After leaving the campground in the morning we tried to find a place to get a SIM card for the mobile wifi device. We were directed to the town of Zottegem where, I was told, I would be able to find a place that sold them no problem.
Well – it was a problem. First I took my ipad and wifi device into a kind of fancy shop that sold phones and all accessories and asked for a SIM card – I was told that I must have Belgian ID and would have to wait at least a week. I asked if there was any other place I might get a card without all the fuss and was directed to a place near the train station. Arriving there I eventually narrowed it down to a small ‘variety’ store and upon asking was immediately presented with a new card off the shelf without any need for ID or a waiting period.
But…that wasn’t the end of it. When I put the card in the mobile device it didn’t work. The owner of the store got his young teenage son to have a try, but after almost 45 minutes I had to give up as nothing he tried would make it work. You need to go onto a phone and download an app, then scan a bar code – I was lost and so was the young fellow.
I then took the card back with me to the first store, and they also tried for about 15 minutes without any more luck. I don’t know why it had to be so complicated and was so frustrated I wanted to throw something – although not at the fellows who had really tried to help.
After that exercise in frustration we headed to West Flanders to find the route for Gent Wevelgem which was the next race. We’d been in the very same area six years ago – not far from the Ploegsteert and one of the beautiful and moving war memorials and many cemeteries.
We followed the route almost to the Kemmelberg and found a nice spot on the side of the road behind a couple of other campervans. Along the way we spotted several different groups of people apparently on tours of the WWI sights. There were four or five large golf-type buggies, then some sizeable walking groups.
After a nice quiet night I was, as usual, up early. There are some marked paths for walking, cycling and horseback riding and I followed one for a bit, only stopping when it crossed a farmer’s field and curved in the opposite direction from where I wanted to go.
As usual when on a race route there were many amateur cyclists going by, so after breakfast I walked down the road to see what was ahead. Just around the corner down from us were some ‘race marshalls’ for the sportif/fondo that was going on.
I asked them just to make sure we were on the Gent Wevelgem route and was told that the race would be coming down three times from a small side lane and turning sharp left onto the road we were on.
Then 400 meters on they would turn left again and go up the Kemmelberg. I asked three different people and was told the same thing.
Colin and I took Max and walked down to the turn up the Kemmelberg – fans were already trecking up to claim their places. There was a nice little park at the bottom with some amusing carvings.
We had to leave Max in the campervan as he’d just get too excited by the race and all the fans, and picked our spot right where the side lane joined the main road.
The first sign of the race arriving was a bunch of motos – all coming down the main road, then the riders arrived – coming down the main road that we were parked on! So much for getting advice from folks that are supposed to know.
The first time they passed us they arrived just before 1:30.
Two of the racers each threw any empty bidon to the little fellows on the road above us – they were so thrilled!
The final pass did come down from the side lane, and Mads Pederson was in the lead…
…and ended up winning.
The next morning we made a serious decision – we chose to return back to Mansle rather than chase and watch the other races. Back in 2019 when we saw 10 races in three weeks it was very exciting, especially for me, but now it was just very tiring, especially for Colin. Also – not to be discounted – the toilet in the campervan got screwed up and was not opening/closing – not good!
We got back to the house in two days, and were very happy to watch the next few races on the big screen.
Sally McKenzie's European Adventures 