Vrijdag in Vlaanderen 2015

[StuAff]

As suggested by @User10571, a thread to document my few days in Belgium. Having withdrawn from the Normandy tour, I was left with two weeks off, three nights plus Eurostar home already booked in Brussels & no way of getting there sorted out. I settled for extending my stay by two more nights and booked a Eurostar for this afternoon.

Having already taken Chutney the wonderbike on Eurostar at the beginning of the month, I was better prepared this time. The bike needs to be bagged before you board the train, and it needs to go through the scanners along with all the other luggage. So, flat shoes (SPDs bagged as they trigger the metal detectors), big but easy to carry bag ready for the train, and plenty of time allowed to get through security. Standard Premier class on the train- bit more legroom, power sockets for every seat and a pretty decent meal. Actually cheaper than Standard class when I booked. Into Brussels dead on time, and after unbagging the bike I pootled over to my hotel. Initial problem with my booking (they hadn't been made aware I'd extended my stay) happily resolved- free breakfast for tomorrow. I'll be out the door a little later than planned, but no rush...

 

[StuAff]

Decided to make full use of the day. Train to Ypres, got there just before ten, after the Menin Gate rode to Roubaix then Oudenaarde ('lunch stop' from station machine as nothing open), and eventually back to Aalst where I got a train, couldn't face another eighteen miles- wouldn't have been much later bit riding in but mojo was fading. Eighty three miles on the clock for today.

 

[mjr]

83 seems more than par. Don't get down over that! Thanks for posting. Looking forward to the next instalment

 

[StuAff]

Considering lunch was a waffle and a doughnut from a machine on Oudenaarde station (that was it since breakfast) pleasantly surprised by the mileage & how well I managed. That said I'd probably have knocked a ton out if I'd been able to get a decent lunch.

Big dinner, obviously.....

 

[Aperitif]

How's 'Jetlag with Jumanji' going, Stu? Thought I would offer a little waffle to help you on your way. 'Wobbles und woensdag' tomorrow. Sorry, that's Dutch. I'm a little flemish - must be the pollen.

 

[StuAff]

Decided to go to the Musee Hergé in Louvain-La-Neuve today. Rode out there, not doing that again...25 or so miles took me over 4 hours. Garmin stopped giving me navigation prompts and the route Osmand on the phone came up with wasn't much better. Pavé, bike paths that ended suddenly, unsuitable roads.....took so long it blew my chances of doing anything else this afternoon. Museum itself was great though. Gent tomorrow- might get a return ticket this time- followed by the first night of Einstürzende Neubauten at the Ancienne Belgique.

 

[Aperitif]

Decided to go to the Musee Hergé in Louvain-La-Neuve today. Rode out there, not doing that again...25 or so miles took me over 4 hours. Garmin stopped giving me navigation prompts and the route Osmand on the phone came up with wasn't much better. Pavé, bike paths that ended suddenly, unsuitable roads.....took so long it blew my chances of doing anything else this afternoon. Museum itself was great though. Gent tomorrow- might get a return ticket this time- followed by the first night of Einstürzende Neubauten at the Ancienne Belgique.

Who is the gent you are going to catch up with on woensdag, Stu? Anyone we know. (We will not know the 'music' from these stormy collapsing new buildings people.)
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"Ficken Radfahren für ein Leben."

It was the 6th birthday of the Hergé and you could have dressed up as a character...got in for free perhaps. Did you dress up, Stu?

Not surprised you had no reception on your GPS. In that area, even the TV reception is a bit snowy.

 

[StuAff]

Pootled around the lovely city of Gent today before visiting the fine folk of Fietser.be (home of the WAW velomobile). Unable to get a full test ride- Brecht was understandably concerned about a recumbent novice damaging his €€€€ test bike, an older machine was set up for smaller riders & couldn't be made to fit me on the day, no suitable ICE trike either. Another time...great experience all the same. Night one from Neubauten- "greatest hits" set, superb two hours.

 

[StuAff]

Mostly excellent day yesterday. Merckx/Ickx exhibition at the Trade Mart- small but packed with detail, exhibits including the 1969 hour record bike and two of the Le Mans-winning cars. Then the fine arts museums, rather larger but equally good. What wasn't good was coming back to the bike to find someone moving their own bike had knocked the hub gear's clickbox, so I'm stuck with 9 gears instead of 27 for the time being. It's still rideable at least...
Second night from EN was 'Lament', their piece on World War One which was commissioned as part of a festival in the Flemish town of Diuksmuide and premiered there last year. Amazing on record, but meant to be heard live. Extraordinary music even by the standards of an extraordinary band.

 

[StuAff]

A few photos (170....) uploaded here https://www.flickr.com/photos/27476738@N04/sets/72157653239936138

Back home as of a couple of hours ago. Got a couple of unexpected bills- my railcard had expired over a month ago so had to pay the excess fare (I'd used it a couple of times since and neither I nor train staff had noticed), and a bill for the ambulance in Ostend turned up (no, I didn't take out travel insurance for that trip...). Eurostar service was again excellent, didn't get to the station as early as I'd have liked but I was still through security before boarding had started so no problems there.

 

[ianrauk]

I like the confused Indian Restaurant

How much was the ambulance bill?

 

[StuAff]

I like the confused Indian Restaurant

How much was the ambulance bill?

Yup, so did I....

€61.63....for 5km......I'll definitely be getting travel insurance for next year's FNRttK!

 

[frank9755]

Don't say you are planning to fall off again!

 

[StuAff]

Don't say you are planning to fall off again!

Er, no..........