Day Six: Galeria to Porto Ota

We started the day well, with an excellent breakfast at the hotel who provided croissants, preserves and lots of coffee. Another fine morning that promised to become very hot indeed. We made an early start - the photo was taken at 8:40! We retraced our route back out of Galeria along the D351 to its junction at the valley of the Fango river. Then a right to start our journey up into the mountains.

The road from Galeria to Porto is amazing and incredibly beautiful. First you climb up a winding valley to the Col Palmarella. You get glimpses of the Col high ahead of you and then wind into a valley and over a bridge at the valley head and climb again. Then you see the Col ahead but the road keeps on winding into another valley and out again. Climbing steadily all the way.

 Gradually, the views become more and more dramatic as you head toward the pass. The view back to the sea quickly gives way to views back down the valleys leading down into Galleria.

The road covers 11 kilometres before reaching the Col De Palmarella. Spectacular views back down the valley and out ahead to the red sandstone  of national park and peninsula of Scandola. We stopped at the top for a selfie and to take it all in.

Then a superb descent along the coast before turning inland and cycling through wooded hillsides and even, for the first time this trip, a couple of cows on the road. As you get closer to Porto, the road returns to the coast and becomes a corniche. The spectacular red cliffs feature in all the photos.  The  twisting narrow road runs between cliffs with the sea crashing on the rocks far below. Fabulous ride then you descend into Porto. You can see the harbour far below but of course the road takes some kilometres to wind down the valley.

On arriving at Porto, you pass through a pretty busy, commercial  area of the main town. We wanted the sea-level, touristy part but managed to miss the main road signed down to the port. A scary steep, busy downhill on the main road to Ajaccio. Did not fancy trying to go back up, but we found ourselves on the wrong side of the river. So we decided to walk the bikes (with power assistance)  narrow humpback pedestrian bridge. Form there, a short walk up to the main square and on to l'Hotel Subrini which faces the marine. It was now around 2:00 PM and roasting hot. We checked in the room, dumped the batteries and panniers before trudging uphill a few meters to park the bikes in the hotel garage. Best thing we could do was to cool down with a swim in the hotel pool followed by an afternoon rest in the room.

Parillada de Poisson

We took a leisurely  early evening stroll enjoying the cool and looking for somewhere to eat. We ended up  back over the far side of the harbour in one of the beach restaurants .  We shared a super "Parillada de Poisson" that came with red snapper, prawns, mussels and clams for €40 accompanied by bottle of local Alzipratu Fiumeseccu rose wine.

Another excellent meal.

As we walked back, the sunset over the harbour and the bay was pretty impressive. So our 1st week of travel has been brilliant. No falls, flats or accidents !  After today's 50 kilometres day we have done 382 kilometres for the week.