9^th Day 2018 Bidart to 6 km west of San Sebastien

            I woke up to a circle of sunshine surrounded by dark, fluffy clouds like the tonsure of a monk.

            My neighbors were a Dutch couple, a retired engineer and his still working wife.  There is a “forced” retirement in Europe, 65 in Holland.  They are touring in a trailer for four months.

            This was the most expensive campsite so far, just shy of 20 euros, almost $25, and just a wee bit short of supersize.  The campground was nearly full and most of the campers were at the restaurant.  I decided to join them and feasted on a delicious paella washed down with a carafe of white wine.  I must learn how to peel shrimp.

            Two days before I treated myself to a thick, full size towel.  Here it was stolen.  Having draped the towel over the bushes to dry near my tent, I came back from the toilet to find it gone!

            Cars and trucks packed the roads with no concern for global warming.  Like saying the Litany of the Saints during Easter week, “St. Zoom ora pro nobis,” “St. Zoom Zoom ora pro nobis,” etc.

            Hendaye is one of the many jewels on the coastline with a long stretch of sand beach.  I stopped at the Tourist Office and asked to charge the battery.  The hills had cost most of one battery.  For the first time the clerk refused but later relented.  She said that I could charge for exactly one hour and like a deft accountant she sent me on my way after exactly one hour.

            More traffic was bothersome all the way into San Sebastien, my bon jours turning into buenas dias.  My elementary Spanish is only slightly better than my elementary French.  Aided by several citizens I found the way to the tourist office.  The helpful clerk gave information on a campground to the west and the sanctuary at Loyola. 

            After feasting on a Big Mac and visiting a very large Gothic cathedral, I struck out for the campground. A helpful driver corrected one error in judgment.  He outlined two options but he preferred the less steep but less direct.  If the other was steeper then it had to be vertical.  Even electricity could not help and I walked up 3 km.  After cresting I rode the ridge with one side falling straight down 800 m to the ocean below, dangerous but beautiful.  The campground was nice., my first night in Spain.

Happy Trails to you until we meet again.

Much joy!!!
Hardy