Brief update from an internet cafe in Pithiviers, getting close to Paris!
Day 14 - Bilbao to San Sebastian
After another broken spoke, the last for a while, Dale and I stopped at our favorite super marcado in all of Europe - El Corte Ingles. Not quite as impressive as the 13 floor store in Lisbon with the groceries in the "sub cave" level, but still an impressive collection of shopping options. You know you have been on the road for a long time when big super markets make your week.
More riding, we see the ocean for the first time in Spain, catch a beautiful sunset in San Sebastian, and then sleep about 10km from the border of France.
El Corte Ingles
Our favorite place to stop
Everything we need
Day 15 - Bienvenue a "Frantzia" (Basque for France)
We crossed the boarder in typical Spain fashion, pouring rain and up a big hill. Another security-less country crossing and a lack of welcome signs, but we knew we were in France when we stopped to enjoy our first boulangerie. We made it to our campsite before noon, did some much needed laundry, took a nap, then went to meet Amy and Bianca at the airport.
These two were pretty stressed out after their travels, both sleep deprived, and in need of a few deep breaths before htiting the road. Planned off day tomorrow was a good call.
Keeping up with the nobody camps in April trend, the woman at the campsite greeted me with "You must be Michael Geary". I guess booking the campsite two days in advance was not necsesary.
In early April
You have you choice in tent sites
Nobody else there
Day 16 - Surf and Sun in Biarritz
The new girls slept for 13 hours and then we went and sat on the beach all day. French bank holiday so nothing was open, standard Europe. Watched a quicksilver surf competition and read a bunch of Sterling Hayden's autobiography called Wanderer. Such a nice day. I had started to think that I would never see the sun again.
French bank holiday.
So we relax on the beach,
read, and watch the surf
More to come from Paris, back on the road for today.
MBG
thank you.
ReplyDeletethanks for all these witty updates mike! so fun to hear all that you've been up to (and that you're alive). also, let me know when you're more certain of the exact day you're getting back to oxford so i can give you all a warm welcome :)
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