I was home just before 4pm and I had figured out I had about 2h30 to ride before the sun would be down. So I set out on the Litespeed for an offroad ride. The plan was vaguely to ride to Grez-Doiceau because I had an errand to do there, and from there I would just follow the direction of my front wheel.
Arriving in Hamme Mille and then making my way to Bossut and further to Gottechain, preferring offroad connections to the faster tarmac roads. From Gottechain the connection to Grez was easily made. My errand done I rode on to Cocrou and then did the long ascent towards the Ferme de la Sarte. 60 heightmeters in one go. I then descended into Heze and further down to Bonlez. Another climb to make my way to the Golf de Bercuit and from there down to Dion and up again on the ridge that would bring me to Gastuche. Here I crossed the Chaussée de Wavre to start my last big ascent towards Ottenburg. The sun was gone by now and it was time to head home. Following the Overijse Red BLOSO route down into Florival and then into the Bois de Hocaille for anothe rclimb over another ridge to get to Nethen. Here I could disappear into the Meerdael Forest. It was getting pretty dark under the trees but I could still see where I was going. I didn't want to do any more tarmac because I didn't have lights so I stayed in the forest until I reached Vaalbeek where I briefly followed the road to Blanden. Back into the fields and into the forest for the last stretch home. Just in time before it really was dark and with a good ride under my belt.

Ride Stats : 47K and 545/595 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 2h33mins

8284/84930