It rained softly the entire morning and I was already beginning to think I would not be able to ride out when, around 1pm, things dried out and it looked like the last of the rain had passed. It was cold - 15 degrees C - and overcast when I left home. Following the Vlaanderen Fietsroute with a little detour to Willebringen and Oorbeek to reach Hoegaarden. From Hoegaarden again on the Lf2a until the little roads started to be blocked by big puddles of water. I rode around those by passing through Laar and Hemiksem and then picked up on the Lf2A again until I reached the Battle of Neerwinden Memorial . Pausing for a couple of pictures and then back until I came upon the markings of the Ludo Dierckxsens Classic, which incidently took place today.
I decided to follow those yellow markers and with already 45K on my counter I was hoping to get out 80 or 90K. I was wrong, it would be a lot more kilometers. The LD rode towards Helecine, and then I passed through Noduwez, Marilles, Enines and Huppaye. I crossed the Ravel and for a moment was tempted to take that back to Jodoigne and Hoegaarden. But I decided to stick with the LD. The wind was again blowing today and it was full in my face when I reached Jauchelette and the track turned to the right towards Dongelberg and further on to Lathuy . I was on more familiar roads now and this gave me hope and strength. Passing along the trails of the 1W and Biz'On the Bike I reached Melin and here the trail turned left again towards the N240. It then turned right towards La Bruyere and onwards to Meldert and Willebringen. Here I decided to leave the LD and return home over Neervelp, Bierbeek and the Haasrode industrial terrain. Despite the clouded skies not a drop fell and towards the end of my ride the temperature had climbed to a feisty 17 degrees . I was feeling tired in my legs but very satisfied with this ride, despite the adverse weather conditions. It had turned out into a solid 100K+ ride.
Ride Stats : 111K and 735/795 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 4h22mins
4911/49035
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