Ceri: It’s funny how easily a mistake can change our direction. Last night I scoured Booking.com and AirBnB for accommodation with bike storage in Saint-Jean-de-Luz but failed. Neil looked too. No luck. Then suddenly Booking.com offered up a beautiful “palace” hotel and I was totally seduced. Neil agreed. Book it!! So I did. Done! But only then did it occur to me to check its exact location. It was 100km away in SPAIN!!!! And slightly off piste. Oops!
Initially we thought we’d brave it and cycle the 100km. Then common sense prevailed and we decided to catch the train to Hendaye on the Spanish border. Even the Tour de France cyclists have a rest day and this became ours. Just 17 miles to the station and 4 miles to the hotel. Easy.
Well not quite! St Vincent de Tyrosse station has 2 platforms separated by a huge bridge of steps for the double decker trains and we needed to be the other side. No Groan. My bike is particularly heavy, but at least we had an hour to get to the other side. Neil rather heroically carried both bikes across and from then on was plain sailing. We enjoyed a picnic on the platform, the bikes stored easily on the train and the passing scenery was beautiful.
Now we’re in a beautiful historic hotel (Obispo) with a bath and huge fluffy towels. Bliss. I must confess I did feel rather guilty today about using the train, but now we are relaxed and rejuvenated, ready for the Pyrenees … eeek!
PS. Just back from exploring Hondarribia. What a stunning medieval Basque town it is buzzing with life. It’s steeped in Spanish/French history. We’re so glad we came.
Ceri's Blog with Neil 
Good Morning team Rushton,
Pleased to hear that all is going well. We went to Hondaribia in 1997 when the Ryder Cup was taking place in Valderama. I had booked a Parador in Hondaribia not realising it did not have a restaurant. So we went out for a meal and found a bar/restaurant in the square which is one of your photos. I went to get some drinks in the bar . The bar had the Ryder Cup on. Elizabeth stayed outside with her Sangria so I settled down to watch the Golf with. Group of Spanish guys. After a while one of them asked me if I was English, to which I replied. He then said the most extraordinary thing ‘Do you know whether Gerry Adams plays golf?’ I began to then think I was in the wrong company, ie some one from ETA. Howvever I thought that nothing would happen in a bat, so Ihad another beer!! Further along the Spanish north coast, you should pass through Llanes. There is a very reasonably priced golf course there with great coastal views.
Cheers
Rupert
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