Enjoying the Finer Things in Belgium

The recent weather in Belgium has not been good for much else than staying indoors and eating.  Together with the quiet racing calendar this has given us some time to enjoy the finer things in Belgium.  We have been creative in the kitchen mixing it up with a Mexican meal one night, Chinese another night and a typical American take-out meal with pizza and ice cream.  Quinton van Loggerenberg, native South African living in Belgium, invited us to his house for dinner this past week as well.  We were treated to a full spread which resembled my Grandmother's Sunday afternoon cooking.  This is a compliment for sure.  To top it off we were spoiled with a traditional Milk Tart (South African dessert with a sweet pastry crust containing a creamy filling made from milk, flour, sugar, eggs…).  The dessert alone was a three course meal with Belgium cookies and chocolates as well as ice cream with homemade chocolate sauce also up for offer.

American meal, Mexican dinner and the 3 course dessert at Quinton’s house

It seems that for us here in Belgium it is not “Stop and Smell the Roses” but rather “Stop and Feed the Animals”. We are enjoying living life in Belgium. Pony Malony could not resist the PVM bar either. We did treat them with some freshly picked grass because in their case the grass really was greener on the other side of the fence.

Pony Malony and Friends

Luckily I have found a quick fix for any type of Belgium Blues caused by this cold and rainy weather.  Whenever it gets too much for us South Africans that are used to warm and sunny weather I just put on my Oakley glasses with special lenses and I see the world through different eyes.

Before Oakley and After Oakley

It has become a running joke that we South Africans on the team drink A LOT of coffee.  Jo even took a coffee break while doing a session on the indoor trainer two days ago.  Here is another typical training ride to Geraadsbergen with a coffee shop stop along the way.  In our defence this coffee shop stop did actually save us from being rained on.   

On the road to Geraadsbergen and a coffee shop stop at Soul Coffee

Between all the eating we do make time for serious training as well.  Today we went to the town of Huy, Belgium.  We are racing La Fleche Wallonne Feminine, a UCI World Cup race, there next week.  During the race we have ride up the infamous “Mur De Huy” twice.  It is a 1,300m long climb with an average gradient of 10% (sections of 17% and up to 23% in one corner).  It is also known in English as “The Path of the Chapels” since in its short distance you pass 7 chapels along the way.  I would lie if I said that I spotted more than one (the one at the top) but think it is excusable since if you do not pedal even for a split second you will end up back at the bottom of the climb.

Up Next In Terms of Racing:

Sunday April 15^th:  Halle-Buizingen UCI 1.2
Wednesday April 18:  La Fleche Wallonne Feminine UCI World Cup