To Iepre

August 14, 2023

In Flanders Fields the Poppies Blow

Our penthouse apartment last night was extraordinary. The floor, where it wasn’t covered by deep thick carpet, was marble. Everything was similar opulent luxury. One strange feature is that as you moved from room to room the lights went on automatically. Actually this is rather annoying when one person wants to get up in the night.Apparently the owner of the hotel used to live there but now rents it out . We had no choise as it was the only room available either in the town or the surrounding area. The breakfast was magnificent - we had omelettes made to order but think that after last night we will have to go on to bread and water!

Leaving the town was easy just down to the canal straight, over it and and about 20km straight to Menen. Riding along the canal was great fun. There were hundreds of cyclists some slow old people like us, younger ones more speedy and of course the super fast peletons of the elite. They descend on you like massive swarms of bees, you can hear them before they come as they talk all the time. There is a whoosh, they are passed you and have disappeared from view in the distance

Crossing the canal and looking in the direction we will go

Looking the other way towards the town gates

A memorial to a crashed Lancaster in 1944. Four killed

Reaching Menen we reluctantly left the canal. It was a straight ride of around 20 or so to Ieper along the Menen Road Ken of course was intrigued by the history of this road and everything that went on along it during WW1. There was a cycleway the whole way but it is one of those narrow ones that I dislike made largely by concrete which makes for a bumpy ride. As we approached Ieper the war cemeteries began to appear

That is the good smooth part of the cycle way

This is out of order. It is the Main Ieper Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery

This commemorated all the ghastly blood letting places around here

The Menen Road took us straight to the Menen Gate

We dropped of our baggage, went and had lunch, Ken went to the Flanders Fields Museum and we are now in our really good room at the Novotel- so much more suitable than our luxury of last night

Today's ride: 38 km (24 miles)
Total: 725 km (450 miles)

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Robyn RichardsI hope you have a good day off the bikes tomorrow. My great-uncle is buried in Estaires Commonwealth War Graveyard not so far south of you. I just thought of him , reading that you have reached Iepre.
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Robyn RichardsWhat is his name Robyn , we we stop and leave him a poly if it is not far out of our way
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9 months ago

Robyn RichardsTo Tricia GrahamRoy Wilkie Saywell 12483
That would be so much appreciated if it worked out!
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9 months ago

Steve Miller/GrampiesThose motion activated lights are presumably a good environmental measure, but they can be so annoying. My "favourite" is when the lights turn on when you enter a toilette room, and then turn off, leaving you in pitch dark, because the motion sensor can not see you in the stall!
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9 months ago

Carolyn van HoeveTricia so interested to seeing you're heading in the direction we've planned (we'll be battling the same westerly winds all the way from Germany into Belgium). We will be approaching Lille from Mons then heading to Arras and through the Somme, along the Somme river and checking out all the war sites, to Amiens and Beauvais. Is that where you're heading?
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Steve Miller/GrampiesThat place was a bit too much we are much better in a room like we have at the moment. You proposed must be just about to leave?
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Carolyn van HoeveYes more or less it changes of course depending on accommodation. We are having a day off today in Iepre will ho to the Flanders Field Museum etc. Tomorrow to Loos the next day Douai then Cambrai. Giving a Arras a miss this time we have visited it3 times before
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamTo Robyn RichardsHave investigated it Robyn but it would mean a 28km detour for us sorry we cant make it
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9 months ago

Robyn RichardsTo Tricia GrahamThanks for thinking of it, Tricia. Sounds as though you had a good rest day today
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9 months ago

Tricia GrahamWas a good day lots of route planning as we head the the champagne area have got the next week more or less sorted. Things must be really be beginning to wind down for you - no more par runs
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9 months ago