coming up towards me by surprise as I swiftly descended, back to the Port, and immediately started back along the west coast – it was very windy, at first I thought it was just the tip of the island causing it, but saw the waves crashing about in the sea… the wind had obviously picked up, and I was heading straight into it.. and rushing for home, as it was getting towards mid morning, and hotter and hotter… Arriving in Santa Severa I knew I didn’t have too far left to go, and so took a break in the port.. as I then arrived back on the road, and turned for home I saw a group of cyclists coming down towards me from Col de Ste Lucie (which I hope to do soon ), and as I rode into the strong wind, they came up behind me, initially 2 overtaking me, but couldn’t sustain it into the wind, and I re-took them, and rode for the next 6 kms with all the riders behind me (they could have given me a break !), and I had to keep pushing but led the way back into Pietracorba, with a couple on the side of the road clapping and cheering as we went by..they must have recognised me ! (or maybe even thought we were a TdF team out training, well one of them did have shaved legs !)

Thankfully I could then pull off to the campsite, leaving the others to travel back to Bastia presumably, and I got to the campsite for a cold drink and relax !

I’d climbed 625 mts, and was pleased with my mornings ride.. nothing more left to do than swim, eat, snooze, swim, read, eat and early night for another go at something tomorrow.. Goodnight all