So after spending the night in Bilbo and having breakfast at the hostel it was time to head to Gasteiz. Difficult part was leaving the city, there were many options and I didn’t knew which one to take so I ended up asking to a couple of ertzaintzas. Once on route to Gasteiz I met a couple of cyclists on their Sunday morning ride. I asked them about the road to Gasteiz, if there was a lot of traffic, if the road was good and more things which I don’t remember. They told me to take N-240, the road was good and there wasn’t a lot of traffic. The only difficulty was Barazar, afterwards it was mostly flat to Gasteiz.

So after leaving the cyclists we pass through Lemoa, Igorre and other small towns we start to climb Barazar. There is not a lot of traffic and there are a lot of trees. Didn’t noticed any fountain through the climb. Had to make a stop to drink some water and get some rest around 2500 mts from the top. Picture below.

Around two kms from the top there is this amazing view.

And after two more kms you reach the summit.

From now on mostly flat till Gasteiz. Crossing into Arava.

Not much from here on. Different views from coastal Euskal Herria, more dry and hot. Careful when arriving to Gasteiz, don’t get inside the highway. You enter GAsteiz through and industrial park, nothing worth seeing there.

Had to ask a local cop for the hostel. After the check-in and a lovely shower, well deserved shower I went for out for lunch. Pintxos and Txakoli was once again what I had for lunch. Took a short walk through the old town, but went back to the hostel because there was too much heat. Some pictures from the old town below.
Virgen Blanca square below.

At around 1900 I had to share the room with a pilgrim going to Compostela on a MTB. Nice guy, told him to give me a call when he arrives at Compostela. We started talking about the route and went out for beer and dinner. Bocatas at El Siete were excellent. At around 2230 we went back to the hostel. Monday ride was not gonna be short, around 130 kms. Heading to Burgos, Castille.

Strava file here.