Ferry, France and Belgium

Wednesday early morning start around 08:00, its about an hour drive to Dover from my house, then the wait for the boat. Today's target is a small guesthouse just south of the Netherland's border to get me far enough east for a northerly run tomorrow through the Netherlands.

Google Map

Boats

My preference for a boat rather than the tunnel lucks out again, the tunnel having technical issues and although the skies look gloomy as I leave the UK it stays dry. Dover - Dunkirk is around a 2 hour sailing, enough time to read a little of Keith Floyd's autobiography - which amusingly was a chapter on him sailing across the North sea with a mate in some boat they picked up on the continent.

Open straight and reasonably empty roads in France and Belgium, I don't even remember crossing the border out of France. Immediately transitioning to short sleeves to counter the heat even though I haven't really travelled south at all. Striking wind turbines with red tripped blades which seem so much closer and larger from the Zero's wide field of view.

Gent

First real stop is in Gent, I managed to drive right into the centre of town, avoiding trams, bicycles and hopefully correctly interpreting local no entry/one way and cycles only signs. I didn't stay long but Gent itself looks like a place to re-visit in the future, plenty of character and interesting buildings.

Excellent ice-cream to help cool off while I contemplate the strange modern construction in the square opposite.

Fantastic cool and light space underneath, but also unexplained chimneys and lifts in opposite diagonal corners?

Quick wander around the cathedral, no photos allowed, but perfect to contrast the frantic noise and concerted concentration of the drive.

Headed East

Headed east again, avoiding motorways and favouring the equivalent of A roads, which let me take in the view and get back into the natural rhythm of reasonable stretches of road with towns dotted along them.

One learning - is avoid Antwerp at all costs, known for its bad traffic I think I sat in queues for a good half hour, maybe more. Hiding in the shadows of trees or lorries and the odd chat here and there about the car with passing motorists.

First interesting bridge - looks pre-fabricated, perhaps even Bailey Bridge, across a wide canal with an island in the middle.

Hotel

Got to the hotel around 18:00, which was enough driving for one day. 

I was reasonably cooked already - simply driving in the open for 6+ hours a day challenging any sun block regime. So far so good - driving is reasonably relaxed on the 'wrong' side of the road & no issues from the Zero either. The most recent change to the cooling system, map switch and map itself not showing any signs of failure.

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