Climate is what we expect, weather is what we get. - Mark Twain
I am usually quite good at looking at the climate of a region; a tour may last 3-5 weeks so a weather forecast is not useful. Climate is about how cold and wet it gets through to how much sun and heat you might encounter and you get that from the minimum and maximum figures not from the average. Then it's all about the layers of clothing. Flanders certainly knows how to throw weather at you though the climate does yield a beautiful green landscape even at the end of summer. I am looking forward to tomorrow when the temperatures pick up and from today I shouldn't get caught in late afternoon showers as I was yesterday.
Weather report over and I am up early as today is around 52 miles so an early start will help. My usual morning consists of fuelling up and hydrating, dressing for the weather and a rough plan for the day such as where to take breaks, any supermarket shopping or where to eat. As yesterday's meals and today's breakfast were all supermarket picnics tonight might be pizza night.
Unlocking my bike from the hotel's shed I notice I have a flat tyre. It is my earlier puncture repair that hasn't held. I chance my arm and apply another patch but this doesn't hold and a new tube is required. I am a fan of repairing punctures but this tube gets binned. Once I get onto smooth tarmac I notice a regular bump, bump, bump underneath me and deduce my rear tyre isn't seated properly so that's another job when I stop. It's annoying as I had checked and thought I had already corrected the tyre seating.
The first stage is through beautiful woodland then through assorted villages and small towns mostly on cycleways alongside the road. I am amazed at just how good the cycle infrastructure is in Belgium and at the extent to which it is used from the school run, to shoppers, commuters and leisure cyclists.
There are plenty of leisure cyclists out and a group of 30 passed ahead of me. For a short period I am on the KUNSTSTENDENROUTE which is the Arts Cities route and comes through Leuven. I will pick it up again when travelling from Antwerp to Bruges.
The scenery is gorgeous though the 360 degree feeling does not want to be captured.
Leuven is the highlight town today with a large square and continental outdoor seating.
In Leuven I see a suited man riding one of those bikes used by bakers or grocers of old with a large box up front only in his box was his bride who was clearly rethinking the merits of this particular photo opportunity.
More from Leuven.
This happens to be the official (or Komoot) start and finish of my 955km circular route as recorded in the GPX file.
More of those rattling, bone shaking, muscle fatiguing cobbles.
I puncture again and repair the new tube that went in this morning. It is dry and I am down to one spare tube so repairing is the way to go. A local resident kindly stops in her van to check I am OK and of course I insist that everything is under control, after all I'm a well prepared cycle tourer. I don't know if it was frustration or just a lack of concentration but in tightening the skewer with an allen key I gave it one last twist and ping, the skewer sheers. I should point out here that the skewer is what secures the wheel to the bike and it is generally believed that having wheels attached to bikes is a good thing, if not essential. I recover the two halves of my once whole skewer and confirm it has broken irreparably. Before I have time to wring my hands in despair and dive into my limited options, a couple living opposite my impromptu and poorly staffed cycle repair workstation come out to their car and looking over ask if I need anything. Showing them my skewer, my bottom lip trembling only slightly, I ask where the nearest bike shop is. They quickly decide they will have the required spare part and five minutes later I am fitting a quick release skewer with nervous trembling hands under their watchful gaze. All parties are delighted with the outcome, they refuse my offer of payment then drive off with their good deed done for the day. I try and learn and as much as I'd like to blame the harsh cobbles of which there have been more today I deduce that I have been consistently over tightening the skewer and that final wrench was the final straw.
If a work of fiction included my broken skewer and the ease with which a replacement was supplied then that would have been considered too unreal because fiction must be believable. It's a peculiarity of life that only facts can be unbelievable.
My upper back, shoulders, neck and the top of my arms are sore so I stop for a coffee and see again that the European Cycle Championships are on the TV. They are being held in Liege, Belgium this year and though I am currently heading in that direction I don't quite get to Liege.
Back on the road and a local resident pulls along side and informs me of a local fundraising event in the park, music, food that sort of thing; it's an 86km day so I'll miss that.
Finding my accommodation is easy and I have a small apartment, what might have been a granny flat. I quickly see that I have dipped into Wallonia as the owner only speaks French and I am pleasantly surprised at how quickly I adapt. I understand the complexity of the instructions for the electronic front drive gate, garage door and my front door as it will be a complicated departure. At least the bike is dry and secure in the garage.