Gent, Belgium Day 4 - leaving back to the UK
Still in Gent but we need to get to Calais by 16:00 for the ferry crossing. I for the first time enjoyed a fantastic sleep and no wonder with the drugs in my system.
There was still a faint hint of some throbbing… but nothing like it had been.
Grizz and I decided to go back into the centre of Gent to buy some chocolates and go back to the “Chat Noir” for a breakfast.
There were one or two places we wanted to take pics of and we were also keen to go and check out the market that they have in the square!
Bikes parked in front of the restaurant!
Unfortunately it was too early – and no shops were open – so we merely walked around for a few hours.
Well to say that I’ve been to a few markets before would be an understatement. To say that this market in Gent was the best ever – would also be an understatement……………………….
IT WAS MIND-BLOWING!!
Food, clothing, sweets – you name it………… and affordable quality like I have never seen before……… WOW………. I need another day here !
They have these huge trucks – pull up and the sides convert totally to offer any sort of shop-front that you want.
I suppose it was just as well that we were here on bikes. My Credit card would probably have short-circuited from over-use.
The food stuff was just too nice for words and rather than remain tempted, we decided to take to the road!
(
No we’d not forgotten the chocolates……….. in fact we waited patiently for the shop to open, only to find that the Coffee Beans we’d specifically wanted – were sold out! Bugger!!)
All too soon we knew we’d have to start the final leg of the journey.
Mainly as we’d have no clue as to road conditions and we’d need to get to Calais at least an hour before the ferry leaves.
We are also very strict with ourselves and have constantly kept to the speed limits – not being able to afford any altercation with the law.
Final Route – GENT to CALAIS via DUNKIRK – approximately 160km
One thing’s for certain…… people here know how to drive!
The 3 lanes available on the freeways are used as they should be. Drivers stay in the far right-hand lane. To overtake you move to the centre lane, do the overtaking manoeuvre and move back to the right lane again. Trucks are NOT allowed in the Fast lane on the extreme left… they are limited to the middle lane, which means that faster vehicles and bikes can have a free run in clear lane to overtake and position yourself without the fear that some horrible twat will hog the fast lane………….
This is something of a pet-hate for me in SA!
The speed limit was mainly 110km/hr with some stretches allowing 120 & 130km/hr. We had total free-running all the way to Calais and apart from very strong cross winds on the stretch from Dunkirk – the road was exceptionally good and pleasant to ride.
We arrived in Calais with time to spare and decided to visit the Cité Europe to do some last minute shopping for the girls.
Just here I nearly lost my mind………… I’m a fanatical cheese lover and could not believe the selection of meat, cheese, chocolates and yummy stuff on offer. I ended up buying €66.00 worth of food and somehow crammed it into the panniers with the spill-over left in a bag and tied onto the back seat.
Grizz and I then bought a fresh sliced French bread with some Emmental cheese, French Salami & Dutch Salami……. We ended up sitting in the middle of the massive mall like two total Bergies – placed an open newspaper on a bench and promptly proceeded in making the biggest and most scrumptious sandwiches you have ever seen.
MY BEK WATER NOU AL WEER!!!
Needless to say – we got all kind of looks but Grizz is another vark………… he just does not give a hooligans about what they thought of us! Jinne those were so nice that after we finished the bread…. I went back and bought another one to take home!
Grizz has some pics here – I was far too busy munching to worry about a silly camera!
Arrived in the P&O Ferry terminal….. only to strike a bonus. They booked us onto the earlier ferry with no additional cost. Bargain as it would give us decent time to get home and sort out the kit.
Onboard………….. we also met some Germans – all on BMW’s (2 guys & 3 ladies I seem to remember) who were going to tour the UK……… obviously we extended an invitation to them and made it clear that if they loved riding…. And wanted to really enjoy their bikes… that a trip & tour of “Sud Afrika” was a must! They seemed keen – hopefully we planted a seed?
Leaving Calais……………..
Arriving in Dover………
The all too famous White Cliffs of Dover!
We had an hour’s ride back to Rochester where Grizz lives (actually St. Mary’s Hoo) and managed to open the throttle slightly. This time riding on the left-side of the road came easy….. but it’s still a mindset thing!
Arrived back – sorted out the kit and was treated with a nice cup of coffee before forcing myself to get on the bike and do the last 40 miles back home to Petts Wood
Our first ride to Europe turned out far better than I’d hoped it would.
It’s definitely a different type of riding to what is found in SA or even the UK. People in France & Belgium are extremely bike-friendly and it’s a safe and pleasurable place to explore on two wheels.
The history in Europe is something else……….. here they truly value, maintain and remember – not try and destroy everything that “they” did not create. An eye-opener for a Saffer………. also sad as so much of SA’s history is intertwined with Europe……… but not appreciated enough.
Grizz old mate – a huge big thank you for coming with. :thumleft: :thumleft:
It was fun and a moerse learning curve.
Let’s plan the next one!! :thumleft:
Thanks to all you long-suffering readers for my ranting’s with this lengthy post!
