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BASTIA TO BONIFACIO, Corsica
We woke up with a little bit of light in the cabin despite Jules originally refusing to sleep in there in case the ship sank and there was no way out of the sealed window. However after I had a shower and climbed onto the top bunk naked, one knee first, I could feel her eyes burning into me and she fell into a deep passionate sleep. We woke at 5, beAutiful sunrise over Elba Island (where Napolean was exiled - he was born in Corsica in fact). During the final 30 minutes into the harbour in Bastia, both me and Jules agreed that none of the crew was called Seaman Staines or d*** the cabin boy. Jules was the perfect Number 2 on our rig out of Bastia and we decided to go due South along the coast road and head for Bonifacia which is right in the south, about 200km, 3 hrs, but being as we had disembarked at 8am we had loads of time. At this point I need to respond to one of our listeners who had some specific questions that I can answer without giving away the identity of the questioner. First question, how much ground? About 1100km to Bonifacio. Diesel is much more expensive in CH and IT, about 1.5/litre, whatever that is in your Earth Pounds and the van (unlike Jules a different name and decided to call it the Itineo MB 740) uses about twice as much as my car. 100L fuel tank. Second question, yes, love having our own home behind us as we drive. Will be even more so when we stop for more than one night and feel even more self sufficient. Glad that I'm not in a caraVAN though for reversing onto the ferry and having to remember there are 2 parts to the vehicle. Next question, no we haven't raided the fridge while driving. Although today Jules was busting for a wee and we hit some straight single carriageway road and got up and went to the (very wee full loo). Then, hilariously, loads of bends came up and I heard her trying to get out and the handle (loose since we left) fell off and I could hear her asking to stop. Almost nearly immediately I did. I wasn't laughing, it was a very serious moment. OK, I did, alot. Next question, longer stopovers will be on the cards for sure. We knew the first few days would be to get as far south as possible. We'll stay here for 2 days. We have another fairy to catch on Wednesday so no more flexibility than that this time, but after that crossing, nothing is booked. Next question, the aircon only works while the engine is on. Even when we're driving it struggles to keep the cabin really cool but we learned to keep the bedroom closed off while we're driving, plus we've been driving in 38+ deg C. When the temp is more like 30, like today, it works much better. Same for the fridge. If we were buying one, would definitely have aircon that could be used when we are stopped and on mains electric. Sound system is rubbish, very tinny, but the Bose speaker works a treat. Questions answered, and no anonymity compromised. But I can tell our mystery listener that I haven't done his daughter yet, but I will. Look forward to my further updates on that. Anyway, back to today, Jules had done the research on a particular camp site which sounded great. Loads of supermarkets on the way. Stopped off to get provisions including fabric conditioner and of course she had to use her little nose to sniff it. So it's official that she literally smells like my Number 2. Shopped and headed off. Stopped at a really cool marina, parked right next to the sea, had lunch then a dip, really felt like being on the open road and doing what we'd imagined. Went to the first campsite, around 1pm by now. Nice first impression, flowers, manicured lawn, Oleandar (murderous, I know Mum), but the site was like a dust bowl, more for students on their gap year, so we backed up and left. The road to get there was really windy, barely wide enough for a single car and with Jules feeling queesy it was even funnier. Headed to another place, where we are now, lovely plot, great big pool and very happy. Will stay here tonight and tomorrow night probably. Only thing is that we went to our pool and (I have no idea where they came from or who let them in) but there were other people! Some of them even had children! The noise and eeeeeuuuugh, the smell. I nearly heaved. So we came back to our own pitch. The people next to us are foreign. Yak. Not sure which country but definitely not English. Fortunately we're unwinding. Just to finish the blog, when I parked the Van, I parked on a slope. Which has two advantages- firstly that I parked on a slope and secondly the fridge door closes on its own. More tomorrow, bwennoss notches from Korsikka! Love to all xxx
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Mum I know you're far from verbally challenged, yet you still feel the need to prove it, grin..xx