Antwerp

I'd planned to have a rest day in a couple of days time, but Antwerp seemed quite happening so I decided to stay a day. The beauty of making it up as you go along eh!

Rather than rest as I should, I've managed instead to walk miles and miles following a tour route on a free map. It was well worth it, even if my legs are even more tired than before! Great city.

I also thought I'd give an insight into how I'm doing the cycle trip as it might not be very clear. I'm riding a lightweight road bike, with about 10kg of luggage in a pair of bags hung over the back wheel. Basically- one change of clothes, snacks, basic tools, toiletries and a few bits and pieces.

I'm staying in youth hostels to keep the cost down and meet people, and trying to ride about 80 miles a day, though this is often more, just because of the distance between hostels. They vary from modern quiet ones where I might have a dorm room to myself, to the current 16 bed bed-bug-ridden dive with no curtains, where midnight is an early night it seems. Takes what you finds.

I also need about an extra 2,000 calories a day from the riding apparently- so just have big meals and lots of carb based snacks. I try not to stop too often as it ruins the flow, but take pics and videos as I go.

Holland tomorrow!