Day19 friday 28/06/13PM Vitoria to Pancorbo

AM Took in an excellent tour of the Cathedral.  Also had time to have a look around the city. Really nice city.  The Cathedral was the inspiration for Ken Folletts book 'the pillars of thr earth'.  Found it hard to get out of Vitoria,  Roads as shown on the maps don't exist,  The WAY was not suitable for a buke.  Lost 2 hours.  Eventually I went down a track that was going in the right direction ,  It led to a tarmacked road . (pure luck). 
Nearly lost the bike on a decent.  It had picked up speed suddenly and I could not brake because of the surface.  The bike rode around the bend with no help from me. It just followed the bend.
Scenery amazing.  Hot but with a nice

breeze.  Pulled into a truckers hotel near Pancorbo. 

Day 18 tuesday 27/06/13 Beasin to Vitoria

75 K including the longest climb of my life.  650 meters to Otsaurte. Switchbacks and everything.  weather warm,  Not too hot.  Had a liitle siesta under a Tree beside a fountain in a village.  Stopped at café/bar in Vitoria dieing for a coke.  Angel by Jimi Hendrix was just starting to play as the barmaid came out to me.  Funny.  Amazing Albergue de la Catedral in Vitoria.  Recently renovated ,  Very comfortable with full facilities.  Vitoria is a lovely city ,  Full of cycle paths and also an ancient section. Rock band from the UK ' the Waybirds' were playing that night. very good.  Mari (Brazilian Girl)texted. She is going to do the Camino in a few days.

Day 17 Wednesday 26/06 Irun to Beasin 50K

Into the unknown.  Found the WAY.  It was impassable for a bike.  After Oirtzun I went on the road.  Plan B,  using map from Carol. Met a festival in Hernani.  A mix of Tug of War and hitting people with air filled bulls bladders.  Sore thing.  Some of the local people could be Irish, Fair haired and fair skinned and

similar music.  A policeman gave me directions out of Tolosa.  Then a lovely cycle way to Beasin along a river on Tarmac.  Got to a lovely Albergue.  Great welcome by 2 Spanish hosts.  Met Arthur from Estonia, a third time walker.  Had a lovely evening discussing musice and Arthur and our hosts worked out a route for me for a few days.

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.