Saturday 20th September 2014 - Owner was right, he picked the best spot to watch the sunrise. Beautiful. Great start to the day.
As I had planned a rest day, but didnt want to stay in smelly hostel and didn't make it to Champlon hostel last night, I decided I would pedal over there this morning and stay two nights there.
It was a short day to Champlon, only 12km.
But what a lovely 12km forest ride. I followed the road and it took me up through the forest I watched the sun rise over earlier in the morning. I actually didn't leave until about 1pm as I was enjoying the peacefulness and the sunshine and knew checking in probably wouldn't be until the afternoon anyway.
The sun was out, the smell of forest, birds singing, buzzards squawking up in the clouds above, pigs rolled in mud in the fields, it was great.
Passed a massive spiders web between two trees glistening in the sun, with the spider sitting in the middle waiting for lunch. Maybe it was a she and her name was Charlotte?
Every few hundred metres on both sides of the road were wooden boxes on stilts, with a wooden ladder up to them. Kind of like little rustic tennis umpire boxes. I guess it was to do with hunting as the forest had barriers at the fire track roads going into it and signs, not sure though.
Got to Champlon and the hostel was not open until 5pm. It was about 2pm. Sat outside in the sun on a bench, used their WiFi and route planned.
Decided to go down to the shop in the village about 4.30pm for supplies, after seeing there was a small Spar shop on Google streetview.
Got there and it had closed down! There was a bakery open beside it, so I just got an apple pastry thing, bottle of juice & box of €6 Belgian chocolates to treat myself, as I'd be leaving the country soon.
Back up the hill to the hostel, legs felt a bit tired, rest day ready!
Not many people in hostel. Guy was friendly enough. Bike locked up in a garage outside. Building a bit dated. Another big dorm to myself. Was weird place. No one staying there and only the man, his wife and friend downstairs.
Checked out routes and campsites and hostels on the internet for next few days. Caught up facebook and ate some chocolate for tea, felt sick after. Give me a bag of giant Cadburys buttons any day over the fancy chocolates.
Lay on the bed and watched the lightening and torrential rain and listened to the thunder for about 3 hours. Not really a camping night.
Felt something bite my leg and when I looked it had already swollen up. Then another couple on my feet. Uh oh, bed bugs came to mind.
Took off the quilt and just used the clean sheets and didn't get bitten any more. Had the irritating feeling of things crawling over me for the rest of the even though! Gross out.
Tomorrow won't be a rest day after all, not paying to stay here another night to be eaten alive.
Day 22 - 20.09.14
Nassogne to Champlon, Belgium
1pm to 2pm
1hr cycling
12.3km
287 metres asc
No comments:
Post a Comment