After a comfortable overnight crossing on the SNCM flagship ferry, the Napoleon Boneparte
arrived in Bastia at 07:30, and the cars were lined up on the quayside.
Here you can see the Marlin of Ian White & Sarah Rich, the Duckshover 3 of Edward &
Ruth Stobbs, the Liege of Howard Blackwell & John Reeve, and the TVR Cerbera of
Steve Blair & Mary Freegard.
A driver's briefing followed at 08:30 in glorious sunshine, before the still-remaining
competitors set off, as usual in one minute separation from 08:01.
Here the Butcher/Butcher BRA is lined up behind Cornelius's Buckland, waiting to leave the
harbour on the first stage on the island of Corsica.
Early obstacles encountered (that caused huge delays and wrought havoc with the
carefully-calculated required average speeds) ranged from petrol tankers struggling up narrow
mountain passes to deliver fuel to remote petrol stations, lorries and workers on road-construction
sites, and tourist coaches attempting to pass each other on mountain roads(?) that are barely
wide enough for one car (or four thin goats). After one particular "smell it? I'm bl@@dy
sitting in it!" incident, when an over-enthusiastically-piloted BRA attempting to make up lost
time only just avoided meeting its maker in a high-speed collision situation with a builders lorry
(that was most inconsiderately blocking the entire road just after the exit of a fast sweeping bend) ....
.... it was decided during a particularly strenuous lunch-break that the route-card times should
best be completely ignored henceforth ....
.... and the remainder of the roads should be driven and enjoyed at a more leisurely and safer
pace. Adhering to the timed average of 46kph would have entailed taking unnecessary risks
with daft Corsican drivers, who all seem to be raised on rally mentality and have no respect
for either the fundamental laws of Physics, or the desirability to see another day! Hence, both
the '289 Register' entrants are now out of the competition, but will live on to fight (and eat) again,
and eventually headed to the hotel in Ajaccio for an early bath and a welcome infusion of beer.
Well, perhaps we'll stop competing after the timed lap of an outdoor kart-track!
After a superb evening meal, the '289 Register' team entrants headed back to the hotel in
Porticcio for a shower and some long-overdue drinks. This days' highlights included
spectacular views of the coastland or mountains which changed as each bay was rounded, and
incredibly twisty roads ideally suited for open cars such as the 289s (when not confronted
by any of the previously-mentioned obstacles).
Although the hotel which is to be our resting place for the next few days looks spectacular from
the outside, with gorgeous palm trees and cultivated gardens, the Karaoke singing (in French!)
and Hi-De-Hi style entertainment was completely wasted on the "Guild of Motoring
Endurance" visitors.
