The second or third day of a trip, I always seem to find quite hard. My mind and body haven’t quite got into a routine and the thought of another day in the saddle is quite hard. Today was the day for feeling blue. I planned an early start as I knew it would be a reasonably long day because of limited accommodation issues. After an early (0630) breakfast I went online to check out my potential hotel for the night. Unfortunately it was now fully booked, so the next 90 mins was spent exploring various other options including drastic route changes. Things weren’t helped by it being Saturday and a long Bank Holiday weekend in Belgium, which meant most things were fully booked.
Eventually I found an alternative hotel, which only required a minor route change. Much later than planned I rolled out into suburban Ghent , the slightly damp and grey day coupled with the thought of 100+ kms not helping my mood.
The 60km or so to Antwerp dragged a bit, it was almost all on tracks running alongside railways. With each passing train, I kept asking myself whether I should just have let the train take the strain. My mood improved after finding a bakery and seriously high calorie pastry full of creme !
As I neared Antwerp my GPS showed a river crossing, there was not a bridge to be seen, but there was a park with a rather ugly art deco building in front on me. Eventually I realised it was the entrance to a pedestrian cycle tunnel. Going inside there were two flights of escalators and a handy diagram of how to carry a bike down them. If you come across this, my advice is don’t try it. The idea is the put the front wheel sideways on the first step and then the back wheel a couple of steps back. The steps seemed to be moving incredibly quickly, after a while I went for it, but as soon as that front wheel hits the escalator, there’s no going back literally, or indeed much time to think about next steps, as me and the bike were dragged forward. Amazingly I kept my balance, but it was a close run thing. The tunnel was great and you were allowed to cycle it, reaching the other side of course I found a lift ! Stepping out of the lift was really really odd as it deposited you right in the beating heart of Antwerp.
I rather liked what I saw of Antwerp as I passed through. I can imagine it‘s a great place for a long weekend.
Once through Antwerp and it‘s suburbs it was back to rail and riverside paths and quiet roads. Pedal turn by pedal turn the kms to go came down , but with 3km to go, fate played a nasty trick on me, with a closed path.
Fortunately the diversion was well signposted so I was soon at my destination. After a few turns of the small town, I eventually found my hotel and settled in for some R&R. After just shy of 106km, I deserve it.
Steady Pedals 