Day 39 – Fri 18 Jul 14, Antwerp (Belgium) to Breda (Netherlands)

Forecast: 21-31 deg C, sunny; Listed distance: 60km; Actual distance: 77km; Cumulative distance: 1606km; Av speed: 16.6 km/h; Max speed: 28 km/h; Antwerp: 20 deg C; Breda: 32 deg C; Start time: 8:25am; Stop time: 2:25pm; Ride time: 4h38m

It was already fairly warm when we left the motel and even warmer when we arrived in Breda (our warmest day so far!).  Wendy had obtained all the required standpoint numbers for the route on her phone last night and therefore all we had to do was locate the first one, which we did, and away we went to the next and the next, etc.  It was an easy 10km to get clear of the city and then it was rural, forest or small towns all the way. There was not a hill to be seen anywhere, although we did have a slight headwind for most of the day.   

The dominant crop in the fields was maize, with the next being hay for silage.  We also spent a pleasant 10km on a canal path.  The only glitch was a closed road, the detour of which ended up in the middle of a traffic jam caused by too many people trying to get to a recreational lake to cool off.  We survived the heat and traffic jam and checked in to a very nice motel, Golden Tulip Keyser Breda Centre, by 2:30pm.  It's just so easy when you're not battling traffic or rough paths.  Hats off to the Belgian and Dutch cycling network.  The entry into Holland was completely seamless; there was nothing at all to indicate we had entered our seventh country for this trip. And now we are really in the land of the bicycle. 

Breda is a lovely city with lots of character and history.  Like many cities in Europe it has belonged to many countries including Spain, France, Germany, Italy and now Holland.  The city centre is a pedestrian haven with many pubs, cafés and restaurants.  The huge cathedral towers over the city.  Although it was still a warm 32 deg C at 5:30pm we enjoyed our wander around.

Before heading home we stopped off at the supermarket and bought dinner which was a prepared salad; Greg had a Caesar salad and Wendy had an Asian chicken noodle salad. Washed them down with a beer.



The Belgian cycling network signage

Room 231 Golden Tulip, Breda
Shoppin mall with Cathedral in background
Silver museum, Antwerp
The canal path today
A rather nice Dutch country house
Shopping Mall Breda
St Anthony's Cathedral
Cafe scene, Breda

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