Day 16Tues 25/06 AM Bayonne PM Bayonne to Irun 50 K

Posted camping equip back to Ireland I bought a charger and Carol got me maps.
We said our goodbye's
Had gone out for a pint in an Irish bar in Bayonne and met a girl from Boholla working there. 
Amazing cycle from Bayonne to Irun by the coast via Biarritz,  St Jean De Luz, Ciboure (my Favourite). Hendaye & Irun.  (In Spain  Wow)
Got to Albergue . It was hosted by Tncki,  a Basque.  Hostel was nice and welcoming.  Saw Pilgrim doing the way with a parrot !!.Also a south African woman who had broken her foot on the way and Ciaran from Sligo.  Checked bike all ok.

Day 15 Parentis-en-Born to Bayonne. Monday 24/06/13

Perfect sunny weather. Met a nice French hotelier where we had our breakfast.  He told me I was the lucliest man in the world.  Flew this morning.  Stoppet in Leon for a break and met a Spanish cyclist who is cycling from Spain to Budapest via the Velo route from Nantes. His bike was heavier than mine .  He was very cheerful and happy.  We gave him maps we wont need and also ares that may be best avoided.  Bike going well.  Solar charger not very effective.  Very hilly coming into Bayonne,  Sign of what is to come. 

Lacanau Ocean to Parentis-en-Born Sunday 23/06/13

110k  Perfect weather on good cycle paths .  Ferry from cap Ferret. to Arcachon. Visited huge Sand Dun called dune du Pilat.  Amazing morning.  Got a very nice campsite near a lake.

Day 13Sat 22/06/13 Soulac-Sur-Mer to Lacanau Ocean

Nice sunny breezy morning on good paths.  I had a fall where the path narrowed but no damage done.  Wind and rain came in & we got very cold so we finished early.  Stayed in second campsite we looked at. Girls are brilliant,  they are assertive but nice.  My time with them is nearly gone.

Day 12 Marennes Place to Saoulac-sur-Mare .  All pathway.  Tarmac surface.  very

heavyy rain until ferry.  Nice cycling day.  Bikes and cyclists running well.  Really lovely on the path.  Soulec-Sur-Mer was excellent .  Really nice campsite.Picture with Mari is showing the no of days on the road. Good atmosphere, Good band playing in the square.  Friendly locals

Day 11 20/06    La Rochelle to Marennes Place had hoped to reach Royane but late start and having trouble with directions delayed us. 
Stuck on the greenway today and it was very hard to follow out of La Rochelle.  Some of the route is impassable,  Cycling across very rough roads and even grass.  signage was missing. Carol's navigation and sense of direction and getting directions was brilliant again.  It was late when we got to our camp site.  Nice campsite. Had breakfast the next morning at the campsite  and a game of table soccer with Carol. Weather iffy.

Day 10  Wed 19/06.  Nantes to La Rochelle. Still with girls,  They are tough.  They had never cycled this far in a single day before but stuck at it.  All roadway. 187 k on fully loaded bikes.
From north of Nantes to pick up IHCPT route. Thanks Michael & Pat.  Your map was perfect.  Thought a lot about Anthony Keane who died earlier this year.  He is the reason I'm cycling and he cycled this road quite a few times.  Road works added extra K's to trip. 
Weather AM was perfect.  Cycling through vineyards with a backing breeze.  We then had very heavy rain and for the last 50k from Lucon it cleared but we had a headwind to La Rochelle.  Checked into an Ibis (and glad to )  it was dark.  Still managed to get out for a couple of drinks.  Went to Irish bar.  (strange experience)