Autumn 2020
This is a very solemn moment as at last we publish our last article from 2020. In the previous one, Surf Summer in the Basque Country, I was complaining about the difficulty of putting these final pieces together. Small trips to pretty much the same places, which definitely deserved a separate article, but how on earth to combine them together? So these trips were put in two big posts, and here you are, in the autumn edition of our last surf weekends on the coast.
Filling Robbie’s tank before hitting the road
Hendaye in autumn is a totally different story. Believe it or not, but we managed to book a spot in the local camping on the very last day of its season – the next day it was closing until late spring. The camping was almost empty, so it was like a night in the wild for us with WC facilities as a bonus. Even if its emptiness bore a touch of sadness for the summer left behind, there was also something very solemn in its warm orange beauty.
Hendaye
The borders were opened again so we immediately took the little ferry for Hondarribia. Hendaye has some good food but we needed it to be more Spanish! Last time we enjoyed this crossing was far in 2015 – our blog was a newborn (as well as our photo skills apparently).
Sun doesn’t care whether it’s hot or cold
Saint-Jean-de-Luz
The very last trip on the coast happened in October and turned out to be a complete fiasco. It was cold, it was raining, and out of two surfing days we had planned, only one presented suitable conditions. Some solid suits did we have to put on! That last day of surfing will forever stay in my memory – the sky was grey with rain drizziling over our already wet heads. Still, the sky let enough light through to create the amazing shadows on the town outlines. It was a moment to photograph but my camera would never appreciate surfing like we do.
We both knew it would be the last surfing trip that year and nobody had any clue of when the next one could be planned. It was with a heavy heart that we had to give back our boards and suits – it was raining, nevertheless, there were close to no waves. We took time to walk through Saint-Jean-de-Luz, so now I also have an image of it as a very autumny place in addition to the summertime impressions. I loved it in these colors too.
Hondarribia
The only consolation for the failed trip was another food raid to Hondarribia. Luckily, this place never disappointed us – a gorgeous tortilla with some substantial bocadillos were wolfed down with a great satisfaction.
Soaked in Robbie
As there were no other reasons to stay in the area, we decided at last to take a different road than normally. I say “at last” because unlike the highway that allows us to get from Pau to Biarritz in one hour sharp, the countryside road triples this time. But we are travellers, are we not?
Basque Countryside
Was it worth it? Sure. Weren’t we tired? Of course we were! Doing it once is enough – no matter how beautiful the houses with landscapes can be, almost four hours on the road will damage even the most robust bums, let alone the vestibular system.
On such a funny note I close the 2020 page. I have already said it but the last time won’t hurt: it was a wonderful year and I don’t believe there would ever in my life be a time as happy as that summer.
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