I felt a bit tired this morning, yesterdays' ride had been fast and I did not feel fully recuperated. Still , I had a day off from work and I wanted to do another ride today, so around 1pm I rode out. I had this crazy idea to ride all the way to Ottignies- Louvain La Neuve. It is quite some distance for a winter ride but I decided to give it a go. If I felt it would be too much I could cut the ride short at a couple of places. It was only 3 degrees today and a nasty wind was blowing from the west. From time to time I could feel some rain or snow on my face.  But I was wearing enough protection and rode through Meerdael forest towards Sint Joris Weert and then over Nethen towards Pecrot and Archennes. Here I was surprised by some colorful vegatation . The snow had melted and the grass looked a bit dull and lifeless. But the colors in these trees - yellow and tints of red - had in them the promise of spring. I stopped and took a picture.

From Archennes I crossed the N25 and rode through Dion, Dion Valmont and Dion le Val. Crossing the road from Wavre to Perwez I made my way over some VERY BAD cobbles towards the outskirts of Corroy Le Grand before turning right and riding into Louvain La Neuve. Here, on the Boulevard Baudouin 1er I saw the red relic of an old cyclotron and took another picture. 

Dropping down into Ottignies, with the Bois des Reves on my right, I knew I stll had a long way to go. Crossing Ottignies and Limelette then passing the Walibi parc in Bierges, I had a long climb ahead of me towards the centre of Bierges. From here I followed the old markings of the Maleizen organised ride. They brought me towards Rosieres and then I crossed the language border and I was back in Overijse and Flanders.. Into Tombeek, then towards Terlanen and Sint Agatha Rode. I had the wind in my back now - at last - and it was easier to ride the bike now. From Sint Joris Weert I rode towards the Zoete Waters and then over Vaalbeek back into Blanden. Quite a ride and I was very pleased when I arrived home again. Just goes to show that you can do more than you think. All you need is some courage and go for it.

Ride Stats : 65.5K and 520/585 heightmeters (Polar/Garmin) in 3h11mins

1025/11020