Francoise and Jacques were heading to Bastia, and invited us to go along with them so we could book a rent-a-car for our last couple of days in Corsica. We departed at a reasonable hour, and were taken for a nausea-inducing weave through the hills surrounding Santo Pietro di Tenda. Franciose certainly favours the accelerator. A stunning string of villages along the hillsides. Dropped in to Europcar, booked something zippy that would hold two bikes, and made our way back to Santo Pietro di Tenda in time for some lunch and a rest before going on an evening stroll through the village.

Francoise and Jacques’ home was built by the Genoese in 1559, and restructured a few times over the centuries to make it more liveable. We certainly found it so – the balcony view across the valley was picture-book perfect, and we would have enjoyed a little more time here. Our next destination (and final ride) beckoned, however, so we tucked ourselves in in readiness for another day on the road.