Setting destinations and going with the flow
This is the perfect mix for us. During the trip north through France we contemplated our route on a daily basis. We knew our house sit in Ware, GBR was set but how we got there was another thing altogether. During one of these discussions we realized that even with the crazy snow day through the Cévennes and the rainy day rides we were making great time on our trek north. It was then we recognized we had over a week to explore before needing to be in Ware. Where could we go with an extra week was the question; Belgium was the answer.
Why not go by way of Belgium?!?
We had not really thought about going to Belgium in the original plan but why not? Sam started searching out some places to stay based on our budget of $100 CAD per night. With Belgium as a destination, our rate cap and a burning desire to get to the ocean again, we fired north destined for Flemish Flanders.
Passing through Sens, then Laon, FRA northward we had an anticlimactic entry to Belgium. There was almost no way of knowing you crossed the border into another country when we rode through Bon-Secours. A church with the iconic circle of stars sign representing the European Union was all that gave hint to the new locale. The housing architecture changed though, and the roads were a bit rough for a while however, Kortjijk was quite another thing!
These two houses were across the street from one another just after we crossed into Belgium. Some very different building styles but both beautiful in their own right.
Kortrijk
We rolled into Kortrijk and instantly loved the feel of the place. Similar to the Netherlands a lot of the population were out on bicycles commuting to and fro; with bells and saddle bags, smiles and waves. There were runners going through their paces on the paths surrounding the canal and everyone was very friendly. Sam found us quite a unique place to stay…on a boat! Ahoi boatel was reasonably priced, a fun concept and a great place to stay.
Ahoi! Welcome to a boatel
We arrived on a Saturday afternoon and Stefan, the owner/operator said if we wanted to stay an extra night we could be his on-board security. The reason being, he doesn’t clean on Sundays. As such we got a free night’s accommodation! Awesome. Thank you Stefan!
The room was a perfect little berth with a comfortable double bed and attached en-suite. The porthole window looked out to the main canal where you could see all kinds of different water birds and watch huge canal boats silently slip past.
It was amazing listening to Stefan seamlessly flow between languages when speaking to other guests and bar patrons. Saturday night was filled with engaging conversation between all the tables in this intimate lounge setting. At the boat bar we met Casper and Jasmien, locals from Antwerp who are organizing a van life trip through South America! We exchanged details, ideas on planning and travel stories while sipping local brews. Sam and I can’t wait to hear all about their journey!
Walking Kortrijk
On Sunday we walked around the immediate area and found some beautiful old buildings to photograph. Across the canal there was a perfect internet café where we sat taking in the buzz of locals speaking Flemish, Dutch, French and English. They all happily greeted one another; chatting about the day to day. The town is very clean and beautifully cared for and has bridges that raise and lower for the passing of huge river boats.
For the motorcycle folks following along, we spoke to a parking attendant and can confirm that motorcycles park for free everywhere in Kortrijk, yes, even sidecars!
Bredene
The beach is a necessity for us to visit wherever we go; Belgium is no different and so we continued north towards the coast. Once again having our accommodations influence our travel destinations, we rolled into a town called Bredene and stayed in a fantastic self-catered apartment for 4 nights.
Bredene is a beautiful seaside town with rental flats abounding in all price ranges. The area is a big tourist destination during the summer months with camping also available.
How about 24 hour vending machine access to everything from toilet paper to ready cooked chickens and wine? There is everything you could ever need available in the many shops and groceries which line the Main Street.
The southern tip of the North Sea laps tirelessly on an endless golden sand and shell covered beach.
Bredene beach is absolutely stunning. There are huge sand dunes which run the entire length of the beach adding to the natural beauty of the area. The dunes create an elevated place to walk with a fantastic aspect of the water and protect the town from the ocean winds.
Not all want to be protected from the wind off the water. This paraglider dominated the incoming air flow gliding effortlessly back and forth along the edge of the dunes.
There is a ton of history in the area including a Napoleonic Fortress and a number of German batteries overlooking the beach. These artillery positions are a stark reminder of the WWII occupation of the Ostend harbour.
Duinster Bredene
Our home for the time in Bredene was the ‘Duinster’. Sven and Nancy have created an oasis of a flat in the heart of the main drag. The place is a modern contemporary apartment with views overlooking the sand dunes out front and a lovely residential skyline from the back windows.
This suite is definitely in the top 5 all-time best appointed units we have ever stayed in. They have thought of everything and laid it all out in a clean minimalist way whilst making it feel like a zen place to take some rest.
We actually ran into Sven in town just before heading to the apartment as he recognized Sassy! At the building we arrived to a lively and excited Sven and a bottle of wine to greet us! How could we ask for more. We absolutely loved our daily walks on the beach, the sunsets and the quiet pleasure of our home in Bredene.
Onward, back to England via the Eurotunnel.
Thank you for following along with our adventures as we make our mid-life gap year a reality! Check us out on Instagram and YouTube as well. Subscribe to keep up on new stories, videos and the methods to our madness!
Take care and keep on travelling!
Dan&Sam
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