It was again getting colder today with an unpleasant northerly wind forcing me into the forest. Not that I minded because the cold also stiffened the trails, and the mud was almost gone. I decided on a perimeter ride starting out along the Blanden and Haasrode rim of the Meerdael Forest. When I reached the Valduc plains I ventured into those until I reached Mille. Then I returned along the Valduc estate - admiring the 700 year old taxus in their garden - before venturing into Meerdael Forest again.

The wind was freezing and I cut the ride a little shorter than I had originally planned. Instead of adding the Kouterbos and Heverlee Bos perimeters I stayed into Meerdael Forest, grazing Nethen and Sint Joris Weert before returning alongside the Weertse Dreef and the outskirts of Vaalbeek. The air tasted of dust, probably caused by the smog alert that has been initiated since yesterday. The northeasterly wind brings along some very fine dust particles from the German Ruhr area and beyond. Not very healthy but I didn't ride fast enough to cause heavy breathing. Instead I focussed on a relaxed tempo just enough to break a sweat under my Gore Tex clothing.

Ride Stats : 24K and 230/250 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 1h25mins

795/8500