Day 35 – to Capvern

90 km
In the morning I thought to hear some raindrops in the tent. It was some condensed water that felt from the leaves of a tree.
I packed my things as others also did. One of the guests on the camping municipal was a woman labeled Isabelle (on one of her bags). She travelled on roller skates and had a one wheeler to carry her luggage. She said, she had problems to come forward on some streets, due to loose pebbles. She was heading for a competition for runners and skaters this weekend. I whished her good luck   as she left the camping.
My route started with a light climb and then I cycled on about the same height for 20 km’s until Nay, where I crossed the river la Gave du Pau and then followed the river to Lourdes. And really in Lourdes there were some raindrops as predicted by the weather forecast. I now cycled on a route I did last year already. In Lourdes I bought the food for the weekend and had lunch.
The next part to Bagnères de Bigorre was steeper then I had in my memory. In order to cross the river le Luz the road descends about 200 m,  that I had to climb afterwards again.
Just before the bridge is an old monastery. During the climb to Mauvezin I saw rain showers in the high mountains. Short before Capvern I was in the middle of a thunderstorm  and flashes of lightning were nearby. I decided to stop at the nearest camping. I waited in the sanitary building until the wo worst of the thunderstorm was over and pitched my tent. This time I installed the outer part of the tent first and them the dry inner tent. After the rain came a clear sky and relatively high temperatures..
Paul

Day 34 – to Arudy

115 km
Th route I found with the routing of the openfietsmap on my Garmin was fine. Low traffic but sometimes also big height differences instead of less height difference and  longer route. At least I had splendid views to the high Pyrenees. In St Plaisir I bought some food and had lunch in the shadow of a tiny tree on a new constructed square.
In Mauleon I came now fo the second time on this tour.. To Oloron now I took a longer route, but with minor differences in height. I bypassed Olorpn and used a track of ‘op oude wegen in the direction to Lourdes.
I used a camping municipal in Arudy: The camping is free of charge, but if you want to take a shower, you have to buy a coin. And Apparently some dogs use the grass as a bathroom.
By the way full of sun today, but in the evening the wind starts blowing. The weather forecast predicts rain and thunderstorm for tomorrow.
Paul

Day 33 – to Cambo les Bains

100 km
In the morning I had a beautiful coastal route at the same height with views forward to the Pyrenees and backwards to the bays, I already passed. I used the route national N-634 and of course this is not a cycle path and other traffic was also on the road, but I must thank the Spanish drivers for their caution. They stay behind a cyclist if they cannot pass in 1.5 m distance. In Orio I left the coast and followed the river Oria Ibaia and then left the valley near Lasarte Onia. In Hernani I bought some food in the supermarket that sounds like a sex shop: Eroski City.
In Oiartzun I had my lunch in the shadow of some trees in the center near the church. Many times it is not possible to ride into the center without ignoring one way streets. Another problem are the traffic lights with the only function to let cars through if the cars keep the speed limit. Those traffic lights ignore cyclists and remain red until a car arrives.
To Irun my route was downhill  and in Irun I tried to use the cycle routes. The town itself did not look special. Some French cyclists from the opposite direction asked me where I came from and we had a little chat. They made a tour from Bordeaux to San Sebastian.
I passed the border without any sign that this is France now. Just the language on the signs changed. I stayed away from the cows and in Urrugne I took the route to Ascain and further to Espelette and the camping.
I am heading for the East Pyrenees in the next days.
Paul