Writing my blog from an awesome camp
Site in Basque region of France, the gentle sound of running river and rapids. Stomach full and feeling happy.

So after procrastinating finally departed for France which only 70 km away at lunch time. Stopped in Spain duty free town and bought enough food and 3 litres of water to last a night out. Alcohol in particular was crazy cheap and litre plus bottles. The meat and fish stores were like at the Christmas sales, crazy scenes.

The French Pyrenean TET was so tantalisingly close could see that thin red line on my TET app map which worked - phew my android phone is worth its weight in gold.

Headed off the bike now which now felt very lardy after my purchases. Turning onto that now familiar red line and a wet clay muddy track welcomed me. I could see that the track was short so rejoined up the road missing a short section. Back now on dirt lanes with blue skies and mountain vistas with busy farmers
And the smell of the Freshly cut hay the senses were in overload, I shouted in my helmet “now this is what we are talking about…”. Sometimes text images or video cannot do justice to the experience, such was the feeling today.

Back onto small single track lanes watching my speed as I know too well how French drivers can drive. No more than third gear focussing on keeping to
The right when going around blind bends, just as well a met some spirited Basque French drivers…and had to go off the road to avoid them, tight first gear switchbacks slipping the clutch.

Full on arm pump I stopped to take a
Breather and eat an apple.

Stopping to take photos of an
Old historic bridge little did I know I
Would return later as my camp site was just across the river.

Around 5.30 pm set GPS for the
Closest camp site. Although they were
Only cabins the very well spoken young French woman sent me backtracking to Camping Amestoya / Ur Biza Rafting.

After few false starts and being directed by rafting company staff finally found the site not easy but hey ho well worth the effort, (and only €7.50) cheapest whole TET so far the owner … see bus card … Was amazing and we chatted for some time (yes he got my life including paddling history…). No cold beer or wi fi but refreshingly cool river. Before I went off to set up Camp and had a refreshing Swim washing my clotted(video).

Took some Drone footage … what a valley, view superb.
Dinner on table, wished bon appetite by other passing camper.
Starter marinated … cuttlefish. Tuna and Quinoa, Liz would be proud of me fairly healthy apart from potato chips.

Lots of lightweight hikers in the camp site. They were not smiling, remember those days well, one was hiking with a dog. I’m revisiting an area I came to hike in the mountains in 1987 when I finally decided to leave my job and travel to Israel, Egypt, Greece and finally Australia.

Walking back to my tent the heavy dew made the grass wet, clear sky and star lit night.

Crawling into the warm cocoon of my dry tent and down bag I reflected life could not get much better, apart from a pain free body as my back was not feeling great.

After a good feed and tiring riding day nothing would rock my sleep tonight.
Felling positive bring on Friday and more French TET riding then one of my favourite places in the world that draws me back like a magnet Bagnere de Bigorre with great friends. Culture markets, great food and mountain biking.

Absolutely awesome day and worth everything to get here.