Ghent to Krotrijk: A magic day with just a little hiccup

August 29, 2015

It was fine, in the early twenties and there was little wind. What more could we want? A reliable and straightforward route of course. I interviewed the GPS and put in Kortrijk,our final destination for the day and up it popped. It was absolutely superb and we followed canals all day. They are big canals and they stll have a lot of commercial traffic on then. The first one was the Brugge Ghent Canal and we were spinning along with ease. About 9.00am suddenly we were not the only cyclists on this superb surface there were pelotons of identically lycra clad cyclists bearing down on us from all directions. Their faces were lean and their chatter in a strange language made then sound like a flock of birds as they overtook us leaving us standing.

One canal intersected with another, it really was like a roading system. The little towns on either side looked very pleasant but we didn't go into one until we got to Deinze which had a pleasant pedestrian area with coffee shops just opening up. Ken got lucky when the lady in the shop kissed him thinking he had come in with one of her friends. Much hilarity and kisses all around as well as excellent coffee. Back onto yet another excellent canal and we were pleased to find information boards in English explaining the complicated engineering work that has gone into canalising the Leie River and building the huge locks which can hold up to 6 big barges at a time. The work on the canals is still ongoing which shows that they are still an important means of transport here.

We arrived in Kortrijk still with lots of cycling in us and it was then everything momentarily turned to custard. Kortrijk looked very pleasant and we rode in circles eventually finding the Hotel Focus which I had booked last night. No one there, just some disreputable looking men drinking beer. There was a self check in but our name didn't appear but then I saw an intercom so decided to try that, The disembodied voice assured me we had no booking and it was impossible for us to stay there as they were fully booked for the local festival. By then I was getting very bad vibes about the Hotel Focus so we took off at high speed to the Tourist Information, we found it and have a beautiful room in a 4 star hotel in the Market Square and what is more it only costs 10E more. I have of course contacted booking.com to tell them what I think of the Hotel Focus

Now off to explore as the photographs will show

Belgium Blue Cattle are amazingly heavily muscled

I now have one word in Flemish - it means detour

Sitting outside our hotel to watch the world go by - they sat there for hours

In the middle of the square is a childrens playground in a sandpit

The Broel Towers are last remaining parts of the city was - for about 1400

Today's ride: 62 km (39 miles)
Total: 1,426 km (886 miles)

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