Day 3 - Galdakao to Itzia

Distance cycled 42 miles.

No linguistic or culinary issues last night. Nice evening meal and good breakfast, if a little pricey (Hotel Iraragorri).

We got away at about 9am and really whizzed the first 20 miles or so, which were flat as the N634 followed a river. Traffic was heavy with lots of HGVs but we were able to cycle in a 1m wide berm, separated from the main carriageway by a solid white line. There were some hairy moments but most drivers waited patiently and did not try to squeeze past when we had to move out of the berm.

Rob had lathered up with sun-cream and wore his sleeveless charity vest and this was the cue for rain, light at first and then more persistent until, by 1pm, when we stopped for a bocadillo (baguette) at a hypermarket restaurant, we were drenched. We dried out a little while we ate and then donned waterproofs, as much to avoid being cold as anything. It rained all day long and was a great test for the panniers which stayed waterproof (Rob has Alturas, I have Ortliebs).

We had reached our intended destination at Deba, a beach resort, by 2pm and decided not to press on because we needed to dry out. However, the main hotel was full but the kindly receptionist rang ahead and booked us into the Hotel Kenala at Itziar (77 euros B and B for both of us). Itziar is 2 or 3 miles further along our route so we've ended up further than planned again...........but it's 400m or so above Deba so we finished the day at 3.30 after a long and steep climb, not helped by Rob's chain coming off whenever he tried to select his bottom gear - we have some tweaking to do tonight.
The fact that the hotel manager is prepared to put up 2 soaking wet cyclists is one thing but he then invited us to put our filthy cycles in our room!
We have found nothing but kindness and consideration from the Spanish people on this trip.

There is one issue that has developed. I'm not a good sleeper at the best of times but I've been waking at 4am most days and can't get back to sleep. Every 3rd day, I become so tired that I do sleep until about 5.30.
Both Rob and I are finding that the Spanish practice of not eating an evening meal until well after 9pm and finishing at 10.30 or 11, when we then need to get our heads down, does not aid digestion, especially if alcohol has been consumed - I know that I've woken dehydrated. It doesn't seem to affect Rob as much as me and he's sleeping reasonably well. I guess we all react differently.

Each mile that's cycled fully laden requires about 50 calories, over and above the normal 2000 to 2500 living requirement. So, we need to consume between 4000 and 4500 calories per day (with a good proportion of these being carbs for energy and protein for rebuilding muscle).
We've had good high-carb breakfasts but haven't been hungry during the day. Yesterday, we just had an energy bar and a small filled bread roll each. Neither of us wanted any more. Of course, by the time we'd finished cycling we were ready to eat but then had to wait until gone 9pm - not the time to replenish reserves!

Today, I've resolved to change things. Whether we think we need it or not, we need to stop and eat more and more often during the day. Then, in the evening, I won't be as hungry and can skip dessert, thereby ending the meal sooner and I will also swap water for wine. I'm sure that will help with the sleep. When we reach France, I can revise this slightly as the French eat their evening meals much earlier.
Anyway, today the revised system was put into practice and things seem to be better. I hope that I'll sleep better tonight!

Our progress so far has been better than planned. We are both pleased with the cycling and are on schedule to reach Hendaye in France tomorrow afternoon.

Photos: Our new eating plan in progress, 10.30am.
Me dressed up like a Christmas tree in my waterproofs, 1pm.
Deba, from halfway up our final climb of the day, 3pm