May 15, 2025
Thuin
Thursday
After another hotel breakfast, I visited a local bike shop to get a new derailleur shifter. The owner of Saitta Cycles sent me to one of his competitors for help. When we discussed where I was from and what my route was, he asked to take a photo of me. When I tried to buy a large water bottle, he insisted on giving it to me. His buddy down the road installed a rapidfire shifter. I followed the winding Sambre River out of Namur. I rode through a post-industrial landscape on a cold gray day requiring three layers.
After Charleroi, the Sambre narrowed and the river became less industrial. I was thinking of staying in Aulne and checking out the abbey ruins. Because of my late start due to the repair, I arrived with only half an hour left to explore. The abbey ruins didn't open till noon the next day. I looked through the fence and kept rolling. Thuin was the next big town, but booking.com and Google didn't pull up any hotels. There was a B&B a few miles out of town away from the trail, so I booked it. La Gentilhommière du Château de Ragnies was up hill from Thuin which was up a hill. Ragnies was a crossroads with a church.
If not for the paved roads it could of been 1840. I used Google to get to the B&B, which sent me to the wrong house. The neighbor across the street got on her bicycle to show me the correct house on the correct street. The room was tiny but adequate. It may have been in the top floor of what were once stables. I went into town and spied a restaurant, I didn't have reservations for this five-table, fancy joint. They said I might have some luck at the distillery down the road. I walked and eventually found the distillery and eventually found the entrance. I ordered a trio of croquetes and some fries. I was not impressed. They were probably better with alcoholic beverages.
Today's ride: 46 miles (74 km)
Total: 402 miles (647 km)
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