Wheels and Waves 2016, the latest edition of this French festival where gasoline, paraffin, and sandpaper mix. Based in the French Basque Country, Biarritz, but with locations in Hondarribia (Punks Peak), Lasarte (El Rollo Dirt track), and Pasaia San Sebastián (Art Ride). As well as routes throughout the French-Basque Pyrenees. The show began on Wednesday, June 8th in Lasarte, with El Rollo Dirt Track organized by the folks at Sideburn magazine. It's a shame we didn't arrive on time, leaving us wanting more and looking like poker players in the parking lot just as we arrived for the last lap of the finals. From here, we thank our GPS for the extraordinary coverage it has throughout that area. Thursday the 9th was the official presentation at the Art Ride III in Pasaia (San Sebastián). Another event we had to postpone due to mechanical problems with our powerful Bultaco Mercurio 175 GT, which 37 hours later were resolved, literally with fire, sweat, and tears. This same day, the people from The Critical Slide Society organized a longboard contest on the beach next to La Cité de l'Océan, where Thomas Bexon and his 9-footer were floating in ankle-high surf conditions. The following day was the main event of Wheels and Waves 2016, the “PUNKS PEAK,” but unfortunately, it could not take place due to adverse weather conditions. Although we were able to enjoy the fifteen 50cc bikes created for “la copita”, a cup created by El Solitario MC, as part of Punks Peak. They did a mock start, three at a time, and no more than 5 meters before losing each other in the dense fog. We continued our good streak of events and headwinds, although we had better luck than the owner of a Brough Superior, which appeared on the mountain in flames in the middle of the fog. Saturday the 11th was the day of the ride, and with our mount ready and far from the roar of the free exhaust we had to endure the previous days, we set off for Zagarramurdi, home of witches and massive T-bone steaks. That same night, we witnessed the suicide of one of the contestants for “la copita,” in true Evil Knievel style with a landing in a swimming pool. Sunday, the Lord's day, it was time to return and lick our wounds like a dog on the way home. We left Wheels and Waves 2016 with higher uric acid and lower morale.
