#bikepacking trip, day #2. Passed through Guernica on the way to the Atlantic coast. A day that felt like a heat training day, one of probably many to come. It did end with a dip in the ocean though. 64km.

#spain #cycling

#bikepacking trip, day #3. We mostly kept along the coast but had to deviate due to a road closure, which proved an unexpected challenge. Otherwise an amazing day eating pintxos and swimming in the sea. 70km.

#cycling #spain

#bikepacking trip, day #4. We accidentally intersected with Triatlón de Donostia and had to reroute around it a bit. Reached San Sebastián and continued onwards into France. Dipped one last time in the ocean as tomorrow we'll be leaving the coast. 56km.

#spain #france #cycling

#bikepacking trip, day #5. We left the Atlantic coast and started heading eastwards, passing through Pas de Roland. The water fountains are more rare than in Spain which requires a bit more planning, especially in this heat. Lovely rolling hills in the countryside. Started seeing the Pyrenees peaks in the distance. 110 km.

#cycling #france #pyrenees

#bikepacking trip, day #6. We passed through Pau, which will host the Tour de France for the 76th time in a few weeks from now. Another hot day but we had some nice sections along Le Gave de Pau where we managed to cool down a bit.
I wish I paid a bit more attention when making the route, as the V81 cycleway that we followed in some sections takes some detours that we could have done without in this heat.

#cycling #france #pyrenees #pau

#bikepacking trip, day #7. Finally the heat broke as we had an overcast day with only around 25°C. We passed through Lourdes and then turned towards the Pyrenees, camping at over 1000m right before Col d'Aspin. 60 km.

#cycling #france #pyrenees #velo #lourdes

#bikepacking trip, day #8. It rained during the night and the morning greeted us with a heavy fog as we climbed the final hundred meters towards Col d'Aspin. From there we descended to Arreau and then up again to Col de Peyresourde. After these two mountain passes we descended along the Pique river and after a final small climb set up the tent. 80 km.

#cycling #france #pyrenees #velo

#bikepacking trip, day #9. We kept heading eastwards and after passing Col de Portet d'Aspet we rejoined the V81 cycling path on probably its most beautiful section - Saint-Girons to Foix. 107 km.

#cycling #france #velo

#bikepacking trip, day #10. We entered Cathar country and passed several castle ruins as the landscape of the Corbières Massif slowly took over. It rained just enough in the evening to put on the rain gear (we didn't carry it for nothing after all!). 92 km.

#cycling #france #velo

#bikepacking trip, day #11. We departed Bugarach and passed the impressive Gorges de Galamus as we kept heading towards the sea. The change in landscape that slowly started happening after we left the Pyrenees was complete - the farms were replaced by vineyards and occasional olive trees and the earth became more arid. 6 days after we left the Atlantic coast we reached the Mediterranean just north of Perpignan. 103 km.

#cycling #france #velo #perpignan #bugarach