Leaving Bruges we head southeast, toward Ghent, following yet another gorgeous and impressively flat canal. We enter Ghent during a rainstorm, and the city glistens with the stormy weather. By the time we are ready to explore the city the weather has lifted and we are blessed with a spectacular sunset. the next day dawns bright and sunny, and we enjoy the first clear weather in some time, as we thread the needle between the metropolises of Brussels and Antwerp to the cathedral town of Mechelen, but not before an accident threatens to derail our trip.
If you’re interested in checking out our planned route, we’ve included a link below. Bear in mind that we took deviations from time to time which might not be shown here, but this is 99% accurate!
https://www.komoot.com/tour/2712955948?share_token=aeq7TIKLO4dmhXXQ47i1Bsck7K9vnfXHdiU2jdkLysMbJ4oC10&ref=wtd
Music
Ever Forward – Francis Wells
Epidemic Sound
Occurrence – Martin Gauffin
Epidemic Sound
Petals – Staffan Carlen
Epidemic Sound
Tall Tale – Trevor Kowalski
Epidemic Sound
The View – Johan Glossner
Epidemic Sound
Folds – Anders Schill Paulsen
Epidemic Sound
The Only Way Out – Dian Shuai
Epidemic Sound
34 Comments
Question! What bike is Julianna riding?
What is the trunk bag that Juliana is using? Thanks.
Wow! 😮 My jaw literally dropped when I saw your Ghent shots ❤🇧🇪 Thanks 👏
Well done…..wondering if you traveled the ROMANTIC ROAD TO ITALY…..SO FAR , TRAVELING THE ROUTE I did .
A great journey thanks for doing it.
Glad Nadia does not have any permanent injuries
WP
Wow!! Glad it turned out all right. We never know do we. Thanks for the video and take care, Al
Thank you for another motivational video. We have enjoyed this series and it has inspired us to begin making plans fir our iwn bike adventure thru Europe. What bicycles are you both riding this trips and what is your front and rear pannier setup please..
Great video, thanks! We love the EU too as bike tourists. Rode Eurovelo 15 from Lake Constance to Amersterdam. With only 18 days to ride we hopped on the train sometimes that paralleled the route and zip ahead to the next city. Loved the EV15 and the trails along the Rhine River. So mellow, easy, plenty of places to stop and eat. We used gravel bikes with a handlebar bag, and two small rear panniers. If anyone is thinking about it, DO IT! Easy logistics, Schiphol airport in Amsterdam even sells bike boxes in the luggage area, and they gave us tape. They love cyclists over there.
We are glad Nadia was not badly hurt. It would be very helpful if you described what you USA folks do for overseas medical insurance and evacuation coverage. I can't recall, is Nadia a European or USA resident? How was payment for medical service handled? What would have different if she was a USA resident? My wife and I did a 30 day bike camping tour in Normandy this summer. Since we were both 70 our overseas medical insurance and evacuation coverage expense really jumped up. When we were 68 it was $9/day, now $14/day. I recall watching your planning a trip video while we were doing our planning. But I don't recall any tips on insurance and how to prepare for medical problems while overseas. Thank you for all these wonderful videos, they are so helpful to us.
J'adore Julianna, toujours des paroles sages, de bonne humeur et souriante. Pauvre Nadia qui n'a pas vu le poteau…c'est dangereux, heureusement rien de grave mais traumatisant et ennuyeux de gérer la logistique à l'étranger….Gand est une belle ville. Curieuse de voir la suite, à bientôt.
It's interesting how in Belgium you really can see how towns spread before the use of any mechanized locomotion. It's a one day walk between the bigger cities: Bruges, Ghent, Brussels, Antwerp, Kortrijk,… And when you walk that route for a day you'll find yourself in the bigger towns around noon. And again smaller towns in the middle of those for a smaller stop.
Wow! Glad she's ok! I know those poles are there for a reason, but just one look away, disaster. I think I nipped one myself, but with just minor results. She's lucky, it could have been worse. I was wondering the title said near disaster. Thank you Roland
Those street car tracks give me the heebiejeebies.
Nice shots. Watch out for those tramrails in the rain, they can ruin your day.
I’m jealous
What outfit would you recommend for a couple who cycle regularly , but would like a 14 day cycle tour somewhere in Europe?
Dendermonde is not a villagen it is a city
Another fabulous video with beautiful flora, fauna, and architecture! 😮 Nadia! The music build up had us knowing something bad was about to happen. Happy it wasn’t worse. Those rails looked scary, especially with the rain. As always, we look forward to watching your adventures. Congrats on your grand baby! 💜
Lucky ducks ❤
This looks amazing. I'm from the UK, so very used to the rain but I have been working in Saudi Arabia for 8 years now, so don't get to see all that greenery anything like enough!
I was lucky enough to cycle down through Italy, in March, from Rome to Calabria and then I cycled around Sardinia in October.
I've only been travelling light with Bikepacking bags so far but I've just bought a full on touring bike and I've been reliably informed that Santa is bringing me a complete Ortlieb set of front and rear panniers, plus a Rack-Pack bag. It looks like your bags are Ortlieb too? How are you finding them?
Great video. I hope I can raise my game with my videos to anything like yours for my channel.
Subscribed.
Can we find the route on Komoot?
Dutch names: Boerenwormkruid, duizendblad, Sint Jacobs kruid, wilgenroosjes are some of the flowers you filmed.
You captured the essence very well. The biking along the river Schelde is one of the most beautiful in Belgium. I live nearby and biked this countless times and it never gets boring. The light is always different summer winter sun or rain.
Glad she's OK but I'm assuming she didn't continue with the tour? Will have to find out next time. A good habit to build when riding in a group in BE/NL is the first person to pass the pole shouts it out, so everyone else at least know its there. Loved the shots of Ghent and surroundings, I went through it in May on my way to do the Flandrien Challenge so I recognised some of it and I also used the railway parallel routes they have there, very efficient but can get annoying with all the side switching lol
I really enjoyed this video. I live in Antwerpen and I know the trails you've been cycling very good.
I hope Juliana is doing well and I wish her a smooth recovery.
These poles in the middle of bycicle trails are really horrible and dangerous, we know they are there, but still get surprised by them, especially when you ride in group, you don't always see these obstacles. Sometimes it's concrete blocks instead of poles, so beware. Take care of each other and warn each other for every obstacle.
I hope this incident doesn't put you off to continue your trip.
I'm looking forward to the rest of your adventures. Take care and have fun!
Steven
Dear Roland, dear Julianna,
thank you for your great videos. It’s a pleasure seeing you enjoying every minute of your trip. As a cyclist and bikepacker as well I am curious if I can find your routes somewhere on a platform, such as Strava maybe. Looking forward hearing from you.
Take care, safe travels and enjoy every second. We are all privileged being able to travel like we do!!!
Cheers, Georg
Hi,
I am a bicycle touring guy my self, going on my 13th year the coming summer.
Nice work with the video. What program do you use to cut and glue it all together?
What year is your/this Europe tour?
Glad that Nadia is doing well. Thanks for showing us Ghent…. absolutely gorgeous! Hope the rest of your trip goes well. Also, have a wonderful Christmas!
Life is like a bike ride adventure. Sometimes you get knocked down but you get up again.
una verdadera porqueria el doblaje.
le he quitado el sonido porque me da vergüenza ajena a le traducción. Una mierda, mejor dejar sin sonido.
Thank you for sharing your bicycle adventures. You do such a wonderful job of presenting them. My partner and I been at it for over 25 years with annual bike tours, most of them being to Europe so I can well understand the charms of cycling there. I’m happy that Nadia wasn’t seriously injured; things can change very rapidly while underway. I’m 71 and hope to do as many more tours as possible.
Better than Rocky Ford cantaloupes?