Satanic route stage 1 Donosti to Bilbo

So on June 20 I started what I chose to call satanic route. Something like the way to Santiago, but basically cycling with a 5Kg backpack. First stage will take us from Donosti to Bilbo, Basque Country main cities.

Having arrived to Donosti train station on June 19, forty minutes later than expected. I basically unpacked my Ridley Orion and headed to the hostel to make the reservation. After all set and done went to old town to have dinner at Bar Etxaniz in Fermin Calbeton street.

Woke up early on June 20 and had breakfast at Pasteleria Oiartzun breakfastafterwards went to Jaia Bicicletas to get my bike set up. Once done went to La Concha beach to take a picture for the start of the route.
bike

So we started going up to Igueldo, amazing day and amazing view up there.
igueldo
Many cyclist going up that route, almost no traffic. Spoke to a cyclist who told me how to go to Bilbo. Really nice.

Once Igueldo you go down to the coast and pass through Zarautz.
zarautz
Nice beach, but looks like too cold for me. After we head to Zumaia and start heading to Eibar, leaving the basque coast behind. Found this nice view after Itziar climb.
view
In Eibar we pay a short visit to Ipurua.
ipurua
And after Eibar we enter Bizkaia through Ermua. After Ermua its all going downhill to Bilbo mostly.

I had to stop in Amorebieta(around 25 kms away from Bilbo) to have a beer, heat was hitting me hard and I needed a rest. There was traffic when getting near to Bilbo, but there is a lot of respect for cyclist in Basque Country.

So we arrive to Bilbo and head to the hostel along the river. View of Guggenheim Museum.
guggenheim
New San Mames stadium. House of Athletic Club.
sanmames

After finding the hostel and having a WELL deserved shower I went to the old town to have dinner. Pintxos mostly.
pinchos
Pintxos in Basque Country are amazing. After having dinner I took the subway to head back to the hostel. It was early, but Sunday I was going to Gazteiz.

Here is my strava.

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