The weather in Biarritz in the morning is hot and extremely humid with the sun mercifully hidden behind a thin cloud layer. I ride to the sea, dipping my feet in the water and starting my ocean-to-ocean crossing of the Pyrenees.
After stocking up on food and stove gas, I start out through the outlying hills towards the high Pyrenees. The hills aren’t particularly high, but the ascents steep and so I almost make my first 1000 meters elevation before lunch.
In St. Jean-le-Vieux I cross St. Jacobs’ path and fill up on water, which is already running low. I’ve never sweat so much in my life – no sauna would stand a chance against this hot humid air.
I start up the last ascent of the day, to the Col d’Iraty, which is ‘only’ 1370 m high, but starting at 350 m elevation it’s still a long way up.
Soon a warm and heavy rain starts and as I climb higher the wind picks up until it’s so strong it reminds me of Iceland. Exhausted I stop halfway up to the top and pitch my tent for the night.
82 km, 2200 m ascent, ~9 hours ride time