Day 14, September 6, 2012 Antwerp to Leuven mileage 42.2, total mileage: 427.6

This is Paul and Paul.  The "other" Paul is the host of the B&B Because the Night.  What a great place!  The set up and location were perfect.  The other Paul said we were the only Americans who had not complained of all the steps to the 3rd floor.  The steps in old (and around here, old is really old) were made to fit the space.  The golden ratio was a consideration for other places!

 This line of red bikes are the same as many other lines of red bikes.  They are bikes for hire and are most cost effective when used for 30 minutes.  Somehow locations were determined to be 30 minutes apart when pedaled by a very average individual in traffic.  Not a bad idea.

"You shake my nerves and you rattle my brain"  When Jerry Lee Lewis sang these words he was singing about falling in love.  He could have been singing about riding on Belgium block.  It also loosens your teeth and bounces everything else.








Today was a ride of two extremes.  When we reached the Schedle River there was a lot of shipping, but it also marked the beginning of former industrial parks.  The riding was fine, but the scenery was worn out and unused.  When we finally turned away from this section (in Hoboken, Belgium!) we began riding through well kept homes, then farms and finally to the along rivers and canals.

 This the steeple in Menchelen.  Two things happened here for us.  First, I finally passed a fabric and yarn shop.  The owner and I chatted for a few minutes and since all of her fabric came from the US, I did not purchase any.  And since I had a knitting project in my bag, as beautiful as some of her yarn was, I left empty handed.  It still felt good to see all that fabric and yarn.  This is where we started riding along the Leuven-Dijle Kaanal.  It was a paved path all the way to Leuven.

 Towards the end of the canal, we stopped for break and tried some Belgium beer.  While we sat on the terras, we watched a barge go through the lock-they call it a sluice-and it was interesting to watch.

We pedaled through all the new housing in Leuven, turned a corner and suddenly this Gothic building was in front of us.  This is City Hall.  There is certainly nothing like this at home. In addition to all the statues in the alcoves, there are fresh flowers hanging out of the second story windows.

 We found our way to our hotel and ended up on the top floor.  This place had a lift, although Paul brought the tandem up to the first floor for safe keeping and these stairs were in keeping with the old building theme of narrow and twisty.  This is the view out of our window.  Incredible!

We had a delicious Belgium dinner at an outdoor restaurant not far from our hotel.  Another great day on the extravaganza.