Day 3 – 13th July 2026
By now, I realize that these hills in the Basque Country have to be respected. What I thought I could do is now shortened to what is practical in this very hilly countryside. I set off today to San Sebastián, which isn’t very far, about 55 km, but there are some steep ascents, and I didn’t want to overdo it today. As it was the ascent was 689 m (2,260 ft).
So, the journey begins on the beautiful promenade of Deba. Soon I turn slightly inland to cross a river, and then to follow the Corniche, as they call it. The road next to the sea takes you quite a way along the coast.
For a way I cycle with my cycling buddies, Joy and Greg:
Leaving the road, we cycle up. But there is a benefit. Eventually, we join the Camino Santiago, and right at the top of this beautiful, winding, fairly steep climb through the countryside is a refuge. A beautiful location set back from the road, where pilgrims are enjoying a cold drink or coffee and some free food, all paid for by donations. You can either put the money in the box or not.
I was lucky enough to meet two Polish women, Agnieszka and Beneta. I asked them what did they think about the Ukrainian War. One of them said was very much involved in the early days of the Russian invasion in helping refugees who had come to Poland. I told her about my efforts to raise money, and she definitely supported that principle, so I’m hoping she or her friend will make a donation.
I also met a Danish group of walkers on their Camino Santiago, and they were all supportive of Ukraine. I chatted especially to Felix, who in Denmark has a friend from Ukraine, so he knows quite a lot about the situation. He’s pictured low in the photograph.
My friends Greg and Joy had caught up with me. We seemed to be leapfrogging along the route going north towards France! We cycled together for a way along the top of this rural route without much traffic, which was very pleasant.
I headed down into San Sebastián. As you approach the city, because I think it’s big enough to be called a city, you are on a cycle path into the centre. There are excellent cycle paths everywhere. I stayed in a hotel quite near the beach. A bit expensive, but it was an ad hoc booking, and things in these coastal resorts are quite expensive.