Antwerp, Belgium

We are getting SO excited! Today we traveled by train from Bruges to Brussels and then met our group at the Brussels airport. Tomorrow Le Tour begins!

Our group will be led by four guides/bike experts who represent Custom Getaways. Erik, Sandra, Nico, and Tomas will be our eyes and ears as we go behind the scenes of the Tour de France. They picked us up in Brussels and drove us to Antwerp where we will stay at the Leopold Hotel for two nights. The hotel is very nice, right across from a major city park, and in the middle of this diverse European center.

When we arrived in our rooms, there was a Tour de France backpack for each of us that contained some very cool stuff. We each got a white Tour de France/Custom Getaways t-shirt, a yellow TdF shirt, a bike jersey and matching bike shorts, a water bottle, and the official Tour de France programme. It was like Christmas. We each tried on our “kit” which contains a jersey and matching shorts and we’ll show you pictures in a few days. It’s quite a picture!

Once we got settled in Antwerp we were assigned our bikes and given help in setting them up. Steve got a fast looking Kuota Kebel in blue and white. He says it will probably lead him to buying a new (more expensive) bike when we get home. Marnie got a brand new bike which the staff assembled as we watched. It’s a Ridley (a Belgium bike, of course) with a white seat and white rimmed tires. It probably won’t be white when we are finished! We didn’t have time to go out for a ride today, but tomorrow we’ll get plenty of miles under our tires. Both of us have signed up for the “long” ride which will be about 75 km, which is about 46 miles.

Up in Rotterdam, about an hour’s drive away, they are getting set up for the Tour de France prologue. Tomorrow we will cycle north towards the race and then watch the big event up close and personal.

After our bike fittings we went back to the hotel to watch the Netherlands kick the butt of Brazil in the World Cup. It was a surprise win for many, but Steve was wearing his bright orange “Holland” jersey, so he knew they would win.He is now officially part of the “orange army” as they are being called in the media. Considering where we are, it was fun to be in the middle of it all.

Our group is about 16 people from across the globe. We have 4 Australians, 3 Greeks, and Americans from across the USA. As we get to know everyone, we’ll fill you in. Needless to say, it’s been fun so far.

We have to be up and ready to ride early tomorrow morning, so we’ll sign off now. (And, no, Steve has not had enough beer!)

Brugge, Belgium

Today was a catch-up day. Hard to believe we’ve been gone for a week already. Why is it that time always flies on vacation? Today we did laundry here at this awesome little hotel and Steve went biking. He went the opposite direction from yesterday, back to the coast, and he covered about 40 miles today. On those granny bikes, that’s quite an accomplishment.

This afternoon we took the De Halve Maan brewery tour. This is the only brewery here in Brugge and their beer is quite good. It’s called Brugse Zot. Like all beer in Belgium it has it’s own glass, especially designed for this particular beer. We got to see the very old implements they used to brew beer back in the 1700s and 1800s.

They also took us to the top of the brewery which gave us a great view of the city. You’ll see that in the pictures. Of course the tour ended with a beer, so Steve was happy!

We also went into the big church here that has one of the only Michelangelo sculptures outside of Italy. It is of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. It was really breathtaking.

Since this is our last day in Brugge we explored the shopping area for awhile, picking up a few souvenirs and essentials. Tomorrow we head to Brussels to meet our Tour de France tour group. We will be traveling with Custom Getaways and so far they’ve been great with the arrangements. We are excited to meet our fellow travellers and to get started with that part of the trip.

The press is beginning to buzz about Le Tour. The riders are here in Belgium warming up on the cobbled sections of the course, which we will visit early next week. There are also all kinds of predictions about who will win. We’re just excited to be a part of it all.

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