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Dunkirk

Go the distance! Audax UK website. 

Cobblestones feature today as I take an arc of a route taking in Cassel which is a French village with cobblestones on a steep hill similar to the bergs in Belgium. This provides me the opportunity to showcase the route analysis that navigation tools can provide. It is then possible to zone in on where the cobblestones are, or whatever way type or surface interests you, for instance if you want to avoid, or just be aware of, troublesome paths or fast state roads.
I probably missed the "Welcome to France" sign as I cross the border via isolated lanes and this is made the transition from Belgium to France blurred for a number of miles. The road signage changing was the first indicator with the bike no longer having elevated rights of way; luckily I noticed that quite quickly and this explains why I didn't die today. However, place names are still Dutch-sounding and the architecture has a Dutch appearance, you know, those stepped rather thsn slopping gable ends. These photos are from Poperinge which is in Belgium. The next main town was Steenvoorde which isn't very French sounding though it is very much in France.

It is just fantastic that good quality bicycle pumps with pressure gauges are available. 
I'm afraid I was a bit lazy with photos which is probably because I treated today as more of an athletic endeavour as the scenery leading into Dunkirk is agricultural and routine; beautiful but nothing that would translate to a useable photo. It was delightful to see a couple of hares playing close-by and windmills in the distance.

Cassel (which is in France) has a museum of Flanders and plenty of Dutch style houses on the main square. Luckily my route took a gentle gradient up with 7% maximum and tarmacadam down so not too tough though the cobblestones do feel like they double the effort.

This tour has shown that I am a little bit more comfortable staying on the bike to cover the distance while, crucially, having the energy and concentration to take in my surroundings, remember to drink, keep safe and navigate. I say that in the knowledge that I didn't drink much today. 

Talking of staying on the bike, there is a branch of cycling called audax that focuses on long rides, and I mean long rides. There are a range of distances such as 50km, 100km and 200km but going up to 1,400km all with time allowances where you eat and sleep as required but with a focus on just cycling as sleeping uses up your time allowance. There is a maximum time cut-off but also a minimum time you must take so it certainly isn't a race. Audax started in France and Audax UK have a clear and informative website. The word audax may sound peculiar, it isn't an acronym but comes from the Latin for bold, audacious, daring or valient. 

Ypres itself is a fine town as these photos from last night show.
Today's journal entry is a jumble for which I apologise. 

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