42 42.5 N 09 27.3 E

Port Toga Marina Bastia - Friday 26th June - Wednesday 1st July

WE motored up the coast to Bastia with the sea like glass and it was hot. Having left Port Taverna really early to avoid the swell that builds up in the entrance with the NE wind we were at our destination by 11.00 - a bit early.

We decided to anchor off the Citadel just south of the main harbour where there was a sandy bay and Jacky had a cooling swim. Despite the traffic roaring past on the main road right next to the beach it was a good anchorage and later in the week we saw several boats overnighting there.

Our arrival in the marina at Toga went fine we were soon in a good mooring - this is a great place with good facilities and helpful staff. We spent a couple of days getting to know Bastia and organising the hire car, cleaning the boat and generally preparing for Bert and Gerry's arrival on Sunday. The very large supermarket across the road was most convenient for re-stocking the larder. We enjoyed drinks at several of the bars around the marina and ate a good meal in the Lebanese restaurant after B and G had arrived. The fresh produce market on Saturday morning in the old town was worth a visit and we sat and watched the shoppers from a lovely cafe on the edge of the square over a delicious cold beer!

Once our visitors were on board we did some serious exploring with the hire car - a trip up to the most northern point of Corsica and the small town of Macinaggio with its delightful harbour and anchorage on Sunday afternoon with a snack lunch and a swim was a great start to their holiday. The coast road was somewhat winding but gave us magnificent views of the beautiful bays and tiny rocky coves where people were sunbathing and swimming in the crystal clear turquoise water.

On Monday we headed across to the west coast traversing some fairly high passes through the very green and wooded hills followed by somewhat more craggy and bare mountains on reaching the western side. We visited the area of Isola Rossi and the small town there - a huge cruise ship was moored off the island dwarfing it!

Our ultimate destination was Calvi a busy town with some ancient buildings winding tiny streets and a citadel. It was fairly touristy but we were pleased to have visited. On the way back we stopped for lunch and a swim.

We left Bastia for Elba on Wednesday morning having spent Tuesday exploring the old city including the climb up to the citadel and a most interesting lunch in a tiny deli with just 5 tables upstairs. Here we sampled local cheeses and cured meats prepared by the owners in their mountain farm during the winter months all washed down with a local Corsican Rose wine - delicious!