We know we’ll be accused of click-bait for more subscribers, but let’s briefly talk about cycling infrastructures.
This week we’ve moved from the rolling lanes of east Essex to the flawless cycle network in the Netherlands and the beautiful EuroVelo 19 through the forested Ardennes in Belgium and north east France.
A good cycle infrastructure is poetry in motion for the cycle tourist. Although if cycle infrastructure is poetry in motion, Belgium is a poem by William McGonagall (look him up if you’re into bad poetry).
Where Belgium did rival the Netherlands was with hospitality and beer. In the Neatherlands we were treated to traditional Dutch hospitality with one of Harriet’s colleagues. A couple of days later we were in Brussels having a tasty beer in Parc Royale when a friendly local (who happened to be a bee-keeper) came to chat to us about the trip and offered us bed for the night.
Our arrival in France means welcoming the Boulangerie into our lives. And we couldn’t be happier. There’s nothing quite like freshly baked pure white delicious carbs to aid a cyclist through the undulating Champagne region.
After a rest day in the historic town of Verdun, we’re heading south towards Lyon with the treat of north European cycling infrastructure behind us, but the lure of the Mediterranean in front of us.
This week’s highlights
The overnight sailing from Harwich to Hoek van Holland
The cultural norm on the continent of getting a mini-biscuit with your coffee
Being flagged down by enthusiastic locals who spot our new Scotland stickers on our panniers
This week’s lowlights
Another fall, although the Olympic judges would have given it a 9.5
Nearly running out of food on a Sunday afternoon in France (word of warning: everything is closed). Panic stations
See you next week. If you don’t hear from us it’s because we’re entering the Beaujolais region and are swimming back-stroke through french wine!
Absolutely loving these posts!!
Watch out for mondays and bank holidays in France as well, which are often an excuse for EVERYTHING to be closed.