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| On the banks of the Adour cruising into Bayonne |
So another wet start and I did a brutal 50 kilometres down to Orthez with a difficult road, rain and artics (for those of you who know the key on Michelin maps then I was twiddling up a hill with 2 chevrons when a logging truck enjoying the thought of a run up this sod had to hit the anchors as this near stationery bike came into view….lots of gear crunching and he managed to negotiate around me before literally grinding to a halt up this hill and then having to look for first gear whilst creating a traffic jam!). However a delightful event was about to occur, as I had nearly chalked up 3 weeks on the road and over 1,100 miles. Close to Orthez in Baigt de Bearns lived Marian and Tim, sister and brother in law of a good friend of mine in Blighty (Jim) and they extended their hospitality for a couple of hours with a super meal, a stiff scotch and the use of a tumble dryer. It was interesting to have the conversation and I was interested in their life in France after their having lived here for many years. Their new house was lovely and I hope to see it in hot sunshine next time. Sadly time flew and with Tim’s directions I followed the Adour along its banks into Bayonne. It was lovely to follow a river (i.e. flat road) and it was very evocative and different to have the smell of brine and from 15:09 hours (who’s counting?) some sunshine. At Bayonne I bought some grub and headed down the busy coast road. I have been through Bayonne on a couple of occasions on a bicycle and I noted the hotel near the bridge where I stayed with Peter (that was cold and wet I now remember) that was close to the station in order to get a train to Toulouse the next day to fly home. Then I saw a bar where Jim and I had a meal prior to flying back home with the less than lovely Ryan Air. Found a campsite and in the night guess what?.....yes that sun turned wet.
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