Easter in Flanders
Posted on Tuesday 5 May 2009 by Thomas James
Wednesday 8th April- Ypres
Ten cyclists met at St Pancras to load cycles for 11.00 departure. Too many bikes to get off at Lille, so extra train journey via Brussels to Ypres.
Five were nearly mislaid when train split. They alighted early and took evening ride past war cemeteries. The only rain of the week soon cleared. The group reformed for the Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate and supper. 30km or 2km
First dame blanche of the trip (to avoid any doubt, this is a Belgian ice cream).
A dame blanche
Thursday 9th – Ypres to Bruges
Full day’s canalside cycling. We lunched in the far west of Belgium, in town square at Veurne. Optional diversion (“wegomlegging”) via Diksmuide for picnickers. 80km
Evening arrival in Bruges – canal side hotel at end of cobbles. Beers and orange squash in main square and Portuguese–Roman (or possibly Romanian) dinner.
Landscape with cycle
Good Friday 10th – Around Bruges
Day in Bruges for some – high art or the Chip Museum.
For others riding by numbers (Flanders network point system – making cycling too easy for purists) to Sluis (Netherlands), Knokke (seaside resort), through Zeebrugge Docks, then dames blanches all round on the prom at Blankenberge. 70km
Canalside by hotel
Saturday 11th – Bruges to Ghent
Half day canalside riding with café and picnic stops. Early pm arrival in Ghent for dames blanches and/or sightseeing. 45km
Our hotel was near the main art galleries and shared with two English (male and female) rugby groups.
Picnic lunch
Easter Sunday 12th – Around Ghent
Creme eggs for breakfast. A day for everyone to do their own thing – stay in Ghent for the Mystic Lamb (a painting, not a roast) or cycling by numbers to Weteren, Poperinge or route of choice. From 0km (anon) to 120km (Roy Watson).
We regrouped for a Greek dinner served in French.
Paradise for cyclists
Easter Monday 13th – Ghent to Brussels
Paul Krebs’s birthday. To celebrate, a chocolate egg and a full day of riding by the River Scheldt and the Willebroek canal. It was Flemish cycle heaven (just as it says in the brochures) – flat, clear paths, little cafés, drivers giving way without fail, everyone else on cycles too, all by the river in the sunshine. Pavés into centre of Brussels. 120km
In the evening, some of the group had frog’s legs. It must have been all the cycling.
Elevenses stop
Tuesday 14th – Brussels or Waterloo
Art galleries for some, others caught the train to Waterloo. Cycle out to battlefield, climb the Lion Mound, then final dames blanches and beers in the sun. 20km
Evening train home to face London rush hour.
The original Waterloo Station
Summary
A week of pedalling without pain, in a country that loves cyclists. Flemish cycling is suitable for ages 10 to 70 (as tested on our trip).
Thanks are due to Jo Wright and Jan Underwood for organising and leading the tour.
Blog photos supplied by Gail Riekie and Michael Belcher.