San Sebastian/Donostia - Girona to Bilbao 2014 - CycleBlaze

June 12, 2014

San Sebastian/Donostia

West along the Basque coast

Pretty short ride today, and not too many biking notes. We started off by following the lovely coastal route to the Spanish border. It is all very pretty along this stretch, particularly at a dramatic spot south of Ciboure where flinty, exposed plates dip steeply to the sea. Starting at the border, navigation was a bit of a mess for a few miles through Honorribia (that is, we got lost again) until we finally found our way clear to the road to Jaizkibel, a minor pass through a short ridge that parallels the coast. After that, it's downhill all the way to the outskirts of San Sebastián.

Cycling into San Sebastián is a bit of a shock - it's an actual city, and the largest place we've been since leaving home. We've been here before too, on the same trip that took us through Saint-Jean-de-Luz - in fact, I recall us getting lost in Honorribia on that trip as well - so we only planned to stay one night here. It is certainly worth more time though - the two mile walkway along the edge of the bay (La Concha) is a pure delight - a steady stream of walkers, bikers, skaters and loafers taking in one of the most scenic harbors imaginable. Now that we are here, I wish we had budgeted another night so we could hang out longer.

Net elevation gain: 3,000' today, 98,100' total.

St Jean Baptiste church, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
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Networking on the harbor, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
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Church of Saint Vincent, Ciboure
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At the port, Saint-Jean-de-Luz
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Ciboure
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Overlooking Ciboure
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Sailing school, Ciboure
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Along the Basque corniche
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Along the Corniche Route
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Last pass
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San Sebastián to ourselves
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Below the seawall, San Sebastián
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Clothes drying, San Sebastián
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Construccion Vacia, a public artwork in San Sebastián by Basque sculptor Jorge Oteitza
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Shadowing Construccion Vacia
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By the aquarium, San Sebastián
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Full moon, San Sebastián
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Today's ride: 35 miles (56 km)
Total: 1,164 miles (1,873 km)

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