Hey There,
Now seems like a good time to update since time is of the essence and my Italian life is somewhat become the distant past. I've been living the Belgian life recently where brootjes, beer, bellies, and maybe the blues are in full availability here. The italian hills and winding roads are replaced by concrete slabs that i would think were just as inconvenient to build as they are to ride on. Not only do they create a slit in the middle of the road the same size as a road wheel, every 10 or so meters one slab ends and a new begins, and this you can feel constantly when riding a bike. Another thing that quite contrasts italy is the coffee shops, actually you may as well get a waffle (or 5) for the price of a coffee or tea. In my downtime, coffee shops are usually where i get my day dreaming done, but here in the Tielt-Winge there are none. There is however a Disco-tech. Also on the positive, i think you could say we're friends (?) is the doctor 1.2km down the road. He works out of his house, on my way home from a ride, i swung on in, i'd caught him taking out the recycling, and briefed me on my values. It's a small town feel here in Belgium, i can't imagine how they keep busy with their little hills, little bakeries, brasseries and campgrounds in the 'woods'. They could, however, teach us N. Americans a thing or two about public composting.
Maybe you're woundering why i'm spending so much time in Belgium. I started this trip with Vlaanderen, i should say is one of Belgiums finest events i've attended. And cobbles are really something to get used to, they can shake you up pretty good on the bike. Another thing, is the women racing bikes around here want to win and can get pretty fiesty about it. The culture difference couldn't be more noticable at these races, my thought is it's really a skill to keep yourself in the front of the bunch, it's also a risk. You must multi-task, and be very aware. For those non-europe racing readers, let me brief you on my experience. As soon as the race starts, actually before the race starts 160+ women, and at these races they're all pretty strong women, would like to be in the front of the bunch, the ones in the back also miraculously want to be in the front. Most of them willing to do almost anything to achieve this, like bad, bad bike handling and cutting people off, or riding up the gravel then suddenly jumping back infront of you all while dodging parked cars, signs, reflector bubbles, also, the road splits, the round abouts, not to mention meridians separating the bike paths and the actual road. Even though we race on a full enclosed road, the bike paths are still up for grabs so long as there are no pedestrians or leisurely cyclists riding on them. So one would ride these bike paths despite no draft from the peleton purely to move up in the bunch. Not to even mention crashes that happen about every 45 minutes, if you're not caught in the pile up, then it's some kind of sick race to get past the people flailing on the road back up to the peleton. It seems caotic, and when it's flat the group doesn't always separate like in climbing races, this type of caos can last 3-4 hours. For me, knowing full well accidents can and do happen, these races need to be raced at 100 or 99% good health. And i would say having a stomach flu is about... 30% good health, and that's all i should say about that. I'm so very sorry to one specific team mate that saw me in the bathroom in the night, i certainly was not at my best - i owe you something nice! So that my friends is the long story to why i am in Belgium. At this point, i'll keep on the journey and hoping for better health next time!
My next stop is Maastricht, that will be the official start to my Dutch life, it will be nice to learn about my heritage i do suppose. I really do think Maastricht is a really nice place. Don't eat a full box of 'truffles' though, and only with a sound mind and a good mood ;o)
Alison
