It was very wet when I awoke in the camp site outside of San Sebastian. The weather report on the app on my smartphone said that it was cloudy. This was one of those clouds that delvers rain.
Good Cycle Path
I headed down the hill into San Sebastian and followed the cycle path around the bay and along the surf beach and out of the city. This part of the ride was good. A lot of money and effort has been put into building cycling paths in the city, particularly to and from the beaches and the old town.
Things get Ordinary
Not long out of the city, the cycle paths cease and you are back on the roads. Fortunately, they were not as busy as the N 634 further west, but they were still not the best to ride on.
To Hondarriba
The signs led me to Irun. My final destination was Hondarriba, but there was no mention of it until I passed Irun.
I had looked up a campsite in Hondarriba. It took a bit of finding. As it turned out it was really good and only and couple of kilometres from the centre of town.
I pitched my tent in the area that was set aside for travellers, mainly cyclists, without vehicles. This is good to see. There were a number of walkers, they are a tough lot.
Happening Place
Hondarriba is great place. It has a small ‘walled town’, which as you would expect is very old.
It also was as wide waterfront area that looks over the bay that it shares with Handaye on the other side. Hendaye is France.
I had decided to spend a couple of days in the place. The next day involved a lot of walking and really good lunch in a restaurant on the waterside.
In the evening the street behind that the waterside really came to life. There are lots of small bars selling Pintxos. People just wander around all over the place. It shows that ‘outside drinking’ can be civilised.
Trip to France
Next day I caught a small ferry a cross to Hendaye in France. It has a good beach.
I had lunch in restaurant on the beach. I had Moules as you do in France when on the coast.
Bike Problem
Next day I packed up with the intention of taking the EuroVelo 1 Cycle Route from Hendaye past Irun and on to a Green Way Rail Trail into the mountain to the east.
This involved taking the small ferry across the bay to Hendaye again.
The trip across was okay.
As I load the panniers on the bike there was loud ‘BANG’. My front tyre was flat. Not only that it was split.
I repaired the puncture and rode off very slowly looking for a bike shop.
I ask a number of people if they knew where a bike shop could be found. I was told that there wasn’t one in town.
Stopping Short of Saint de Lux
I hadn’t gone all the far when the inevitable happened, the inner tube blew again at the point where the tyre had split.
I walked along the path until I came to campsite.
I checked in and asked if they knew where I could find a bike shop. They told me that there was one “just before the bridge as you approach Saint de Lux”.
I took the bus into the town and after a bit of confusion I found the bike shop. The mechanic pointed out that that as well and the tyre issue, the wheel was not true. Anyway it was all fixed and I purchased a new shock absorber pump from them.
Long Walk
I had missed that last bus heading back to the campsite.
The walk back assisted in me achieving my FitBit target and more for the day.
Flickr Link
https://www.flickr.com/photos/twwilko_photos/albums/72157670768412371
Garmin Link
Leaving Sebastian
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1269977938
Very Short Ride Due to Puncture
https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1279460466
billrider2013 