After an evening track race session, me, and I believe a lot of other racers are really filled with adrenalin and it just takes a few hours to burn it off, start to relax and then, hopefully get to sleep. That was the case last night, reading a while, tried to tune in those helpful sleep calming sounds sleep is just not happening. About 1 A.M., finally lights out. Happily, I slept through most of the night until about 7:30 or 8:00.
Up and a casual bowl of Muesli from the local grocery, Auchan, and some espresso from the sketchy Bosch Tassimo machine. Not sure I like the machine or not bit the coffee generally is good just the tiny euro sized cup. One serving is really an espresso. Running three passes through one coffee pod/disc equals a reasonable size cup of coffee. I am obviously a spoiled American.
My plan is to drive to a wonderful close by town. Actually, a small city named Ypres or Leper, depending, I think, whether you are French or Belgian. The town is in Belgium. My wife and I visited it in 2024, very scenic, old but not really. My understanding is it was almost demolished in WW II, then rebuilt after the war to look very similar to the original. I’m guessing it was rebuilt in the late 1940’s, early 1950’s. As a bonus, it is the location of one of the spring classic bike races and oh so close to the town of Kemmel and the infamous Kemmelberg cobbled climb used often in the spring classics, my favorite races ever.
I am hoping to find a rental bike to spend the day finding fun roads and cobbled climb but finding a rental bike is turning out to be a bigger challenge than I expected. I found nothing in Roubaix; all options seemed to be closed for the season. I am hoping to find a store in Ypres that I found through Google. Good luck.
Before my drive I’m doing a bit of intown sightseeing and picture taking of some of my favorite spots in Roubaix. I plan a quick stop at the track to hopefully pick up the spare track wheels I brought along to sell, no sale. I did get some great pictures though.
Navigation time in the vehicle and about an hour or so later I enter a side of Ypres I have never seen. The WW II historic Menin Gate. It is quite a sight! Just another reason to be impressed by this tow. Lots of lives were lost in battles in this part of the world and the gate is a monument to those lost souls. I wonder, as an American, how many understand the chaos of the world wars that occurred around here. This gate and there are also many graveyards around here dedicated to the dead. I keep asking myself, why are humans such greedy assholes.
I drive through the gate on cobbled roads and follow the navigation instructions which leads me to where bike rentals are supposed to happen. I just can’t see or find the place, even after making a few laps around the same few blocks. Plan B, find a spot to park for free and I find a place close to where I parked in 2024. It’s a little walk to the main square, the Flanders Fields Museum, lots of shops and cafes. Time for a lunch break at one of the numerous sidewalk cafés. A wonderful Flemish stew, salad, frites and a blonde Flemish beer in the sunshine. So nice to just sit in the sun and relax. When we were here in the spring of 2024, the weather was more “soft”, as in cool and wet.
After a relaxing hour or so time for a walk to the Menin gate just blocks away. Almost by accident I found the bike rental place inside a fun bar that probably during the race season is packed with rowdy Belgians. The supply of bikes is casual town bikes and E bikes and it’s 2:00, so a bit late to rent plus I was hoping for a racier version. I’ll need to plan better next time.
Lots of pictures done of the gate and surrounding area. I found a bookstore with a coffee and tea nook so time for espresso and a Kemmel berg crunch treat and then I’m off to find the real Kemmel berg.
Navigation gets me to the small town of Kemmel, I was here a year ago, so the roads and area look familiar. I try and find my way to the berg driving out a road I know I took last time and as I drive, I catch up with a large group of kids and instructors on bikes riding the hills around the summit. Fun to see such a huge group just out enjoying the sunshine. Eventually I get to the cobbled section, try and get some pics as my phone battery is on life support. I am so sad to not have a bike!
Now, try to get back to Roubaix, as the car’s navigation is being difficult and can’t seem to connect to Roubaix. It keeps trying to get me back to Kemmel, annoying! My phone is dead and car navigation is questionable. Good thing I started early to find my way back.
After numerous, navigation screen restarts I think I have it, the route keeps sending me to Lille not where I want to go but it is at least it’s in the same direction as Roubaix. Eventually I reach Roubaix and enter from a direction I haven’t seen before which is great. Sometimes it pays to be a bit lost. It’s rush hour so traffic is very congested and slow. I am glad for the slow as I can keep my head on a swivel looking for crazy drivers. I have only a few days left to keep this vehicle looking like new.
The first week or so in my lodging, there was no heat in the place. Chilly all the time but manageable. Wed, yesterday, while I was gone, both radiators turned on to full blast and the temp inside goes ballistic. Must have been 25 C plus when I got back to the place. Last night I went to sleep, with no covers compared to all covers I could find. When I woke up, it is still very warm. I send a message to the owners of the Airbnb, the auto reply is “We will reply within 3 hours”. Yeah, sure, I plan to wait around for that.
After a quick stop at the velodrome to grab the unsold wheel set, I’m back at the hot box, I figure out how to open the security covering and open the two big windows and then leave the entry door open. I check my email and there is a “Are you at the apartment” message, ha! I reply and then go about repacking the bike luggage and personal bag. I’m leaving tomorrow morning to get to another hotel close to the airport and I want to turn in the car early and be close so I can get checked in with Delta and be ready to leave at noon.
As I am packing a young guy arrives to check the heat issue. He sees there is a radiator control that is broken from the last renter or someone, but he has no parts to fix it. He gets one of the two radiators turned off: some but not much help. I express my displeasure, not about him, but the issue. He says he can’t help. I tell him I am leaving in the morning and as we talk he gets a phone call from maybe his boss and then tells me he will be back with a full fix. And then he is, amazing.
All packed and I make the last meal of all the food I originally bought. Now, updates to the blog docs and watching some Netflix. 10:16 P.M. Ahead of schedule.
Soon, a shower, and some reading and calming nature sounds, hoping for a good nigh sleep, last night in Roubaix.
If you have gotten this far, maybe again, you know there is a way to find a picture gallery by clicking the link below or going to MENU at the top right and scroll to the bottom to find the todays gallery page.