We were up reasonably after a latish night and the self cook dinner!
Breakfast is included in the room rate and is also self service as well as self cook. I'm not used to eating breakfast and so opted for the continental style rather than the bacon and eggs style!
The rooms are pretty basic. I shared with Trevor and we had two single beds. A little re-jigging of the room ensured that there was a man-gap between the beds!
Early suggestions for the Saturday ride out had been to the Wire of Death. An electric fence that was built by the German occupation army in 1915 from the coast at Knokke to the German border, and just inside the Belgian frontier. It was to stop Belgians escaping into neutral Netherlands.
Over the course of the war it claimed over a 1000 lives.
I can't tell you any more as we didn't go!!
In the end we decided on Ypres, only 30 miles away, instead of the best part of 95 away. We stopped for petrol at the local station. Although 100% automatic, it actually took overseas credit and debit cards. The biggest deal was 95 Unleaded at €1.249 per litre. The exchange rate the day before when I had got €100 in cash was €1.3480 to the £. Making a litre well under £1 a litre when it was about £1.10 at home.
After a stop for tea/coffee we had a walk up to the Menin Gate.
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| The Menin Gate |
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| Indian Missing |
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| The Meldrews |
For the €9 entry fee it has to be the best military museum I have been into for many a year. Well laid out and stacked with militaria and history of the three battles on the Ypres Salient.
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| The Cloth Hall |
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| The Ghosts of the Menin Gate |
A few of us spent so long in there that a few of the group managed to hog their way through a waffle or burgers outside.
The last-out crew went across to Ypres Burger, a not so fast food outlet.
Once all back together we set off for the Loft. Eight became six, then two threes as we split up. Reunited at the Loft.
Dinner has been for the regular attendees at a restaurant in Oudenburg itself. A walk of about 35 minutes. The food was excellent. The service was exceptional. A perfect evening with the group.
Whilst we are out we missed the live band in the Loft, a three piece group made up of Japanese women. Apparently the weren't bad.
Bedtime beckoned.
On the way to the room I snapped these.
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| Honda CBX1000 |
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| Rocket 3 Touring |
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| Harley of some sort! |
Sound slike a busy day out with lots to see and great food too.
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