More hilly.
Started late from Kortrijk today, had not really planned anything longer than about 85km, thought Valenciennes was the safest bet for finding hotel. Since the hotel in Kortrijk located several hotels for me in Cambrai when I left, I decided to go for it and to make it to Cambrai.
The first 30 kilometres or so to Tournai was pure pleasure. No wind, the little that was now and then, came from the right direction. More or less 30 km of biketracks first along the canal down to Bossult, after that more biketracks along the river to Tournai.
Such as here
The river barge "Santana" is doing steady seven knots on the river, the rider about to do 25 km/h next to it.
Came to Tournai, stopped for lunch at a café that apparently was a hangout for middle age bikers, felt quite welcome. Kim Clijsters was leading Capriatti 5 -1 in the first set at French Open at the time, after a Croc Messieur and new supplies of sparkling water I moved on. The way that match developed I would have spent the day waiting for it to end.
Afterwards I encountered my first serious hill at Antoing. Nothing to write home about, just uphill for a few hundred meters, but a reminder that a heavy loaded bike is indeed heavy.
Crossed over into France at Mortagne du Nord and at rue de Fort. Beautiful crossing, with the Belgian flag on one side of the stone arch bridge and the French at the other. Since I seem to have a complex about photographing at borders, I did not manage this time either. My last chance obviously, unless I manage to schedule in a detour to Italy before Aix.
And France? Nice to be there and very civilised. They even have roadsigns at every junction, and roadnumbers that may be checked between junctions. Anybody interested in suggesting to the Belgian road authorities that the same thing might be implemented there?
Stopped at St-Armand-les-Eaux for a sandwich au jambon and more sparkling water, when the waitress that served me heard I had been bicycling from Holland she was very impressed, however when I told her I was going to Aix en Provence she realised I was mad. She may have a point.
However progress was good and I eventually made it to Cambrai. It was getting more hilly after the border, somewhat resembling Denmark. Nothing dramatic in other words.Total distance for the day 113.9 km, average speed 21 km/h. The bike and the rider functioned very well all time, especially the bike. They know how to build bicycles in Derby.
And finally a message to all Dutch colleagues and friends. They do have bikepaths in France! The only problem is that they do not cut the grass and keep it a secret that way.
This is the bikepath south of Mortagne du Nord, on the way to St-Armand-les-Eaux.
Reims is 133 km away. To long for one day, at least for this rider. Might stop at Laon.
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