Ajaccio, Corsica, France -August 20, 1997

Position: Ajaccio, Corsica, France -August 20, 1997

We have been having such a good time that we have neglected keeping our web page up to date. We will do better. Bobbie Mitchell left us from Nice on Aug. 7 to return to Mpls. after an enjoyable visit.

The Kuehns returned to Milwaukee on Aug. 9 from Monaco. Our stay in the Monaco harbor was most exciting and too short to see and enjoy all the activity in Monaco. We and the crew were dinner guests of the Kuehn's at the Cafe de Paris under the stars. After dinner a visit to the Monte Carlo casino was most exciting. John found a slot machine that paid him 24,000 francs making it a joyful evening.
Todd joined us on Aug. 12 for a night. His friend from St. Maartin, Enrico, and his family were with us for a day sail out of Portofino on Aug. 13. Can you believe that a friend of Enrico's stopped by with 7 young Italian girls in bikinis to add to the beauty of the Italian coastline? We all enjoyed the added scenery along with Todd.
Portofino is a very majestic and magical seaport - more beautiful than pictures depict. The harbor only has space for 6 large boats so it was a tight squeeze to enter. It has all the charm of a small viallage with its narrow, colorful tall buildings and winding walkways reaching to the top of the high hills. It is situated, thus limited in size, at the end of a narrow road leading to the sea in a very small cove. Definitely the diamond of the coastline.

From Portofino we sailed to meet the Shadingers and Jacobs in Bastia, Corsica. We were back in France again. We like the French but find them a bit more difficult to communicate with outside the touristy Riviera. Their first night on board we found a private cove and beach for a swim and dinner at Macinaggio. The next day we had our first rain and thunderstorm - for 3 hours. We welcomed it for the clear and cool air during a stop at St. Florent. From St. Florent Gulf we sailed to Calvi which is a neat old town that was and still is the home of the French Foreign Legion. The Legion had a training exercise, dropping two hundred paratroopers right on the edge of the harbor with the last ten jumpers coming down from 10,000 feet. Their claim to fame is the birthplace of Columbus with a statue and citadel dedicated to his honor. A very enjoyable stop with clean and clear water for swimming.

The next day we stopped at a mile long sandy beach on the north shore of Corsica at desAgriates. This sand dunes beach can only be reached by boat or a 6 mile walk. There was room for everyone with plenty of space on the beach and bodies to see. The water was warm, clear and the beach shallow.

The west coast of Corsica is very mountainous and full of coves for protected anchoring. We were the only boat anchored at de Gargaul in a cove with jagged red rock, high walls and dark blue clear water. Exploring, swimming, snorkeling and kayaking were at its best. This is also a bird sanctuary.

Dori, Shad, Vic and Elaine are still with us exploring Corsica, enjoying plenty of sunshine, beach, water and food.

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