So we are getting closer to Compostela, this stage takes us from León to Ponferrada. Short stage around 100 kms. IT was holiday the day I left León so there was no traffic at all. I crossed myself with the bullring of León.

Arriving to Astorga is quite easy, flat 45 kms, good road and many cyclist too. Now I really liked Astorga, I was never there before and I really liked it. The cathedral is really worth a visit and the Episcopal palace too.


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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.

So on June 20 I started what I chose to call satanic route. Something like the way to Santiago, but basically cycling with a 5Kg backpack. First stage will take us from Donosti to Bilbo, Basque Country main cities.

Having arrived to Donosti train station on June 19, forty minutes later than expected. I basically unpacked my Ridley Orion and headed to the hostel to make the reservation. After all set and done went to old town to have dinner at Bar Etxaniz in Fermin Calbeton street.

Woke up early on June 20 and had breakfast at Pasteleria Oiartzun afterwards went to Jaia Bicicletas to get my bike set up. Once done went to La Concha beach to take a picture for the start of the route.

So we started going up to Igueldo, amazing day and amazing view up there.

Many cyclist going up that route, almost no traffic. Spoke to a cyclist who told me how to go to Bilbo. Really nice.

Once Igueldo you go down to the coast and pass through Zarautz.

Nice beach, but looks like too cold for me. After we head to Zumaia and start heading to Eibar, leaving the basque coast behind. Found this nice view after Itziar climb.

In Eibar we pay a short visit to Ipurua.

And after Eibar we enter Bizkaia through Ermua. After Ermua its all going downhill to Bilbo mostly.

I had to stop in Amorebieta(around 25 kms away from Bilbo) to have a beer, heat was hitting me hard and I needed a rest. There was traffic when getting near to Bilbo, but there is a lot of respect for cyclist in Basque Country.

So we arrive to Bilbo and head to the hostel along the river. View of Guggenheim Museum.

New San Mames stadium. House of Athletic Club.

After finding the hostel and having a WELL deserved shower I went to the old town to have dinner. Pintxos mostly.

Pintxos in Basque Country are amazing. After having dinner I took the subway to head back to the hostel. It was early, but Sunday I was going to Gazteiz.

Here is my strava.