But the overall theme (if there is one) was waterways. Cycled the Rhine and Danube as well as Belgium, Dutch and English Canals. With Debbie and Aaron we toured the Loire Valley by car – can’t really say I cycled it as 10k in Samour doesn’t count.

Met some interesting and great people along the way, too many to mention. Only used my “cold weather” gear 3 times as the temperature was consistently hitting 30C + all the time.

In the spirit of today’s trend of having the “Ten Best of…..” My top 10, in no particular order are:

• The cycle paths of Belgium, Holland, Austria, France. (Worst by a long shot were England and Hungry)
• Madeira – very pleasant surprise
• Best Bridge – the wooden bike/Foot bridge near Kelheim
• Best Campsite. – Vilshofen an der Donau, totally geared for cyclists
• Bad Days – None, well there were some not so good days but then without them the good days would be ordinary
• Accident free days – all except one – when the bike and I parted company on a bridge
• Punctures or mechanical failures – none
• Best piece of gear – My ultra light weight camp chair with the Brooks Saddle coming in a close second
• Best website/app – hands down Komoot.com in combo with the Garmin Edge.
• The people you meet along the way.

Passchendaele has been described as New Zealand’s greatest military catastrophe. However saying it is a New Zealand catastrophe neatly avoid the fact that it was the stupidity and obstinate idiocy of British commanders who caused such an avoidable loss of life for New Zealand and other Commonwealth counties.

Tyne Cot is a sobering place and, to be frank, it is almost impossible to imagine what it was like in 1917. As I mentioned there are many cemeteries for the Allied forces but now there are only 4 left for the fallen German solders. And one of those summed up the sadness and grief of war on a personal level. It is at Vladslo in Belgium and has the sculpture of the Grieving Parents by Kathie Kollwitz.

Enough Said

After a week of basically being very lazy and sampling the local wines, it was time for a short tour of northern Belgium so I hopped the ferry to Dunkirk and in the process meeting the only other Kiwi I’ve met so far cycling around. Anyway.. after the warm soft breezes of Madeira, the Gods of wind decided it was time for a change and thought a blast of fresh (read that as: cold as a witches something) northerly wind in your face was the way to go. So for only the second time this trip I’ve dragged out the thermals and beanie. Not a pretty sight. I stayed away from the beaches, both the winds and the high rises took care of that.

I think the last time I was in Bruges was in the 70’s. I believe the Grand Place is still there but you couldn’t really see it for the throngs of eager tourists clicking away with their phones. But I still like the place, although autumn and the shoulder season might be a better time to visit. By the way, watch the film In Bruges with Colin Farrell, it’s a wonderful Black Comedy from 2008.

I finally gave up battling the wind and found a campsite so I could put up my tent and huddle inside. Supposedly the wind will moderate tomorrow when it’s on to Ghent.