Day 9

An early chilly start today ended in a very satisfying total mileage so far of 302!! 

We set ourselves the challenge of doing the proposed 2 days in 1, as we had just enjoyed a good rest.

At breakfast we shared a few weather comments with 2 skinny German cyclists, also hoping for No Rain Today! One of them, we'll call him Beanpole, was most impressed with our bikes, and the small amount of luggage, especially for a lady.....

On the road by 8.30, following a big river-like canal through a noisy, busy industrial area, the morning mist still hovering over the water.

There were big barges, big locks, & big ugly bridges, which someone had cheered up with over 2 dozen pretty flower boxes. We saw swans, geese & herons, & these funny ones...name please.

The river canal contined for miles, parts quite unnavigable, not much of it pretty.

We pressed on making good time, stopped for a breather & drink of water....

And whizzed downhill into Thuin at 1.30pm. After the downhill comes the up, and it was a long hard slog up and through the town, over cobbles and hairpin bends, until we were out in the fields again. 

Beautiful and impressive, and as far as the eye could see, but we desperately needed a pit stop with all the facilities.....Suddenly we came upon a big old mansion with a sign for a distillery and a restaurant- in the middle of nowhere. By the time we had locked up the bikes & walked inside, the rain came down,,....

Perfect timing for a light snack, phone call, and wc, and we left in the sunshine again! By this stage we were committed to finishing the 67 miles, and with 15 to go we were saddlesore and a little weary. We had light rain for 5 miles, then through a forest for another 5 and dried off. We arrived here at Lompret, in Belgium still, at six exactly, and the rain came down - poured down, within minutes!!! Phew!

Another successful day, though Paul's helmet does leave a funny pattern on his head!

All throughout our weaving within the hordes of other traffic, hidden in woods, or out in the wilderness, I feel so safe with my trusty companion, SatNav, which has been so incredibly well-prepared by my other trusty companion, Paul. Credit to the navigator!! All's well tonight. 

Oh, that quiz! So hard, where did he find it? Answers below:

Liege

Hastings

Congo

The Last Luxorian

Purple

Philippe

Bosch

Schelde

Red

Michel