The European Chronicles 2023.7 - Ferry Day 2 and Gorropu
Andiamo Sardegna!
Stroll out to load Mia and there are 24, that's right, 24, Aston Martin in the hotel parking lot.
A French club out for their "spring fling" drive. Tasty breakfast!
I ride to the port and get in line.
Not our boat...
All the Motos get moved to the front...we load first, and off last (as I learned).
Here she comes
Spin her around and the loading deck drops...
Once again packed in TIGHT...head up to the passenger deck which is right above the loading ramp. That's outdoor seating; there's also an indoor lounge.
A last look at the Bonifacio harbor as we cruise on out.
On our way!
Relive 'To Sardinia!'
The cliffs are even more dramatic from the sea. The Hotel Santateresa is the square white building on the left. The citadel is on the right.
Time for a beverage. 😎
Sardinia! Once again, backing her in. It is amazing how quickly and expertly they spin the boat around and back it into the dock. Without hitting anything. 😂
Italia! Getting set up to go...I've got a hotel booked in the Gorropu Canyon (more later) and two routes planned...long thru the mountains and short, more along the coast. Once again clouds are building and the Ventusky weather app tells me I'll be riding into rain, especially in the mountains. I opt for the shorter route. Either way, I'm heading to that bright green area. 😒
Still very nice...
Rain ahead as I turn into the mountains.
Last 20 miles or so were pretty wet...oh, well. 😂
View from my room at Hotel Gorropu
Mia's view
Drying off...and settling in. 😎
It turns out that afternoon storms are pretty much a daily occurrence this time of year...same as Corsica...I can work with that.
The Gorropu canyon is a 500 meter deep gorge in the Supramonte mountain region. I've booked a Defender ride into the gorge to hike an 8 km trail, then back out by Defender. They call it a Jeep tour, but since they use Defenders, they are waaaaaaayyyyy underselling it. 😂
Nothing Nigel couldn't handle...although pretty steep in places, with lots of sharp rocks. Maybe a tire upgrade. 😂
First, you tip toe over the rocks...
Then head along the river.
Hard to show the scale; it's a beautiful place.
Back to the Defenders
This one's got a little aftermarket wiring 😂
While we're waiting, I'm sitting in the back seat, behind the driver. German woman in the front passenger seat, her daughter behind her, to my right. All the doors are open.
Must have not been fully in gear; starts to roll forward, heading left into those trees and a ditch. I reach over the seat, steer to the right, grab the handbrake which is just below the gearshift lever and yank it on. Crisis averted! They do bill it as an adventure... 😂
Drive back up, clouds really starting to build now.
Van ride back to the hotel gives you an idea of the road. "Line, what line?"
Poured that afternoon!
I'm going to be a morning person, like it or not. A loop ride the next day.
Relive 'Gorropu loop'
Ciao!
