Boondock Puffins

Today’s ride took us through some weird countryside – both some lovely forest and some deserted backroads as well as some odd feeling built up areas. We also went through the popular-parts-of-Cornwall-esque bits of France. Parts that are popular, but not really for us; places that are nice in and of themselves, but so busy and they have the distinct air of being populated simply because it’s the place to be, and it’s the place to be because people are there. I’d have loved to have seen it 50 years ago. Do you know how Biarritz became popular?

Apparently, according to the wonderfully named Biarritz by Locals website, it was beautifully described in 1843 by Victor Hugo as a “charming and beautiful place” but that he worried that “it would become fashionable”…

In 1854, the who’s who of Europe came to visit Napoleon III and his wife Eugénie de Montijo who built a palace nearby and as a result, Biarritz became popular. If you are interested in learning more about the Russian history of Biarritz too, I recommend giving the full article on the Biarritz by Locals website a read!

We made it out the other side of the city at 2.15pm and headed into Bidart but couldn’t check into the campsite until 3pm (thankfully we’d made the effort to ring to book first thing in the morning because they were immediately full and no walk ins were allowed). Thankfully after sitting and having lunch in the shade in the car park, we were allowed in to the lovely Camping de la Plage which was somewhat unexpected. There were very limited spaces, and it was by miles the most expensive campsite we’d stayed in at €35, but it was a good spot and hugely popular in the height of summer.

After setting up the tent, we headed to the beach. The Plage de l’Uhabia had amazing waves, but was absolutely packed. When you have to fight for a spot of sand and can’t catch a wave because there’s too many people, it’s not really for us. However, it was much cooler with the breeze here that in had been further in land – it was still technically 37 degrees but somehow it felt much better.

Post reading, relaxing and playing around on the beach, we headed off to the shops where we were accosted by the most stereotypically French man outside a bakery who handed us a fresh baguette – genuine heaven. We were then all set for veg and bacon for supper.

We got an early bed with some phone calls round to more campsites to try to get sorted for tomorrow night to get ahead of him, but sadly no such luck… everywhere was still full! Hopefully our luck may change soon.