On little villages, donkeys and coy mountains

Leaving Corte we decided to follow one of the routes highlighted in the Lonely Planet “Exploring the Boziu”. A little north of the town we took the D41 heading east and winding and climbing high into the mountains. From Santa Lucia Di Mercurio the view of the valley and Corte in the distance is wonderful. The route leads you through several isolated villages before dropping down to the main road, the N200.

First Corsican Donkey

We spotted our first Corsican donkey in Bastanico.

Half way between Corte and Aleria we stopped to look at a lovely Genoese bridge.

Genoese Bridge

Wild Flowers on the Beach

From Aleria we headed south on the N198 picnicing at another deserted beach to the east of Ghisonaccia with the most amazing wild flowers growing in the sand. It was hot and sunny but large amounts of cloud were swirling around the mountains where we were headed. We turned off the main road at Solenzara and started the ascent. It was a balmy 8º where we had been forced to turn around the previous week, so we were hopeful that we would be able to make the Col de Bavella (1218m). We did make it but so did the clouds!!! Rick managed to catch a few glimpses before the weather really closed in and we descended in rain to retrace our steps for a night in Aleria.

Glimpses 0f Col de Bavella

On little villages, donkeys and coy mountains

Aleria, France