Hello,
Just came back from a weekend away in the Belgian Ardennes, mainly to go and watch some classic bike racing at Spa (Bikers Classics) and catch some Katana's there, so throught I do a little write up and post a few pictures! I went on my own, mainly because to be honest, it's a bit out of my comfort zone (so like to push myself) and no-one I normally ride with wants to camp, but I like it. I did the same trip last year. I had changed all wheel bearing this year (rear were getting a little rough so did when wheels off for tyres to be fitted), put on new Road 5 Trail tyres and changed the oil last week - all ready to go.
Anyway caught the tunnel Friday morning (a hour delay - anyone use the tunnel and found over the last 3-4 years they always seem to have delays now, used to be fine before then). Normally I head down the A26 in France to Cambrai then do the back roads from there, but this time I fancied a change and planned on going around Brussels (calling in at the Atomium) and then south from there. That was a mistake! Around Ghent I had a few miles of splitting traffic, then it freed up and then a few miles before the Brussels ring it snarled up again and really for the whole trip around Brussels (clockwise) it was nearly all lane splitting - I was grateful for the hazards in the 650 which were on most of the time. I use Here.WeGo as a satnav on the phone (mainly for speed than anything) but the app crashed outside Brussels and I couldn't be bothered to stop to reset it, so I did it from memory, which is interesting as the signs pointing to places I knew, Liege & Namur (the French names as in Wallonia) were given the Flemish names, Luik and Namen (which I wasn't 100% sure on so took a flyer). Anyway I didn't get lost and found my way off at the correct junction. Due to the delay at the tunnel and the traffic I didn't stop at the Atomium as I didn't want to be too late with the tent – maybe next time.
I camped near La Roche-en-Ardennes rather than at the circuit and had pre-booked a pitch at a small site (
http://www.camping-beaureve.be/en/) that did breakfast (can't be bothered taking the cooking stuff on the bike, I have my limits!) and small bar area for some Belgian Beer.
So tent up, I was just going to get the bike gear on to head into town for some food, when the Dutch bloke from the caravan next door came over and said if I wanted tea thy had cooked too much and I was welcome to join them, which I did and had a pleasant 1.5 hours with them having a chat, before needing to go and get some beer at the site bar (they were wine drinkers…). I guess this is one of the advantages of travelling alone, in that you are more likely to talk to others, rather than just your group.
Next day, I had picked a roundabout trip to Spa to enjoy some roads first. I did a quick tourist visit of the “Grottes de Hotton” (caves in Hotton!) before going through, Durbuy, Hamoir, Comblain-au-Pont, Remouchamps, Stourmont (road to there very good!), then Francorchamps and the circuit.
So watched the racing, saw some Katana’s and lots of other nice bikes. You can pay €10 and do 2 parade laps, but I didn’t opt for that, but maybe next time. bloke Martin was part of the Team Classic Suzuki in the endurance race (he was on their Katana last year, but a GSXR this year). Left at about 8pm for the 30 mile evening ride back to the campsite, which after a day of about 30 degrees, was very pleasant.
Sunday morning was up and packed up and left by 9. I decided against the satnav and just used the map (on the tank) so I could be a bit flexible. Plan was head to Rochefort, then Dinant, up the road the Abbaye de Maredsous (great road if not behind a car), through the old Mettet road circuit, up to Charleroi, then motorway to Ypres (or Ieper if you prefer) for lunch and seeing how many beers I could fit in the room left in the top box (6) together with chocolate and biscuits for the missus.
Quick blat across to the A25 motorway in France and then to Calais where Eurotunnel again managed to have delays (arrived at 15:50 for 16:50 train and finally got on it at about 17:45, of which all the time was spent in the baking sun as no shade. There were some “Outlaw” riders in the queue and it nearly got ugly at one point (as they delayed us getting on the train)! Actually there were about 43 HOG riders (as opposed to Hells Angels / Outlaws etc) and as I was a lone Suzuki amongst them, I did start up a conversation with one couple who were very pleasant and as we were on the train next to each other it carried on there as well, again probably as I was on my own rather than in a group. It was interesting as I probably have fairly stereo typical views of Harley riders (having never talked to them before!) but this encounter has changed those. They told me quite a bit about the differences between them (Enthusiasts) and Hells Angels / Outlaws (club), etc. and even how the Hells Angel’s types wouldn’t generally talk to the HOG people.
Finally back on UK soil it was just a question of splitting the traffic the 7 miles or so before the Dartford crossing (old hand now after Brussels!) before on to Norwich (where the nearest motorway is about 90 miles away. All in all a good little trip, and old 45k mile 2004 Wee did me proud, with no issues.
Rob
Images:
Campsite near La Roche-en_Ardennes
River Ourthe near Comblain-au-pont
Sherman tank at La Roche-en-Ardennes
The Start / Finish of the old Mettet road circuit
Ypres Cloth Hall (rebuilt after the first world war)
