Bastogne - Belgium: FIRST REST DAY

Hello again after a week's absense! And what a week!!! I don't know quite where to begin! I am in a Belgium Interent Cafe which has really bad key boards - the key says it does one thing and then it does another, so please excuse any mistakes!

Thank you so much for your comments, they are wonderful to receive! The ride thus far has been tough, but I think I am getting into the swing of things now. Fortunately, my fears that I would have to ride in the support van (which follows behind the train of cyclists) has not been realised! I've managed to keep well out of that van!

We've covered more distance thean we were meant to - mostly due to the occassional wrong turn.

On Sunday we left London from the Embankment Gardens at about 3pm and rode about 34 kilometres to Dartford. Many other London cyclists accompanied us until Greenwich, then only we continued. We all had to get to know each other on the go, which was great, because it gave us something to do while cycling. We're all wearing emerald green vests over our T)Shirts and with one green van just in front of us and the red van behind us, we look like a family of birds flying across Europe.

Monday(Dartford to Dunkirk) was only meant to be about 96 km, but turned into 118.06! This was due to wrong information about where the ferry from, Dover would drop us off in Dunkirk. We ended up being much further out of the city than we thought. It began to rain on this day, and I'm afraid it has not stopped. The Peace Cycle brought the rain from England and are carrying it across Belgium. All my instincts tell me to take a rain check on cycling, but the ride must go on! And let me assure you - it is as cold, if not colder, here than in Brisbane right now! I am wearing thermals! The 'heat wave' left as I came to Europe (if it ever even existed!).

Tuesday (Dunkirk to Gent) was about 123 km. We stayed in a Formula One Hotel - very appropriate - and ate Japanese food which was prepared by a local group in remebrance of Hiroshema and Nagasaki.

Wednesday (Gent to Brussels) was shorter - 75.27 km - though we had to ride quickly due to a media event in Brussels. That night I stayed in a nun's congregation with three other girls on the Cycle. It was very peaceful and lovely - we each had a room of our own on the fourth floor of this old building. There were nuns from the Congo, Rwanda and India, as well as the locals. They were all very kind, and altogether I think this was the best accommodation so far! :)

Thusday (Brussels to Namur) was also fairly short - 71.06km. I was interviewed on this day - having an Australian on the Cycle seems to be very exciting for journalists! I've been interviewed a few times now and so I'm slowly consolidating what I say to them! It was quite awkward at first!

Yikes! I must go! Cafe closing!!