Cycle tour of the Basque country – Day two.

Mud, sweat, and gears.

Climbing steeply out of the surf resort of Zarautz on quiet country roads, we were rewarded by stunning ocean views to the left and the mist lifting off the mountains to the right.

After a very rapid descent into San Sebastian we got caught between hundreds of pro cyclists on one side of the road as the town marathon kicked off on the other road – still, we got to see other people putting in the physical effort.

The route took us around the harbour head and back through town. Befitting of a gastronomic capital we had an incredible second breakfast – the barrista coffee art was a seahorse! – before heading up a MASSIVE monster mountain via a track so rocky and steep that it was unrideable. A constant stream of sweat stung my eyes and the legs were burning.

After only getting partially lost in the woods and having to push through brambles on (almost unbelievably) even steeper paths, the third part of the ride was on the route of an old mountain railway, uphill (but gently) for two hours on gravel paths. It was so so hot.