14-07-2015     Corte → Haut(!)-Asco   68 km       for route click here

Our bikes spent the night out in the open

Breakfast in Gîte U Taravinu

The national holiday of France, fireworks at night, but not in Corsica (and we will end up in the middle of nowhere anyway). After two long stages, Enya suffering from pain in her wrists from the many hours they are resting on the handlebar, and also a bit afraid to catch too much sun again, we have planned some sort of day of rest: two relatively easy climbs in the (relatively) cool morning and then a slow ride up to Asco, where they told us there should be many possibilities to swim in the (river) Asco. Because of the expected heat (almost surely the forecasted 31° will be surpassed easily again) we have an early breakfast, put ready the evening before by the people from the gîte (which means not too tasteful coffee for Dad). The steep footpath from the gîte is tricky, but we manage to get our heavy bikes safely down.

	Enya manages   . . . .		. . . .   the steep footpath
	Early morning ride up to . . . .		. . . .
	. . . .		. . . .   and down from   . . . .
	. . . .   the Col d'Ominando		Same cyclist, other pile of dung

Corte is quite deserted when we pass it again, and while climbing back up to the Col d'Ominando we still profit from shade from the mountain side to our right (viz. the east). Nice shadow patterns, nice views back and up, and an easy slope, so without any break we get to the pass. After a quick descent to Pont de Castirla, after which we compliment ourselves on our 'job' yesterday, we cross the Golo river, we get rid of our t-shirts and choose the tiny road (on the map as well as in reality) to the Bocca di Croce d'Arbitru. Lovely road! All the way (6 km) we enjoy the climbing, the rocky environment (where astonishingly trees managed to create quite a forest), the views back and the views up (but where is the location of the pass?).

Next up again   . . . .

. . . .

. . . .

. . . .   to the Col de Croce d'Arbitro

With quite a descent

From the (supposedly) highest point of today it is quite a descent, almost 500 m down, to the N193. Even though the road is small and curvy at some point I do observe 55 km/h. After two km on this awful road we reach Ponte-Leccia, where close to the 'big' roundabout (where two routes nationales come together) we have really delicious stuff from the pastry shop. After a short visit to the big (and cool!) Super U we mount again for the last 22 km. First 2 km along the N197, then 5 almost straight km 'faux-plat' and warm along the Asco, and a little further we enter the Gorges de l'Asco. Rough! Splendid! It's a very nice road, with impressive views, refreshed after every bend (and there are many bends!). At almost every possible corner to park there are cars along the road, and the people are 20 till 50 meters lower at the river bed. How do they get there? We human beings are very small here. It shouldn't be too hard to find us a place to swim around Asco, should it? Only the last two km till Asco are (a bit) steep, and with the burning sun (it must be 38° at least) around 1 p.m. we reach our destination at a very slow pace. But hey, "Gîte Le Chalet 15 km" we read on a sign just before Acso, how can that be?

	Time for a break		. . . .   and a bite
	An open faux plat at first		Getting closer to the Gorges of the Asco
	Through the gorges		. . . . .
	A lot of swimming activities		Gorgeous indeed

	So nice   . . . .		. . . .   to be here
	Last warm   . . . .		. . . .   and steep kms to Asco

As it is, the tour operator (i.e. me) has made a mistake: the gîte, as I could have known, is in Haut-Asco, indeed 15 km after Asco, and what's worse: 900 m higher! So what about plan B? First we take place on a nice terrace (with nice servants) and let this new piece of route info sink in. It is early still, but we had planned an easy day, and it is VERY WARM. Other accommodation? Would it be possible to have our luggage transported up? It will! After an hour or so we spot two fellow countrymen, Wout and Lucas, father and son, two tables from ours. They have just visited Haut-Asco, by car, and they are willing to make the ride again. They sort of know what's in store − of course they are not cyclists − and have admiration for us, taking up this challenge. I have admiration for Enya too. When we take it slowly and have breaks after 6 and 11 km, I reckon it should be possible to reach "Le Chalet" at still a reasonable time (before 7 p.m. or so).

Our saviours

I had no idea. Really!!

The first km after Asco is steep, then there's even a descent, and then comes a slowly ascending stretch through a forest (which is good!) of some four km. Another steeper part, and then the slope diminishes again. The first 9 km are easily covered. When we cross the Stranciacone (that flows into the Asco at Asco) and notice a pool only 5 m or so below us we decide to have our first swim in a river! Which is very refreshing; very COLD. We must do this more often!

	For 15 minutes   . . . .		. . . . of coolness
	Nice hairpin bends   . . . .		. . . . and higher percentages
	Another 15 minutes   . . . .		. . . . of coolness

Body in the water

The Asco

After icy plunges for both, and having dried up without using our towels, we continue the climb, which gets steeper till the end. Afterwards, at home, I look up and find that the last 4 km are 9% on average! On a straight part I reckon I will surpass 70 km/h tomorrow. With a feeling of great satisfaction, and not overheated or exhausted at all, we reach Haut-Asco, which apart from our gîte consists of a ski station and a big parking lot. Our panniers have indeed arrived. On a cool terrace (it feels like less than 25°) we celebrate our victory with ice-cream and beer. Located on the GR20, on probably its most interesting section, the gîte is very popular today, and we also notice many tents on the campground behind it. Surprisingly we have a 'box' of our own. Dinner takes place in a stuffy, crowded dining room, where the waitresses are slaloming between the densely placed tables at an incredible speed, serving the drinks, entrees, main courses and desserts to at least fifty people. Tonight we will need blankets!

	Up and up and up		Snow!   (?)
	The last hairpin bend		. . . . .

Already dried up completely

GRANDIOSE view over la Vallée de l'Asco

Last 250 m

Tired but well satisfied