October 21 - Sunday. We are stormbound yet again but now we are in San Sebastian. Fitting possibly that on Trafalgar Day we are in the City that Wellington took the surender of the French after the campaign alongside the Spanish to rid the Iberian Peninsula of the Frenchies. However as much as I have looked I can see no mention of Sean Bean or Major Sharp without whom this campaign would have been won!
We left Bilbao by coach having wrapped our bikes in plastic for the journey through the mountains to San Sebastian. Despite our worries the journey was fine and the bikes survived the experience. We left in rain and it got heavier all day. Once in San-S we looked for a hotel and we are still here. It has rained incessantly and yesterday mooching around the 'old quarter' we were soaked. On the tourist bus around the city - you have to do something in the rain - we met an Ozzy lady who had just walked the Comiño in 39 days and, quite rightly she was very pleased with herself. She confirmed the numbers - there was about 300 people who started with her and for the first couple of days was not sure if she would find a bed for the night and ended up booking accommodation in advance.
This city has a great feel to it - some great beaches, and a vibrant old quarter. They are very patriotic the Basques, bands and rebel songs in the square and today at lunch time everyone was dancing to basque music by the bandstand while it was tipping it down, dressed appropriately in their plastic macs and umbrellas. However it should not forgotten that these people have been fighting for their independance for some time but as can be sen on the picture of Gilly that for some the independance issue is not far below the surface.
The forecast is for good weather tomorrow nd the lady in the Tourismo assures us that the road is flat to Bayonne. So 20k to the French border and then another 40 to Bayonne - snails and frog legs for supper tomorrow - I can't wait.
I will be a little sad to leave Spain - I enjoy there café culture and family orientated lifestyle but will not miss the smokey cigarret culture (although I m not sure the French are any better) I m looking forward to some flatter cycling and certainly some better weather. So it is adios to Spain and bonjour to the French.
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