Fighting the Cobbles - My trip to Belgium in 2018, Part 21 - In Tervuren (1)

This blog continues the previous Part 20,

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/09/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_5.html

Tuesday, June 26, 2018

     

   Back into Tervuren I still had to figure out my way to continue the walking tour to Namur. 

   As it was already late afternoon I tried to find a shop where I could buy something to eat. I've discovered a Carrefour (super) market (Hoornzeelstraat 12, 3080 Tervuren) in which I stacked up food and drinks for dinner and breakfast. I went to the market place in front of the Sint-Jan Evangelistkerk Church and had a late lunch or early dinner on a bench in the shadows.

   Not far away from the place I have just eaten I've discovered a police station and planned to ask there for my way. When I went through the door into the station there were two windows through which people can talk to the police officer on duty. One lady was in front of me so I put my rolling sports bag in the corner and had to wait for my turn.

   To my surprise the officer on duty could speak English. After I inquired about the way he invited me to come into the police station! It was fun to walk between policemen, he lead me to and typed something into a computer. He showed me the way on a map and explained me how to go there. But somehow he came to an impasse with his English and asked another policeman to joined us. He explained me that I had "to pass one 'arch', turn right, follow the street through a forest until I come to the 2nd 'arch'. After it I had to turn left and on the right side of the road there is a clearly marked walking path through another forest!" Three of us had a small chat and a laugh, finally I left the police station with my sports bag still waiting for me!  

The 1st Arch on my Way to Duisburg

   I followed the advice and passed the 1st arch which lead me to a road named 'Rijkunst' (English: horsemanship), from there I had a nice walk through the refreshing air of a forest. I followed a very old wall protecting some houses behind. As the road name changes to Capucijnenpoortdreef (English: Capuchingatelane). I suppose that these historic walls were originally protecting a monastery or another religious institution of the 'Order of Friars Minor Capuchin' within the Catholic Church. 

The 2nd Arch or rather Gate on my Way to Duisburg

   At the end of the road I came to the 2nd arch. I turned left and crossed the very empty main road, the Duisburgsesteenweg. I could walk into the forest but the sinking sun worried me. In the dark through an unfamiliar forest? Forget it!

   So I've decided to walk into the town of Duisburg to find a suitable place for the night. Shortly before Duisburg the road name changed into Tervuursesteenweg. Upon arrival to the town I turned left to the Sportcentrum van Defensie. I walked until I came to a another forest but did not find a suitable place. So I turned back and followed the main road. After the last houses I turned left and came upon some fresh cut fields. I thought I found a suitable place but after I sat down I got 'attacked' by many flies. I continued and came upon a crossroad and walked straight ahead, later I would turn right.

   There, between fields and the crossing of two rural roads, I discovered a large linden tree with two wooden benches and a table under the tree's branches and a garbage box. There was enough space between the bench and the tree for my small tent; I've decided that this it 'the' place for the night! 

My Camp for the Night!

   First of all I gave a prayer of thanks to our Lord for providing me with such a nice place and asked for His protection during the night!

   I 'claimed' the benches and the table for myself, opened my bag and started building my tent. While I was busy out of nowhere came an old farmer and tried to talk to me in Dutch. He looked a little confused but not scary. I could not speak his native language and even he served in Germany for two years with the Belgian Army he could not speak any German at all! But with good will and gestures with our hands we tried to communicate. In moments like this I was glad that we wanted to communicate and made the same efforts to try to understand each other. Feeling that we do not come very far we said finally farewell to each other...

   Trying to get familiar with the environment I've discovered a map with mountain bike trails around the town of Duisburg which shows me that the Belgians make efforts to invest into their own country and to improve the lives of their citizens. 

Map of the Mountain Bike Cycle Network

   The 2nd discovery was a statue of Virgin Mary, the mother of our Lord Jesus Christ, within a memorial. I am not a Catholic but this showed me that people living in this area have a reverence for their religion beliefs and thus confirming that this would be a safe place for the night.

Statue of Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ within a Memorial blessing the Fields around

   As the sun went down I crawled into my tent and sleeping bag with my sports bag serving as a pillow. I know, my tent is very small but it was my home for the night and provided me  with a simple shelter which I longed for. It is strange but under my small roof I felt very happy and even I was very tired I could not fall asleep right away. Too many impressions, too many things to be appreciated and thankful about during my 1st day of walking. Finally I felt into a good and positive dream only to be disturbed by some cars stopping by and throwing their own garbage in the provided public garbage bin sometimes. But I did not care too much, I slept like a baby...

(to be continued@

https://gerdiwanninger.blogspot.com/2018/09/fighting-cobbles-my-trip-to-belgium-in_12.html)

Disclaimer: I traveled Belgium by myself, I am not sponsored by anyone. Interested subscribers and/or followers in traveling an in this small but beautiful country are more than welcome! 
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Bike Tour in the USA (2007), Part 1

Sunday, Sep 09, 2007

On the Streets of Los Angeles

Route: Hollywood-Santa Monica-Hollywood

Distance: 74.21km, Time: 5hours:54minutes:58seconds, Total: 74.21km

   “The gladdest moment in human life, me thinks, is a departure into unknown lands.” 

– Sir Richard Burton

   When I left my hotel (on Hollywood Boulevard)  the 8th annual Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon, according to the organizers “one of the largest and most prestigious  triathlon in the world" already was on its way. As I've heard the competition started  with the swim at the beach of Venice Beach, went through Hollywood by bike and ended with the run at the Staple Center, the home of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles Triathlon

   Directly in front of the Hotel gate flew the first triathletes by; for a lower wind resistance crouched in their typical position. As I walked along the Boulevard the triathletes become more and more, the professional athletes were replaced by amateurs, families with their children and even groups like firefighters and policemen joined the challenge. It would be another 10 years until I did my first triathlon.

   On the side of the road were policemen stationed in regular distances, securing the scenes demonstratively sitting on their white Harleys. Everyone was at least 1.80 m tall, muscles could be seen over their much too small and maybe even tailored shirts. They wore motor biker slacks, wide on the thigh and tight on the calf in high polished leather boots. At temperatures at around 30 degrees surely not an amusing job but, hey, this is Hollywood!

Harley on Stars

   As I walked by the obviously boring police I’ve noticed a Mexican looking officer reaching in his side pocket and grabbing a sun lotion. I’ve heard him clearly asking his colleague: “Do you want?” As he negated the first offices squirted some in his hand and creamed appreciatively his face with it.

Hello Delicious

  On the crossing to the N. Highland Avenue I’ve notice an African-American female Policewomen controlling the traffic arguing with another female African-American wearing a heavy makeup sitting in her car.

“I want to cross the road, why does the competition take so long?”

“You are an adult therefore you should know that you are not allowed talking on the phone while driving and that you have to follow my instructions.”

After these words the driver become quiet and while she had to wait she slipped seemingly annoyed on her seat forward and backwards.

   Not far away I saw a city cowboy sitting on the side of the road feeding his horse with carrots. “Curious”, I’ve thought to myself and took a picture.

City Cowboy

   I’ve realized that many European Americans in neat Sunday clothes were strolling to Ivar Avenue while others in full bags came from there. I followed them and they led me to the Hollywood Farmers Market. In this certified (!) market around 90 farmers and 30 bakers sell their organic products, around 30 artists their crafts. As I’ve heard later organic products are the hot items in high society, accordingly is the demand and the many people. I personally found the prices astronomically, for a cup of juice with much ice cubes I've paid US$5.00/cup.

    The many people let me recognize that there is a trend away from the in-‘famous’ genetically engineered mass crops to organically produced vegetables and fruits even in the U.S. Visiting the farmer’s market let me experience the ‘alternative’ America which indeed exists.  

(to be continued)