by heck it were a long day! We started out looking for yet another lighthouse, previously unknown. It is in Socoa the little harbour a mile away. But tricky to locate despite it being on rue du Phare. Eventually we got there then retraced our steps to the centre for breakfast. Pastries are pretty scrummy here..Portuguese custard tarts and Gâteau Basque, but we just had delicious croissants and thinnish coffee. And then onward to Biarritz and the major lighthouse.
Again, no easy achievement as the roads were all dug up and deviations in place. I took the initiative and struck out through elegant blocks of apartments in the direction of where I thought it would be. Adrian tutting alongside the while. As luck would have it I got it right and we emerged from Le beau monde right in front of the tower! Lovely spot Biarritz, but busy.
Then my treat - a visit to Bayonne, home of ham and chocolate. On the way we detoured via the mouth of the Adour where we discovered a huge ice rink. How weird! Bayonne is lovely. On two rivers, not too big. Cafés all over and smart shops. Plus a Vauban citadel.
We then motored east and left the Atlantic behind. Instead we had the Pyrennees in the distance running the whole way across to our right. A folded snow covered barrier like a 16th century ruff. The countryside is flattish and undulating. Very green, farming land. And one town that grows Kiwi fruit with protected status. The roundabout sports a pair of concrete fruit with a slice cut out so you can see what it is! Sandwiches overlooking the river at Navarrenx (salmon fishing capital). Some hours later we made it to Ibis Budget Castelnaudary. Adrian has just had cassoulet. I went for the parmentier de canard.
