Sunday 2016/09/11

Tende – Savona – Ferry to Corsica

In the morning, I'm talking with the chief employee of the campground at coffee and croissant. He's a very lively Frenchman, who actually is a mountain guide, but also has worked in the alpine ski circus all around the world. One would say: he's a life artist. An entertaining start into the day.

Soon I'm back on the road again. First I have to climb up the mountains again to continue the southern part of the Ligurische Grenzkammstraße (LGKS). This part is also a lot of fun, even though I take some detours. At the end of the LGKS on the Italian side I have a lunch break. It is a pleasure to be back on the Italian side. The Italians are more communicative and they have no problem with the people that do not speak their language properly. I just feel welcomed here. Something I missed on the French side a bit. Also the service is better and at least in my opinion the food also.

On small roads, I mingle past beautifully situated villages or through light woods. It can happen that a small herd of horses runs around freely. There is not much traffic even though it's Sunday. I really enjoy the ride into the direction of San Remo. From there my route leads along the coastline to Savona where I will take the ferry to Corsica in the evening.

On this route I enjoy the first glances on the Mediterranean sea. I arrive at Savona quite early. The entrance gate to the ferry port is still locked. I do not want to wait an indefinite time, and I decide to go to the center of Savona for a supermarket or alimentary, where I can buy something to drink and eat for night on the ferry. It needs some questioning of locals until I find a shopping center with an opened supermarket.

Then I ride back to the ferry port and actually the gate is open now. I have yet to get a ferry ticket. No problems with that, it's quickly done. I decide to take a cabin, so I have a bed and a shower for this rather short night.

However, I do not want to wait here at the ferry port for hours until boarding will start. Therefore, I ride back again into city. I find a perfect located restaurant in a side street, where I can park my bike nearby and where I get excellent food. Again I'm pleased about the friendlyness of the service here.

After the wonderful gravel roads and landscapes of the last few days and spoiled by good Italian food, I am very happy.

After lunch I ride back to the ferry. In the waiting area I'm getting into contact with motorcyclists from Czech, Germany and with a Frenchman. I give a bottle of water to a young German couple (I've bought too much and the woman suffers of thirst). With the elder French guy I have a long conversation in English, and he gives me tips on campings and gravel roads on Corsica. He himself owns an apartment in the Souteast of Corsica where he is several times a year and he has traveled a lot with his motorcycle, he tells me.

Thus the time passes by very quickly. After boarding I get into my room and take a shower. Soon after I have watched the cast off on deck, I go to bed, a luxury that I enjoy tonight, even if the wake up announcement is already made at five in the morning.