Travel pages

After this pauze, I drive on to Audruicq and through Audruicg to Ardres. The road to these villages is very good signposted here so it's all very easy to find. From Andres I drive to Guines. The scenery, that was very flat when I left the coast at Dunkerque is getting hilly now, like the South of England. A beautifull landscape to drive through on a motorcycle. Even before I reach Guines, Cap Gris-Nez, my destination for today, is signposted. While driving on this beautifull road, I pass a quarry. Lots of big trucks with sand and rocks on the road. I stop at viewpoint that overlooks the quarry to look at the works. It is a huge terrain deep bellow the road with enormous machines digging. (Unfortunately I did not see Asterix or Obelix digging out menhirs). The quarry from S.A. Carrieres du Boulonnais It is impresive but also it's a pitty what they are doing with the beautifull landscape. After some fruitjuice and a little walking around I get on the bike again and head to Cap Gris-Nez. When I'm almost there I have to stop. The view is so stunning, I have to stop to make a picture. At my left, behind the fields on the slopes with farmers getting the crops from the fields, the sea is glittering in the sun with small sailboats and some big cargo ships at the horizon. At my right, the English channel with the white limestone cliffs of Calais, brightly shining in the sun. Two ferryboats are going to and from England and in the far distance, the coast of England is hazy vissible. Some small farmhouses are hidden between the green hills.

When I go on, it's only a few minutes driving to the parking at Cap Gris-Nez. I have driven 298 kilometer to get here when I put the Tour Glide on its sidestand on the parking. I walk the last few meters to the real cap and enjoy the fresh wind from the sea and the gorgeous view. The view from Cap Gris-Nez Cap Blanc-Nez (at Calais) It has already been six o'clock when I return to the bike so to save time I'll drive home on the highway. Less exciting but a lot quicker. A few kilometers from Cap Gris-Nez I get on the A16 to Calais. Past Calais I pass Dunkerque and Ostende. From the A16 I can see an Eurostar train from the Eurotunnel. At half past seven my butt hurts so I stop to stretch my legs at a parking close to Veurne in Belgium. I talk to some Belgian bikers on a Boom Trike who are just returning from a holiday in France. After a chat we drive on. At eight o'clock PM I stop at a gasstation at Jabbeke to fill my tank again and after filling the tank, I park the bike at the parking in front of the restaurant and get a coffee and some sandwiches. It realy needed to have some food and a coffee and with a good feeling I get on the bike again for the last part of the drive home. After a few kilometers I leave the highway at the Brugge exit. From the ring around Brugge, I get on the N9 to Meldegem. From Meldegem I get on the N49 to Antwerpen. Because I don't know how often the ferryboats go in the evening, I play it safe and decide to use the toll tunnel at Antwerpen. I found out it is cheaper too, only 3.50 Euro. After the tunnel, it's just a short ride until I park the Harley in my garage again, with 550 kilometers more on the odometer then this morning.