A day off from work and the weather looked to be hot and dry. Set out over Bierbeek and Opvelp towards Beauvechain and La Bruyere. Past the 1st Wing Airbase I picked up on the trail of the Circuit des Carrieres. Along the N240 for a short while and then turning left towards Melin and Gobertange. Some cobbles when arriving into Saint-Marie-Geest. Crossing the N29 and I was in the fields past Saint Jean Geest. The sun was out in full force and there was a dry wind blowing from the south-east. I felt a little tired from the past couple of days and the constant succession of little hills and descents, along with the wind, were taking their toll on my legs. Arriving in Pietrain I could relax a bit when following the N222 towards the northeast past Pietremeau. Turning right towards Noduwez and further on to Orp Le Grand put me in the wind again. The open landscapes offered no shadow and no remorse from the blowing wind. In Orp I stopped to take a picture of the chateau.

I remember coming here with my dad to follow the Trophee 875, a motocross racing event, in the late 90ies. Past Orp I took a left towards Petit Hallet and then right over the crest to Merdorp. I was very close to Hannut and a long way from home. The track was turning slowly towards the west now and the wind was starting to work more and more to my advantage. Past Merdorp I reached Wasseiges where the track turned around and then took a western direction to Branchon and Taviers. I was riding on the N624 and enjoying a very smooth tarmac. Past Taviers the trail took to the north and before long I was in Ramillies and under way to Bomal. The sun was starting to get to me and my bottle of drink was getting empty. I was glad to see the chateau of Dongelberg which meant I was getting closer to Incourt and indeed, after passing near the Carrieres of Dongelberg and crossing the N91, I was on my way to Longueville and Grez-Doiceau. Here the Circuit comes to its end. I rode towards Pietrebais and enjoyed the several life-size dolls on display in its streets. The theme seems to be "mariage". Next time I must stop and take some pictures. Today I was pressed to ride on because the heat was starting to get to me. My feet hurt and my bottle was nearly empty. Crossing the Chaussee de Namur and taking a small tarmac road though the fields to reach the N240, I was at the end of the Circuit. So I rode back to La Bruyere and Beauvechain, the exact opposite of earlier this morning. I was glad to arrive home where I could enjoy a nice cold drink and start my recovery from what turned out to be quite a nice ride, made tougher by the warmth and the wind in the first half. I had an average temperature of 31 degrees C, real summer heat.

Endomondo track


Ride Stats : 117K and 785 heightmeters (Garmin) in 4h13mins

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