Gent view from the B & B
Cycle-only ferry
Lier
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Before leaving Ghent we returned to St. Baafs Cathedral to see the Van Eyck brothers' amazing alterpiece 'Adoration of the Lamb' - a high point of Flemish renaissance art.
Most of our route to Lier followed the River Schelde. The Schelde towpath is much used for leisure cycling and involves several ferry crossings. We took a few shortcuts. One near Dendermond ended at the free ferry to St. Amands at the end of a cycle track through a forest. We met several Belgian cyclists on the ferry which carries only cycles and a very occasional pedestrian. One of the Belgians had a very detailed cycle route atlas of West Flanders which showed that the route we had taken was the best way. Although the cycle routes are often signed in Belgium they are seldom long-distance; the long-distance system seems less well-organised than in Holland or even the Sustrans network in Britain.
We left the Schelde and cut across country to the River Rupel which we crossed on two big bridges and followed to Rumst where we joined the Nete Canal. Past the town of Duffel (whose fabric factory was the source of material used to make duffel coats) before approached Lier via the main channel of the Nete canal, entering the town from the east to discover a local fair which had closed the high street. But we reached our hotel with little difficulty, stowed the tandem in the basement reached by a service lift and enjoyed a comfortable night in a very smart room. Dinner was at the Zuster Agnes bar/restaurant - a lively place with excellent food in a restored warehouse in a park beside a canal.
Today's distance: 97 km, weather: warm with occasional showers, accommodation: Hof van Aragon €90.
Click to view enlarged photos:Gent view from the B & B |
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Cycle-only ferry |
Lier |
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