France Spain (Pyrenes)

25May – 26May 2025

Biarritz – San Sebastián – Larrau

It’s really a rest day today as it is only 60km ride so we have breakfast late. Mikes in for a surf early in magnificent weather but cold water and a pic for his Harold Hold Swim Group back home. Russ and Hydro went sightseeing and bought a few souvenirs. Russ rather than washing just buys new T shirts apparently.

At 11 we regrouped and had our host unlock the gates to his front garden so we could release the bikes. The idea was to lap the main of Biarritz before heading to San Sebastián . Even as a seasoned fox I can not really describe the exit from the town. A combination of Sunday markets, roadworks and street closures combined to make both google and Tom Tom ineffective for any sort of guidance. We passed our hotel about 4 times, followed a tourist train, did 3 u turns and then decided to just point south. Boxy could tell which way was south today because we were near the water. After about half an hour the guidance systems turned back on and Hydro lead us through some great country as we did a pass over the beginning of the Pyrenees. We passed through St Jean de Luz which is a Haughty Taughty port town. Boxy said after Porto Fino and Monaco it was a mere bagatelle, so we pressed on into San Sebastián. Got into town and found our hotel on the beach. The most technical riding of the day was finding our way down the car park which layered in complexity, angles and gradient. Had a great lunch on the beach terrace and retreated to prepare for dinner.

We were all delivered the Helena Mc George’s guide to a fab Pinchos night out, which we followed religiously until the second stop. We had established an outside table, a rapport with the staff and were not going to relinquish our position by moving to the next bar. We believe Helena was with a more agile group able to procure tables at speed.

After much merriment we did move to desert Pinchos (which was on Helena’s list) and were introduced to Pedro’s ximemez by Hydro.

Next day we were up early in expectation of our first real ride through the Pyrenees, but first things first, determined not to have another Panic at the Peage, Russ ran an online training session on the payment platform at the toll booth. The foxes won’t get caught again wrt the dreaded induction loop.

Secondly we had to exit the parking lot, we all made it except Boxy who went full led zeppelin in reverse and went out through the in door. We eventually found him and got underway.

A fantastic ride through the mountains going east and in and out of Spain and France 5 times today! Conditions were crazy it was sunny, misty, raining, cool, warm, depending on what side of the mountains we were on. There was a loop at the end of the trip of 100km which took 2 1/2 hours. Boxy said he would be happy not to do the loop so went straight to the hotel only to find it did t open till 4 pm. Ever resourceful he found a cleaner who was leaving who let him in, but in true Eagles parlance, he could check in but couldn’t leave because he would be locked out.

Meanwhile Hydro, Russ and Mike endured 30 minutes of total whiteout to reach the pass and on the other side of the mountain it was sunny and amazing. We took advantage of that for an hour until we realised it was a loop and we went straight back into the blob.

Dinner was Duck and local wines. A few candid shots and then to bed.

Russ commented, I wish Singo was here, this blog stuff is taking up too much of my time.