Day 34 – to Arudy

115 km
Th route I found with the routing of the openfietsmap on my Garmin was fine. Low traffic but sometimes also big height differences instead of less height difference and  longer route. At least I had splendid views to the high Pyrenees. In St Plaisir I bought some food and had lunch in the shadow of a tiny tree on a new constructed square.
In Mauleon I came now fo the second time on this tour.. To Oloron now I took a longer route, but with minor differences in height. I bypassed Olorpn and used a track of ‘op oude wegen in the direction to Lourdes.
I used a camping municipal in Arudy: The camping is free of charge, but if you want to take a shower, you have to buy a coin. And Apparently some dogs use the grass as a bathroom.
By the way full of sun today, but in the evening the wind starts blowing. The weather forecast predicts rain and thunderstorm for tomorrow.
Paul

Day 33 – to Cambo les Bains

100 km
In the morning I had a beautiful coastal route at the same height with views forward to the Pyrenees and backwards to the bays, I already passed. I used the route national N-634 and of course this is not a cycle path and other traffic was also on the road, but I must thank the Spanish drivers for their caution. They stay behind a cyclist if they cannot pass in 1.5 m distance. In Orio I left the coast and followed the river Oria Ibaia and then left the valley near Lasarte Onia. In Hernani I bought some food in the supermarket that sounds like a sex shop: Eroski City.
In Oiartzun I had my lunch in the shadow of some trees in the center near the church. Many times it is not possible to ride into the center without ignoring one way streets. Another problem are the traffic lights with the only function to let cars through if the cars keep the speed limit. Those traffic lights ignore cyclists and remain red until a car arrives.
To Irun my route was downhill  and in Irun I tried to use the cycle routes. The town itself did not look special. Some French cyclists from the opposite direction asked me where I came from and we had a little chat. They made a tour from Bordeaux to San Sebastian.
I passed the border without any sign that this is France now. Just the language on the signs changed. I stayed away from the cows and in Urrugne I took the route to Ascain and further to Espelette and the camping.
I am heading for the East Pyrenees in the next days.
Paul

Day 32 – to Zumaia

103 km
Until Gernika Lumo there were many Spanish cyclists with light racing cycles on the road. Some of the said to me: Mujos pesos. It was not clear in which way they meant this.  Gernika Lumo is on the coastal St James path,  but for me – cycling in the opposite direction it is not possible to follow the path exactly. After a climb from Gernils Lumo my route stayed at about 200 m for a longer distance with an alpine landscape and occasional views to the gulf of Biskaya. But I enjoyed my route. In Lekeito I was directly at the coast again. Every bay wad different and sometimes I. Had a view to the end of the Pyrenees. I’m Deba a climb to about  240 m started u til I came down to ocean level in Zumaia. Oh the weather was very good today. Nearly all the time Sunny. I had one bad experience in Lekeito: On a speed stopped I lost one of my panniers though I was not faster than the allowed 30 km/h. The result was a bend  carrier, that I could reform and some holes in the pannier that felt of the bike and used it surface to stop the movement.
Paul