Another long road trip today on our way back to Antwerp / Brussells. The roads were fast (speed limit on some of the roads was 130 km)! It is amazing how one can speed up and down the mountains in a tight formation passing trucks and cars with a big smile on your face – yes that was me!
We started out at the usual time 8:30 and all I can think of is Miles Ross always wanting to leave early on my other motorcycle trips and you know what I was ready to go a lot earlier than 8:30! LOL
Mich is a great leader and it seems he knows when it is time to stop when the bikers are getting restless! I am sure he is too though with two up on his bike. A few stops and we had some music playing on some of the bikes but nothing crazy. I keep forgetting my USB cord to attach it to the radio system and have not had music while riding for the past couple of days. With going up and down the mountains the radio reception is terrible and of course the wind whipping us around didn’t help either.
The wind was crazy the gusts were terrible in the morning but it evened out more during the day. Today we drove over the Beil bridge and the view was absolutely spectacular. I had put the camera in my saddlebag as it was really too windy to try to ride and take pictures today and thought if it is in the saddlebag I will not be tempted to use it – boy do I wish I could have. Fortunately Melonie Monk was behind me and she actually took pictures of me riding on the bridge which is too cool (yes she was the passenger on her husbands Chris’s bike). We could see the village below and the span of valleys you can’t possibly describe! I believe by riding on the bridge instead of going through the valleys we saved approximately one hour of riding – which today we really needed.
We arrived at the hotel around 7:00 in time to enjoy a beer before supper! Supper was at the hotel within stepping distance which is awesome as we are all getting worn out. The meals they serve for the cost is really unbelievable, quiche loraine, wine, a fish and potato main course (delicious) and then the chocolate dessert (very rich and I only took one bite)!
A lot of memories were spoken about at the table tonight and some laughter too! Tomorrow is the last day on the bike and everyone will scatter to their own countries and back to reality. It will be another long ride and I hope we get in for me to at least enjoy some of downtown Brussels tonight. I willl be on my own from Antwerp on the train and then walk to the hotel – thank God someone invented wheels on suitcases!!
