Another early start. Up in the dark…feel like the only people in Corsica awake before 11:00, but worth it for the glory that is the Corsican sunrise over sea and summit. A downhill cruise soon gave way to a climb that curled its way around endless tussocked hillsides, peppered with remnants of Corsica’s former glory. The stone building, pictured below, looked out across a remarkable vista, and had a very handsome old fireplace and, evidently, once upon a time, two levels. One can only imagine what it once housed. Now its shell is home to a tree on one side, and human waste and debris on the other. Away from the melancholy of the interior, it made for a picturesque stop for a refreshment. So we stopped, and refreshed.

We continued northwards and upwards; vehicles at this stage of the day few and far between. Indeed, the only sound around was emanating from Ol’ Blue…a squeaky leather saddle and a rhythmic clunk coming from what sounded like the bottom bracket. JM claimed she found comfort in having my squeak and clunk so close behind, but in time it served more as an irritant. AW assured all that both would be fixed, some time. And they were – but that’s another story…

In the meantime, we pressed ahead to Piana.

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