Today I wanted to ride the 'Ronde van Leuven', a ride organised by the local communal services and roughly going around Leuven in a big circle. Starting out as usual at the School in Blanden, I met up with Geert, who was going to accompany me for half of the way. He had started 35K earlier near his hometown. The lap went in the opposite direction from last years, now going towards Vaalbeek where we were surprised to be sent into Heverleebos. Since we - and several others - were riding road bikes , this was a dire adventure. No grip with our skinny tyres and having to be very careful not to flatten on whatever was lurking on the forest floor. Some cobbles to finish and we were in Oud-Heverlee. From here we were back on normal roads and we moved on towards the Celestijnenlaan. Lost track of the arrowing here and we had to find our way back to the track by guesstimating where they would cross the tervuursesteenweg. We found the track again and followed it over some hills next to the E314. Into Winksele and then onwards towards Herent. The skies were filled with dark menacing clouds but it would remain dry for the entire ride. It was a mere 17 degrees C and a strong wind from the southwest would be our main adversary during this ride. When we reached Kortrijk Dutsel, Geert bid me farewell and rode homewards. Me, I had still some way to go, and most of it would be with the wind straight in my face. There were a lot less bikers than last years, but that may have been because I only started around 11am, or - more likely - because of the uncertain and fresh weather. When I was passing bikers on the long macadam roads leading from Kortrijk Dutsel towards Linden, I saw many grins and they did not seem to enjoy themselves. I was struggling too, and the quality of the roads did not add to my joy and bliss. Lots of small tramac roads which were littered by all kinds of debris from last weeks thunderstorms. When I reached Bierbeek they again went onto a cobble road and when I noticed they were going to take a sandy trail again I decided to quit the track and make my own way into Blanden again.  Normally I would have considered adding a couple of K's to the ride but the wind made me decide to call it a day when I reached the School of Blanden again.