It was raining quite hard as I rose early to be first in for breakfast a little after 6:00. I ate well, packed, and left the hotel at about 7:30. There were two gentle climbs to negotiate out of Lille and into Roubaix, where I picked up the Roubaix Canal and left France.
Immediately after crossing into Belgium, the cycle trails improved. I enjoyed a long, but steady day, riding mostly along canals and well-maintained cycle paths to Antwerp. The only mishap was that I was feasted on by midges, and arms and hands today are covered by red lumps that are itching like mad. I made good time, covering the 88 miles to Antwerp in a little over 10 hours.
I had ridden just short of 500 miles and climbed over 4000 metres in the past 7 days, so I was most affronted by the barman who refused to believe that I had cycled from Lille that morning.
After some much needed R+R, we are ready to head to The Netherlands tomorrow, where we will be travelling through Operation Market Garden territory, the next major Allied airborne assault of the Second World War after Overlord.
The Trick Cyclist 