Stage 8 - Remainder of Holiday in Corsica, Part 2
(May 4th to 11th)
May 4th 2001
We cleaned out the beach bungalow and packed up the BRA, checked out and drove to Cala de Sole
appartment in Algajola via Pinzalone, Salastraco, Pietroso, Vezzani, Col de Morello, Vivario,
Venaco, Corte, Ponte Leccia, Pietfalba, Monetta and l'Ile-Rousse. We were disappointed to find
that the appartment itself is of mediocre standard, with very few restaurants in the area (or
maybe we were spoilt at the Marina d'Erba Rossa bungalow complex?)
A cat in a tree outside the Cala de Sole appartment near Algajola.
May 5th 2001
Drove from Algajola to l'Ile Rousse, Ile de la Pietra, Lozari, Belgodère, Ponte Leccia, Asco,
Haut-Asco (1420 metres above sea level), Asco, Ponte Leccia, Piedigriggio, Popolasca, Castirla,
Calacuccia, Casamaccioli, Popaghja, Col de Vergio (1477 metres above sea level), Evisa, Porto,
Piana (just had to drive les Calanche again), Col d'Osini, Plage d'Arone, Piana, Porto
(yet another run along les Calanche), Col de la Croix, Col de Palmarella, Col de Marsolinu,
Calvi, Lumio, to Algajola.
Unfortunately, the cloud base lay between 600 metres and 1000 metres, so we spent a good portion
of today in cold wetness.
The sea-front castle at Algajola.
An hotel on Algajola sea front.
The tower at l'Ile Rousse.
Another view of the tower at l'Ile Rousse.
A flower at l'Ile Rousse.
A rocky island near the lighthouse at l'Ile Rousse.
This looked like a locally-made Renault 5 convertible, spotted in l'Ile Rousse.
A typical Corsican cemetery - this one is at Belgodère.
A tiny stream flows through the deep Gorges de l'Asco.
This old Ford Consul 375 wreck was seen alongside the N197 near Ponte Leccia.
It appeared to be an American model, and worryingly, was riddled with bullet-holes.
The D84 road runs along the floor of the excellent gorge of Scala de Sta.
Typical views of the drop at the edge of the road along the les Calanche drive from Piana to Porto.
More of the spectacular rock formations and views along les Calanche.
Still at les Calanche.
One last look back at the cliff with a road cut into the side of it - les Calanche.
The coast at Porto.
The tower at Porto.
Algajola castle at sunset.
May 6th 2001
Cloud coverage was at 100%, and the accompanying rain and winds enforced a quiet day in the
appartment.
May 7th 2001
Drove from Algajola to l'Ile Rousse, Lozari, Palasca, Novella, Col de Vezzu, St.Florent,
Barbaggio, Col de Teghime - oops, clutch hydraulics failed. Checked fluid levels, no clutch fluid
lost, but brake reservoir low - topped up. Limped on into Bastia, confirmed at SCNM terminal that
our return ferry time was 20:00 on May 10th (not 09:00 as shown on ticket), then on to
Thierry Roghe (Rover/MG dealer). Asked them to replace the clutch master cylinder (I fitted a new
slave cylinder about 4 years ago, but the master cylinder is between 7 and 38 years old). Waited
2 1/2 hours whilst they replaced the clutch slave cylinder (because Lockheed Range Rover
unit was in stock, and these "fail regularly"!), paid FFr.893 and drove off - but
clutch hydraulics failed within 1 km. again! Back to Thierry Roghe - no MGB master clutch cylinder
in stock, they will try to adapt and fit another unit to get us home, but BRA will not be ready
until Wednesday 9th earliest. Collected rental Renault Clio 1.2 RXE from Rent-A-Car at
Bastia airport (FFr.739 for 2 days), then drove to Cassatorra, Col de Lancone, Vallecalle, Sorio,
Rapale, Col de Vezzu, l'Ile Rousse, to Algajola.
The old gun at the top of the Col de Teghime overlooks Bastia.
May 8th 2001
Drove from Algajola to Calvi, Argentella, Olmo, Col de Palmarella, Col de la Croix, Porto, les
Calanche, Piana, Col de Torraccia, Cargèse, Rondolino, Appricciani, Vico, Col de Sevi,
Cristinacce, Col de Salto, Col de Vergio, Albertacce, Castirla, Francardo, Corte, Gorges de la
Restonica (still closed!), Corte, Ponte Leccia, Pietfalba, Monetta, Lozari, l'Ile Rousse to
Algajola.
The view along the coastline near Calvi.
May 9th 2001
Phoned Thierry Roghe, left messages to return call with news of BRA repairs. Drove from Algajola
to l'Ile Rousse, Lozari, Col de Vezzu, St.Florent, Col de Teghime, Bastia - nothing heard from
Thierry Roghe, so drove to garage - BRA still not repaired. Drove on to Pietranera, Erbalunga,
Macinaggio, Rogliano, Granaggiolo, Barcaggio, Tollare, Poggio, Col de Serra, Centuri-Port, Pino,
Minerbio, Barrettali, Piazza, Nonza, Patrimonio, St. Florent, Col de Vezzu, l'Ile Rousse, to
Algajola.
Still nothing heard from Thierry Roghe, phoned them again - cannot repair or source replacement
clutch master cylinder. Phoned ADAC, arranged for them to recover BRA back to Germany (within 7
to 10 days!?), extended Rent-A-Car rental until tomorrow, arranged for alternative hire car to
drive back to Germany.
The tower at Miomo.
This stunning house is just before Erbalunga.
The tower of the Tour de Losse.
The church at Granaggiolo.
The sleepy fishing village of Centuri Port.
Looking south along the cliffs and coastline between Pino and Minerbio.
The village and church of Patrimonio.
A closer view of the Ancienne Cath. de Nebbio church in Patrimonio.
Along the coastal road between Miechieta and St.Francois Convent.
The bell tower of the Raffallacce church.
Heading further down the west coast of the Cap Corse, this is the view from Domaine Catarelli.
Typical of the cork trees in Corsica, this one is near Conchiglio.
May 10th 2001
Packed up and cleaned out appartment, drove from Algajola to l'Ile Rousse, Lozari, Col de Vezzu,
St.Florent, Col de Teghime, Bastia - Thierry Roghe may be able to replace clutch master cylinder, if
we wait another 1 or 2 days. Confirmed with ADAC that they should recover the car to Germany,
drove on to Bastia airport, arranged to return rental Clio in Ajaccio and collect another in Marseilles
for return drive home tomorrow. Drove from Bastia airport to Casamozza, Barchetta, Ponte Leccia,
Soveria, Corte to Vivario.Wanted to drive past Ghisoni to Cozzano, but Col de Verde still closed, so
drove from Vivario to Vizzavona, Bocognano, Tavera, Col de Scalella, Bastelica, Col de Menta, Tolla,
Ocana, Bastelicaccia to Ajaccio. Returned rental Clio (61,50 litres for 1024,4 km = 6,00 l/100km,
47,3 mpg), boarded Napoleon Bonaparte ferry for overnight sailing to Marseilles.
The Tolla reservoir, taken from the D3 road, heading towards Ajaccio.
Just a few hours to go, and the Napoleon Bonaparte is being prepared for our sailing.
We left Ajaccio as the sun set, for the overnight crossing to Marseilles.
May 11th 2001
Took taxi from Marseilles port to Gare St. Charles, collect rental Clio, drove on Autoroute past Avignon,
Montelimar, Valence to Lyon, then left Autoroute and continued via Bourg-en-Bresse, Lons-le-Saunier,
Besancon, Vesoul, Epinal, Luneville, Chateau-Salins, Sarreguemines, Saarbrücken, then
Autobahn past Wittlich, left Autobahn at Ulmen to Kelberg, Nürburg, Adenau to Altenahr, then
rejoined Autobahn to pass Bonn and Siegburg, left at Hennef for Neunkirchen. Unpacked Clio, drove
in convoy to Köln/Bonn airport to return to Avis (80,49 litres for 1150 km = 7,00 l/100km,
40,6 mpg), then back home again. PHEW!!!
May 25th 2001
ADAC delivered our BRA to us at home in one piece, I replaced the clutch master cylinder, and took
the car out for a test drive - the beast lives on.
Some of the photos in the preceeding pages are of poor quality, because they are single frames
grabbed off our Hi-8 video camcorder recording. The poorer quality of the single frame from the
video shown here is more than compensated for by the action (and V8 sound) on the video
tape itself. S-VHS or VHS copies of this video are available from
the Butcher/Butcher BRA team (with medical certification
of insomnia) for a significantly large donation into our holiday recovery fund.
