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BELGUIM RALLY 2009
Belgium and Holland 2009

Mark, Sandra, Dave and Kate have just returned from their recent tour of the Lowlands of Europe. It started with the long ride to Dover on Thursday, where we boarded the evening ferry to Dunkerque, arriving around 9.30 pm CET. Reaching our Hotel for the night at 10ish we found all the bars closed (not a good start to a rally weekend)



Following a good breakfast we set off for the joint Belgian/Dutch rally site, some 20 miles north east of Antwerp. It wasn't the biggest site i've been to, in fact it was probably the smallest! but hey it was behind a bikers bar and the local beer was only! E1.70 for half a pint. There were plenty of folk from the UK as well as some Danes and even a group from Columbia.



The planned ride out didn't seem much with only a pee stop, so the 4 of us rode into Antwerp for a looksy.

 



Sunday was a leisurely morning packing up and travelling on up to Amsterdam, set up the tents and get some drinks in.
The Tram system here is brill so the bikes stayed where they were for the next 2 days.

Monday was the 5th hot sunny day so we enjoyed seeing the hot spots of Amsterdam, with the obligatory canal boat trip and gentle stroll down the red light district.



Kate and I had planned to visit my cousin who lives near The Hague, so I rang her on Monday evening to arrange, only for her to call back an hour later to tell us they were having a massive thunder storm and it was heading our way. So out come all the Guy ropes and all perishables went into the inner tent and we sat outside drinking and enjoying what was left of a nice warm evening. Then the sky turned a funny shade of pinky-orangey-grey, we heard, no we saw the wind coming and the thunder and lightning started at about 11.00 and it was continuous right above us till about 6.00. As they said in the old beer ad
"I've never known a night like it! (and I aint looking forward to the journey home neither)"
 


Rain Tuesday so a good day to visit the Anne Franke museum and the van Gogh museum, unfortunately everybody else thought so too. Still, the day ended with a velly nice meal in the Sea Parace froating chinese lestaulant, and some more drinks back at the tents.



Nice weather returned for Thursday so we enjoyed a ride to Edam, Volendam and over the Houtrib dyke, 20 miles of road with nothing but water either side.



The long ride back to Dunkerque was broken with a stop in the very old and picturesque city of Brugge, one of lifes must visits.



Thank you Mark and Sandra for your very good company (and sat nav)

Dave