Posts Tagged ‘Belgium’

Day 2. Waterloo – Heuvelland. 150km

Posted: May 18, 2012 in Belgium, Cycling
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Waterloo – Heuvelland

I woke to the pitter patter of rain on my hotel window. It was grey and wet outside. I went back to sleep. It was 4am.

It had stopped raining by the time I left, and within 2 hours all clouds had evaporated and the sky was clear and blue.

The Vlaanderen long distance bike trip tries to avoid main roads. A good thing. When it gets hilly, though, this means you are lead up and down and up and down. North, south, east, west. Very pretty, green steep valleys. Cute farm houses. Cycling through fields of grain. You feel, though, that you aren’t advancing. Just getting tired- up and down. So, I took short cuts – the main road. You get forward, but the constant rush of traffic is annoying. I took a balance which worked out well.

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I had a tasty lunch in Brakel. The lovely woman serving spoke Dutch, but I didn’t understand a word. She was very friendly though.

I learned of the Flemish Ardennes today. Serious hills with serious slopes. Geraardsbergen was the hilliest. My pace was slow. After Kortrijk the hills ended and I followed a river that was the Belgian French border. The dark clouds made for an imposing backdrop.

I am at a busy camping ground in Heuvelland, near the French border. A simple dinner and I am full. Calais and England tomorrow.

Day 1. Eindhoven – Waterloo. 167km

Posted: May 17, 2012 in Belgium, Cycling, Netherlands
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Eindhoven – Waterloo

I left mounting the front wheel pannier carriers until the last evening. This was a bad idea. I couldn’t get them mounted. I needed to be able to make a screw shorter by sawing it off. I gave up, and left with only the rear wheel bags. My test of packing the bike with all the equipment for Norway will have to wait until next time.

I was excited to leave and was awake super early. I was on the road by 5:30. It was cold and overcast. I cycled with long cycle pants and 2 layers on my torso. I made a note that for Norway I will buy warm and sturdy (and waterproof) shoes for cycling. And, I noted to bring warm gloves next time.

There was low hanging mist suspended over all the lakes. In the early morning it was a beautiful light with the sun hanging low. The birds were tweeting and the world was still sleeping. It was just me to see this glorious morning.

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The world slowly started rising. I passed (or actually was passed) by lots of packs of cyclists as I cycled along the canal, lined with rich green trees. I turned south and followed the long distance cycle route southwards. I passed along canals, then cute farmer villages and finally along a straight stretch of bike path that used to be a train track. I passed Tienen and then some beautiful forests.

I expected the hills to increase as I got further south. This was true in general. The hills came in patches. And some were tough. One just out of Tessenderlo and one just out of Tienen. In between it was flat and easy going, made a bit more difficult with a slight head wind.

I was getting hungry, and my iPhone was running out of juice. At 16:30 I pulled up in Overijse and had a tasty lunch/dinner. The only camping ground within reach was in Overijse itself. It turned out to be closed. I decided to stay in a hotel. I am now in the rather ugly Waterloo, just south of Brussels.

Luyksgestel – Weert. 35km run along the canal

Posted: May 12, 2012 in Running
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Luyksgestel – Weert

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The second time round for the run from Luyksgestel to Weert. A pleasant bus ride through the green countryside with the sun shining and the blue sky dotted with puffy white clouds. A train trip back from Weert with the dark looming clouds threatening overhead. In between 35 km along beautiful canals in Belgium. Tree-lined paths, fishermen whiling away the hours in the peaceful greenery, joggers and cyclists plying the paths.

I left the canal and made the dash to Weert. Having learnt from last time, I crossed over to the right hand side of the canal before the Dutch-Belgian border. This way I didn’t have to run along a main road with no bike or footpath. I increased my speed and was thrilled that I could maintain a pace of 5:20 per kilometre. I averaged just a tick under 10km/h. Not bad for 35km.

This is an experimental blog post from my iPhone. This is how I will have to post on my bike trip.. I hope it works out.. 🙂

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