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Anothe dud attempt ffs
Of course the place im staying was up a ruddy steep hill. But the view is splendid
Can Doug recommend a barber?
Aye it been a couple of weeks since i had a real bed maybe 3
Pffpts scotroutes
Can Doug recommend a barber?
Pmsl.
*Waves at Doug*
I was one of those annoying folk who tried to sneak in on some guided riding earlier this summer - we chatted on phone, and you pointed me at some trails further towards where we stayed near Ondarroa.
In addition we found ace trails at Berriatua.
Fabulous. just got back from that area and I loved it. I'm sure Doug will sort you out with San Sebastian tapas recommendations , but we enjoyed Bar Sport, Paco Bueno & La Vina for cheesecake.
And when you get to Bilbao, make time for the tortilla at Cafe Bilba (@43.267775,-2.9266855,17.5z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0x8ccd56f297da5f8c!8m2!3d43.2679919!4d-2.9274607">here) as its sublime (and cheap). 2 mins off the euro velo route through bilbo, just before you cross the river on the white bridge.
I arrived in the mountains today after a month of flatlans. That hurt
Ooooohh a real bed. Mmmmmmmmm
I take no one wants pics?
scotroutes
Can Doug recommend a barber?
That was exactly my first thought!
Ahhhhh
A day when I dont have to pack up my kit and ride. Tomorrow is the same. Bliss.
Bike washed. Clothes washed. Me washed.
Its fiesta day here so this afternoon I will have a wander around the town and check it out. Already the cannons are going off and the marching bands started at 7am. Its all about celebrating giving the french a kicking some time way in the past.
Wait, you're in Spain now? New thread!
Spain, bacon Tapas, food of the gods.
Ive been for a wander around the town. Lovely old town but boy are the gearing up for a huge party. It felt like the calm before the storm. Every bar was full of folk in variants of basque costume. White with a red scarf and a big floppy red beret. Even the cops had the berets on.
Wait, you just happened to arrive in town as a party is being set up and, QUITE BY COINCIDENCE, are staying for a couple of days?
Hmmmmmm.
"Resting". Suuuuuuure.
😎
The parade was cracy. Hundreds of men marching with rifles( mainly toy ones)whistles and drums. All very happy atmosphere tho. I have never seen anything like it
. It felt like the calm before the storm……basque costume. White with a red scarf
For a minute I thought you were going to say you turned a corner and a he’d of bulls were charging, but Pamplona’s in the South!
gearing up for a huge party.
you should visit Valencia for Fallas (remember Ll pronounced like a J so it’s not a phallus festival). When my sis moved there in the late 80s & I visited I was not prepared for the fireworks. UK displays were like 1 pathetic rocket every 5 minutes. There it’s relentless cannon fire. And they practice every day in the week before the main display.
Last night they had a bull and child friendly version of running the bulls. A man with a papermache bull on his back with fireworks on the horns chasing kids around. Huge fun.
Today its time to move on. I dont want to abuse Dougs hosptality too much and I cannot sit around any longer. I've chucked a load of stuff i have accumulated to make my kit lighter and its time to climb up into the mountains. I'll be fine once I am moving but every route is thousands of feet of climbing which feels pretty daunting. Time to look at maps again
Thousands of feet of descending as well unless you finish art a higher point than you started? Aim for the sea, that must be downhill!?
Im meeting folk up in the mountains. After that it will be back down to the coast to find a way home. Probably the ferry from Santander but I've yet to look into that. One day at a time.
I want to give a big thanks to doug@basquemtb.
Lovely chap and the riding he organises looks awesome. Highly recommended
Where are you heading to next ? East to Andorra, or South into Spain.
Andorra would be nice, get some mediterranean sun about you, then maybe up to Monaco
South into spain i have friends to meet up with in Estella and Aguilar de compoo next week and the week after. Im probably going to walk some of the Compostella as well with two of them. Ill spend 3 or 4 days meandering my way to Estella
Im currently riding eurovelo 1 again which is on an old railway towards Pamplona. Having a good day after having an real wobble this morning.
Good, but you need a new thread!
This one has again, predictably been a lovely thread.
Along with ItchyBoots on YouTube, my vicarious travelling requirements are fully satisfied.
Thanks TJ and everyone who has contributed.
Love to all.
Im still surprised the interest people have in my meanderings. Its really nice tho.
Late second lunch
I don't know why we'd not be interested. Interesting routes, with input from forum members. Places we can relate to from holidays. Some reports of interesting and kind people you've encountered. Nice pictures. No bloody squabbling. This thread has it all!
you're going to have to describe those dishes. What's in the samosa shaped thing? And the croquette?
Frittata ( omelette thingy) ham and cheese croquette. Open sandwich of boiled egg and prawn and a ham sandwich
Right. 7pm. No campsite anywhere near. I need to find somewhere to sleep.
Checked into a hotel in Elizondo. It has a bath. Not too much climbing today but tomorrow a 2500+ foot col. Oh well
This is a good thread. Just so you know 🙂
No bloody squabbling
I've done my best.
If thats your best........
Steady away on the hills and you'll be fine...saying that from armchair;) and you have hills in that there Scotland. I'll ride a few round the lakes tomorrow to help....of course I don't have a trailer behind me!
As others have said a great read, people and places.....and bikes....and food:)
I think you've made a good choice of route. Don't get confused between Irun and Iruña or you'll find yourself going in circles. 😉
Frittata ( omelette thingy) ham and cheese croquette. Open sandwich of boiled egg and prawn and a ham sandwich
Frittata? Frittata????? WTF?????????
That's a Spanish omelette, aka "tortilla española". It's not a f*****g frittata. That kind of stupidity could get you fed to the bulls in Spain!
Oops.
New thread is in chat