I left Donostia/San Sebastian at 0930, and after just 20km I was crossing the Rio Bidasoa into France, just upstream of Pheasant Island (uninhabited), which changes its nationality every six months! (Treaty of the Pyrenees, 1659). Soon I was passing golden beaches, then a slight uphill into Biarritz (see photo), where I did a bit of exploring before lunching in a cafe well to the northeast of the expensive central area. After 7km I was crossing the River Ardour into Bayonne. My first stop was the railway station, to buy a more detailed map of the area. However it was still lunchtime so I had to wait about 20 minutes for the shop to re-open. I was aiming for the D74 which follows the north bank of the Ardour, but it was quite difficult to work out how to get on to it from Bayonne. Eventually I worked it out and enjoyed a few miles of easy riding along the plain of the Ardour. On the D33 near Berneyzan I was feeling thirsty so stopped at a petrol station to buy a drink. There was no-one around as the station was fully automated, so I got a coke from a machine. Suitably refreshed, I eventually rolled up in Dax at 7pm, where some sort of celebration was in progress. I was booked in to the 'O Petit' hotel, in Avenue St Vincent de Paul, but couldn't find that street, so I asked a policeman! He was very helpful and explained it was across the bridge on the north side of the river. I found it easily and checked in. It was quite a small hotel and rather quirky - my room had a double bed, but the 'en suite' facilities were separated from the rest of the bedroom by just a curtain!

After sorting myself out I walked back into the main town and found an affordable restaurant - not so easy as this is a spa town and quite popular.