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Yesterday I took a day off from biking and rode to the Ardennes with my car. We visited Baraque Fraiture and Bastogne and we had a good time driving the Mazda MPS through the twisty Ardennes roads. A little more than 300K in 4h30mins.
Today I felt well rested and I wanted to ride the big interchanging node route that was featured in the summer number of Grinta magazine. This added an extra loop of 21K to the 48.5K ride I did last friday. The extra loop first takes you towards Willebringen, Meldert and then rides along very nice little tracks towards Hoegaarden. Some narrow tarmac roads here , most of them very well known to me from my ventures with the Hilset around these parts. Before entering Hoegaarden I stop to take a picture of the church which looms over the berm of the road.
Passing Hoegaarden and still following the track on my GPS and the numbers on the small pancardes, I ride into Hoksem, Kumtich and then cross the N3 before taking a left towards Roosbeek. Past Roosbeek and I am still riding mostly on small tarmac roads, an occasional field road section and some cobbles, and also some bigger roads. Past Butselbos and the track still goes up and down and now mostly up since I am nearing Pellinberg. In Heide I come to the point where I am back on the 48.5K route from last friday.
Now everything is 'deja-vu' and I am enjoying known roads as I venture through Pellenberg, down into Korbeek-Lo and past the Abdij van Park towards Heverlee. Arenberg is next and before long I am entering Heverleebos for a long stint on forest roads. The forest is a little bit moister than last friday but I manage to contour all the puddles and arrive at the Zoete Waters where the route officially starts. Here I see that I missed an arrow last friday and this time I include a nice section next to the railroad entering Sint Joris Weert. Into Meerdael Forest where the GPS track is a bit erronously drawn as it doesn't seem to follow the roads but just connects the interchanging node points. No worry , I know this forest like the back of my hand and I can still follow the numbered signposts.
Good solid ride and after almost 3h30mins I am back at the point where I injected myself on the route, at the Naamsesteenweg and the Weertse dreef junction.
Endomondo track
Ride Stats : 74K and 585/685 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h21mins
10129/84280
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