Whew, almost done!!!
Trip Start
Jun 08, 2008
1
28
38
Trip End
Aug 11, 2008
Bayonne, Aquitaine, France
Saturday, July 26, 2008
The tent kinda sucked! When they measure tents to figure out how many people can fit, the engineers must actually start with a can of sardines as a working model. We, of course, didn't really plan on using the tent and camping except in an emergency like if we were unable to find vacancy or if we had a bike problem that took too long to fix so we didn't even being sleeping pads in our effort to reduce weight. Picking the softest looking grass doesn't work. I think both my hips are bruised, both shoulders and neck hurt because my blow-up pillow went flat and when I tried to sleep on my stomach, the hard ground pressed on my thighs which didn't bode well for the aching muscles, a boy so gentle reminder of the torture they were being out through for the last two weeks. Today was the last stretch of riding bikes for a few days. We only had a short 8k ride down to the next town where we could hop on a train to Bayonne so we could run a few errands and buy a shipping bag for the bikes. We will catch a larger train to Paris in the morning. While waiting for the train, we had time for breakfast. Woohoo, we have now upgraded from the Spanish coffee and a cigarette to add some bread and jam here in France. I am so happy. Huevos rancheros smothered in green chile with a side of bacon, where are you? So lucky the major part of the ride is over. I have another project for you. Don't worry, there is no blender involved this time. If you haven't been to the zoo lately, I recommend you go to refresh your memory: go to the orangatain cage. Look at their butts. Imagine how it would feel if your butt looked like that. Fortunately, mine doesn't look like that Unfortunately, it does feel like it... The train was uneventful. We got a hotel right next to the station because our train for Paris leaves at 7am. We have gotten several different stories about how to take bikes on the train, from the train officials themselves. We unloaded our bags from the bikes at the hotel and then went on a wild goose chase around Bayonne in search of a bike shipping bag that would fit the tandem. No luck so we bought two bike covers for 40 euro, tape and then scrounged some cardboard bike shipping boxes from a sports store. You should have seen is hauling the boxes on bicycle across town! After we got back to the hotel, my sis took a nap, I got a little internet time and Leo went back to the train station to try and find the real story about taking bikes on board. Turns out, after another hour of inquiry, you can take bikes on board, fully assembled, for an additional 10 euro. Our 15k journey all over Bayonne was for naught! Damn, coach Leo strikes again!
Dinner was a stroke of luck. I pointed out the busiest looking place that didn't appear to have lots of tourists and we sat down at a place called Le Bistrot Sainte Cluque. We had some of the best paella I have ever had. Ironically, this is in France, not Spain. Apparently, paella is a southern delicacy which is why I didn't see it one time in the two weeks we were in Spain. Off to bed now...
