Day 12- Pas beaucoup de surf

Wow getting ahead of myself here.  It is only 10 Oclock so this is part one of the post.  Currently the surf is nul.  Early morning surf check the wind was dead on shore and the swell had dropped- not even surfable and cold.  Had a chat with an English bloke who lived in the alps about life, weather, cars and property.

Headed off to get some oysters for brekkie- straight out of the lake.  Have now headed to Hoss for my morning wifi fix.  Next stop bakery- gateau basque collected/

I'm giving up on the barrel- might have to wait until Peniche.

Further update: 16:30:
After the morning wifi update I headed to les Estagnots- which still looked s***.  Had another chat with English bloke before heading to the forest.  Hit a few golf balls into the forest and sat listening to some tunes in my car.

Headed back to les Estagnots- surf looked doable so got in a quick session.  Had a few okay waves actually.  I timed it just right as when I got out the wind picked up again and all the windsurfers were heading out.  Grabbed some weetabix.

Have now checked into a hostel down in Labenne- nice to have a non beach shower and unlimited wifi.  Gonna hit intermarche for dinner.  Doubt there will be much more drama today- bit of an aftershot after last 2 days of swell.  Keep watching the webcam but surf looks univiting.   Checked la Pointe but did n ot look great
Had the best black pudding for dinner, as well as some brebis, pasta and tomato sauce.

Peniche pro

Have I been watching- no because I have been surfing and I am not in Peniche.

Day 11- solid swell, panic and la Grav

The morning started with my last blog update, so here is the rest of the day.  Went first thing with Dan for a coffe at the expensive place.  After that grabbed a pain au chocolat for post surf and put the gateau basque on order for my mother (and me).  Then it was time to say goodbye to Dan who was heading down towards Spain.

I headed to Les Estagnots where we checked earlier, after checking solid la Grav.  Surf was cranking- so I grabbed the step up board and paddled out.  It was a mental paddle ou, I am proud of myself for making it out back.  Didn't catch any barrels unfortunately but got a few waves.  Headed back into the car park for my well earned pain au chocolat and weetabix- car park life.

Later I headed out for ses number 2.  The tide had dropped and the waves were really barreling.  I took some wipeouts including a smash in the sand, which was a bit off putting.  I got my best wave putting a few turns together.  I got out for a pee then back in,  but again the tide had pushed and the paddle was brutal on my tired arms.  Got some more waves- but frustrating I just seem to pick close outs.  Then was getting caught in a rip so got out the water to avoid too much hassle with that thing.  Waves were heavy again today- hit the sand a few times.

I was planning to get oysters- in fact pulled up to the place, but then got a txt from natwest informing me of a new payee which I did not recognise.  Paranoid I headed back to Hossegor- grabbed an orange juice at the bar we were in earlier.  To my horror the wifi did not work.  Went to another bar but they were such pricks. Instead headed to Salon de The where I got a nice coffee, with good service and finally wifi. Realised the payee was not a problem.

Headed back other to Hoss beach and checked around la Grav.  Swell had dropped and wind had swung a bit onshore.  Looked less intimidating so I paddled out.  GOt a few waves but it was so fast and heavy that I just striaifght lined bombed like a kook. Kids were doing airs and stuff and I realised that I was not as good as them, as well as risking board and body in this shore dump wave.

Got out, had a chat with the parents before heading to Leclerc to get dinner.  Couldn't find any water in Hoss so headed back to les Estagnots for a bit to rinse my gear and chilled in the car park for a bit.  Now nursing a beer back nr the main hoss square- writing this.  All seems quite quiet.  May stay in Hoss tomo or head down to Anglet.  Swell dropping right off- but has been great to days of sun, surf, getting on my step up board even if I haven't got barreled or caught the wave of my life.

Do I miss England?

I miss beer and football- especially Chelsea, who seem to be doing ok now I'm abroad.
I haven't thought about money- yet!

Day 10. Between Capbreton and Seignosse

Woke up this morning slightly cold after camping. Put some tea on the campingaz but it did not taste great by any means.

Headed to Les Estagnots this morning for session number one. Took out the step up board for the first time and caught a few waves as well as wipouts. Although it looked sizey it was not too heavy. Saw Dan on the beach.

Grabbed some weetabox for brekkie before going out for session number 2, same board and beach. Got quite a few waves and Dan got some good photos. Weather was stunning. I had a some more weetabix and mackerel before joining Dan in the bar. We chatted for a bit. After lunch the wind had really got up and it was looking quite messy. In light of this I heade down to Capbreton, but thw tide was not really back.

Headed to Leclerc to get suncream and some beers. On the beach I met Dan and realised the beer I ha bought was 6.7%- so the whole thing was not drunk. I weighed up going in but it looked messy and hard work. I had a quick body surf but was destroyed by the current. In light of this I headed back to Capbreton for a surf. Now the tide was right and it was a fun little sun down session. Post this I headed back to Seignosse. Cooked some Casoulet on the campingaz. However all my savings have just been blown on 2 6Euro beers- couldn't resist the Jap beer, but bloody hell its expensive, should have stuck to European piss beer. Still have the washing up to do- fun, fun. But all in all a good day, pretty knarcked sun and surf.

Currently Wednesday morning- surf looks good again and solid.  Just off for a coffee, some wifi then surf.

Still haven't been back to bakery, oysters and barrels.  Waves were not really barrelling yday.  Certainly colder than last week.

Day 9 The road back to Hoss

So last night in San Sebastian started with an ince cream (no. 2 in a day), then developed into another night out with the rest of the hostel- much beer was again drunk.  In fact I woke up quite hungover and had to run over to where the car was parked and top it up so I had time to shower ect.  Had a chat with Californian guy and headed off.

I got a quick pastry on the way back to the car before heading over to France. I got off the motorway around Guethary to drive up the coast road which is slower but scenic.  The waves looked small to non existent.  Then as I was driving a Douane policeman pulled up in a motorbike and said he wanted to pull me over.  I looked in my mirror and there were two more- I had a full police escort through France like the Prime Minister.  I stopped where directed and got out.  They wanted to know where I was going, whether I had canabis and/ or bought anything expensive in France.  I suspect that many people try and get weed across the borded so I understand their motive for stopping me.  They were quite friendly and realised I was just surfing- so they didn't bother searching my car (maybe because it was such a bloody mess).

I headed up to Anglet.  On the way through I grabbed a quiche at an artisan bakery which was awesome and a freshly squeezed orange juice.  Checked the surf but it was barely rideable so headed to the golf course.

My first Golfing experience- course wise:
So I decided to play a 9 hole course which I managed to blag even withou the liscence.  This was a humbling experience- I am really sh** at golf.  The first hole was par 4 and I did in 9- not terrible for first go.  Then I got on the fairway on hole 2.  But by the 3rd hole things deteriorated.  I had to let people pass as I was taken so long.  I contemplated giving up, but eventually finished the course- I gave up scoring on Par 3, there would have been so many penalties.   The weather was amazing.  But I am crap at golf and was stuggling with a muscle pull, which I think came from last night's dance off with a local in San Seba.

After feeling quite humbled at golf I rechecked Anglet up at Cavaliers, but it was barely surfable and the surf was meant to pick up.  So i headed to Bayonne to get some gel for my pulled muscle and a quick wander before Dan called.  We aranged to meet up later.  On the way I stopped at Carrefour in Tarnos for a big pitstop including some Brebis and new shorts (my others are covered in Spanish ice cream- although I sometimes wear them).

Then headed up to Capbreton to la Piste.  The waves were stilll small and breaking on the sure.  I spoke to this surfer girl who looked so hot (although despite are convo I don't think she was interested) and she reckoned the waves were not surfable.  I begged to differ.  When Dan came along I grabbed my board and went in.  Unfortunately on my first wave I broke the nose of my surfboard (again).  In the sunset the UV would not dry the resin, so it remains unfixed- something I am pissed off about.  I grabbed the handplane and had a body surf while Dan took photos.

Then we headed up to Capbreton town.  I was not gonna have dinner, having had a Brebis croissant followed by Brebis yoghurt (a Matt  special) but saw Dan's steak and then ordered a tartare myself.  Now I write this having eaten far too much.  The last few days esp San Seba, but also today have burned a whol in my wallet. I am many Euros down.  It is back to the aire Camping and the campigaz for the next few days.  Don't expect so many wifi updates.

1st hole

  On the fairway- a rare sight

 steak tartare Ihope I don't regret this

San Sebastian- Day 8

So last night I arrived in San Seba in the pouring rain and got soaked.  After finally having a hot shower I blogged much.  I should mention the Pintxos and ice cream I had after- they were amazing.

Then I met this Basque guy staying in the same room and he was a surfer from Zarautz.  We had a long chat about all things surfing and headed out for Pinxos (again) and beer.  We met up with the Irish guy in our room.  Not being in the car I indulged in  having quite a few beers.  Woke up in time to move the car.

I knew there was a little swell running this morn so I headed down to the exposed end of Zurriola in the car and had a quick surf.  Although it looked alright from the shore, the clean lines just closed out and it was a pretty un epic surf, although I was in boardies (haha).  The weather today was epic.  I had a tortilla and coffee and a stroll around San Seba.

Then decided to head to Zarautz.  This was a bit of a waste of time as the wind had gone onshore, swell dropped and there wa nothing shortboardable there- so I had a wander and an ice cream before heading back to San Seba.

Had a nice quick swim at Ondaretta and a walk up the hill, before heading back to Centro, where I have checked into another hostel- couldn't leave San seba in the end.  Am looking forward to my next Pintxos tonight.  This weekend has been heavy on my wallet for sure.

Heading back to Hoss tomo with objective: Barrels, Oysters and bakery.