The official Eurovelo route seemed to take the long way round out of Bordeaux, to get to St Palais and St Jean Pied Port in the Pyrenees. We decided to take a Google maps suggested route instead. 

We rode 85 km on  two days on straight, flat, low traffic roads. Sounds perfect? The route took us through the Landes Forest , Europe’s largest managed forest.  It was mile after mile of pine plantation. The roads were often completely straight, with nothing visually to keep your interest.  Riding was more challenging mentally.  At one point we saw signs warning of wild pigs and groups of hunters. Felt like we were in BC!

The landscape was like this, not my photo but courtesy of the  region’s tourism (!?) board.

While much of the area is not populated, we had the surprise of a couple of beautiful villages complete with medieval churches which seem now to be one with landscape. 

Todays’s  journey was much different. Undulating hills as we approach the Pyrenees.  We are back on the traditional pilgrimage route to Santiago.