Notes from Belgium. Hitting the Ardennes.

[phcollard]

Hey friends! I hope you're all fine. I'm having a great time here so a couple more pictures from Belgium if you don't mind me sharing.

The first ride (http://forums.thepaceline.net/showthread.php?t=150693) in the neighbourhoods of Liège the other day was nice but I knew that for the real thing I would have to pack the bike and drive a bit further.

So that's what I did for the last days. I drove up to my uncle's place near Theux which is a very small village at the doors of the belgian Ardennes viewed from here. Small village but so beautiful. I spent a lot of time in Theux when I was a child so being there always brings back good memories.

I unloaded the bike and quickly got on the road. I haven't been riding a lot of places but I am telling you folks : to me the Ardennes are as close to cycling paradise as can be. Lovely winding roads, beautiful long climbs and - good for me - not too hard! Riding silently through the forest, smelling fresh air and all that. I was genuinely happy. With that feeling of being exactly at the right place at the right time. I was riding alone but I heard myself say at least twice "this is fantastic... this is fantastic"! Endorphin truckloads released.

I drove from Theux to La Gleize (http://www.december44.com/en/history_battle_of_the_bulgela_gleize.htm) - that is another village of importance during WWII if you want to follow the link and read about it. They even have a King Tiger tank in the middle of the place. Unfortunately I was unable to go see it because there was a yard sale of WWII artifacts happening on one side of the road. And the other side of the road was blocked by BMC trucks. I asked locals but they had no idea which race was going on. "We have so many" one woman told me. I believe it was the Flèche Ardennaise or something. I rode back to Theux through the Rosier and then the Maquisard which are two climbs of Liège-Bastogne-Liège. My times were plain bad but I was happy to do them and hey I'm a tourist after all.

Two days later I went back but this time did it a bit harder since I went up the Redoute and rode back to Liège instead of driving. The Redoute was hard for my level. I thought I was going to have a heart attack when I reached the top. I had to stop there for 15 minutes sitting in the grass, just enjoying the view. Unfortunately no images for this other ride. I borrowed a GoPro but the battery died after 10 minutes. And later on the handlebar mount snapped in two and bye bye GoPro. It jet planed for several meters on the asphalt and under some cars right in the center of the small town of Remouchamps. I picked it up and holy glory when I charged it later it was still working!

Next ride tomorrow along the river Meuse and after that Flanders :)

Sorry for the writing style - or the lack of it - I'm trying to type as my father is watching another soccer match.

Cheers,

Philippe.

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0188.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0191.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0192.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0198.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0201.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0204.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0206.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0209.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0214.jpg

[wallymann]

it's been there for almost a year now!!!

great pics and stories...keep it up!

[MattTuck]

Philippe, it looks awesome.

Nicely done on la redoute.... certainly in the top 10 (if not top 5) of locations that are the heartbeat of professional cycling.

Thanks for the write up.

[Mr. Pink]

What car did you rent and how much is it costing you?

[tiretrax]

Looks like you're having a fantastic time. Enjoy it and know how jealous I am sitting in my third long meeting of the day (webinar, this time)!

[ANAO]

Nice, looks like a great time!

[enr1co]

Great pics- LIKE!

:banana:

[Tony]

Nice, thanks for sharing!!

[Uncle Jam's Army]

Nice Philippe! It looks great! Thanks for sharing the pictures and words.

[crownjewelwl]

You are a lucky bastard

[Md3000]

My family used to go on vacation every year to the area of Spa.. There's some amazing riding there, we stayed in a tiny town called Kelmis (or La Calamine in French), one if the few towns where besides French and Flemish they also speak a strange German dialect :)
Great to see your pics of the area and would love to see more!!

[choke]

Very cool....thanks for taking us along. :beer:

[thinpin]

Lovely Philippe, my kind of riding.

[bobswire]

Great pics, need I ask, who you for in the game next tue? :rolleyes:

[roydyates]

I've really enjoyed this thread. :)

[vav]

Philippe...make sure you read this man ;)

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/a-matter-of-national-insecurity--why-u-s--cannot-lose-to-belgium-185014675.html

[thwart]

Great write-up and pics, Philippe.

And your camera is a… ?

[pbarry]

Allez Phillippe!

[bobswire]

Philippe...make sure you read this man ;)

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/a-matter-of-national-insecurity--why-u-s--cannot-lose-to-belgium-185014675.html

Thanks for that, funny stuff.

But back to reality:

http://i59.tinypic.com/2llkmsi.jpg

[phcollard]

What car did you rent and how much is it costing you?

It's a Citroen Picasso. It costs nothing since it's my father's car. Free gas too and sometimes even the driver is included! :D

Great pics, need I ask, who you for in the game next tue? :rolleyes:

Hey Bob! Tough decision! I think the Belgian Red Devils - who made this up btw? - don't play that well and half of my heart is North American now. But for the sake of being on location... GO BELGIUM! :banana:

Great write-up and pics, Philippe.

And your camera is a… ?

Thanks Tom. It's a Canon S200. Not the old S200 but the modern cheaper version of the S110.

-----------

Side note. Yesterday I went back to La Gleize - by car since the weather wasn't that nice - to see that King Tiger panzer and the museum next to it. Woah! Definitely a must see. Who watched Band Of Brothers lately?

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0245.jpg

http://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/3032014/paceline/belgium/IMG_0259.jpg

[soulspinner]

Great stuff. Thanks for this.........

[mdeeds71]

I am planning a CX ride around the Bastogne 101st ABN Div perimeter.

If you know of a good bed&breakfast let me know….I am going to ride but also to pay my respects to those lost in WWII and those of the 101st I served with and lost in Afghanistan…The WWII Bastogne perimeter will be great place to ponder all things.

[maxn]

nice! thanks for posting.

[F150]

I am planning a CX ride around the Bastogne 101st ABN Div perimeter.

If you know of a good bed&breakfast let me know….I am going to ride but also to pay my respects to those lost in WWII and those of the 101st I served with and lost in Afghanistan…The WWII Bastogne perimeter will be great place to ponder all things.

This sounds like a trip! Don't know if you can wear out a DVD or not, but if you can, my Band of Brothers box set is "well worn" to say the least.

I'm born and raised in Nashville, my Dad used to drive part-time for Greyhound in the 60's, early 70's. Spent many hours driving guys back to post from a night on the town. If anyone rides the east side of Independence Pass, drop in the Nordic Inn in Twin Lakes. Love to know if the 101st vet who owned the joint in 1987 is still in possession. Nice guy, treated us well.

God Bless all who serve...