Start of the journey south.

I enjoyed Bilbao, it was certainly worth visiting although hell will freeze over before I revisit the Pension Don Claudio.  There is a plaque on the door which indicates a 1 star rating, I think this was awarded for having adequate foundations, I can think of no other reason.  I've stayed in places before that don't promise too much from the outside but then prove to be pleasant enough inside.  The exterior of this hotel did not bode well but in fact was it's best feature!

I'd wondered how much hassle it would be to cycle through Bilbao to leave the city heading south, I managed to weave a way through industrial areas on fairly quiet roads and soon found myself on a country road above a river and finally making some small progress towards the Med.  The way was gradually rising but with no real effort for the first couple of hours.  That didn't last, as the cloud cleared and things got unpleasantly hot the ascent made itself felt.  I rode from sea level over a pass at 2100ft,  enough of an effort on any bike but when grinding 'The Tank' uphill it didn't do much for my confidence for the days and weeks ahead.  I made it though and the scenery was compensation for the toil.  I was crossing the Cordilliera Cantabrica, the hard work lasted for a couple of hours.  The hills are very impressive and topped by long lines of Limestone cliffs, I don't know if the area is popular for climbing but if it were in the UK it would be a Mecca for hard climbing.

I covered 50 miles which was what I'd initially planned but had given up hope of doing after my 'difficult' day cycling over the coastal hills to Bilbao.  I camped in a place called Trespaderne, the only tent on the site.

The final descent into Trespaderne