Derk starts at 9.13 AM and heads for Belgium. In Kaaskerke, near Diksmuide, Derk consumes some soup and takes in some new energy, after which he quickly goes on to Kruipuit. A funny name in Dutch, it means 'crawl out'. Derk crawls out of his fairing and immediately attacks a big pile of.... Spaghetti Bolognese!

During the second stop there's a change in bikes. Derk moves on without a fairing on the low 240. On the not so good roadsurfaces he's much more able to manoeuvre quickly if necessary. The constant attention he needs to give the roadsurface is very hard from inside the fairing, apart from that it's rather warm too. And now to Zwijndrecht, near Antwerp.

At 18.50 PM Derk arrives in Zwijndrecht, less tired than yesterday. The unfaired last trip was to his liking.

With Derk safely in in the camper we cross the chaotic Antwerp. East of Antwerp we hope to find a camping, which proves to be hard. At last we find a youth hostel, which is unfortunately closed. However, somebody is present and offers us a place to sleep.

Short after arrival Caroleen calls us and tells us that de first reports are on the internet! Marc, absolutely great!

Derk is much more energetic than yesterday and doesn't seek his bed immediately.

Go to day 3 »

Derk climbs into his streamline on route to Kruipuit, which translates into Crawl Out. That he will, when he gets there.

In Kruipuit Derk gets going again, filled up to his nose with spaghetti Bolognese.

Today we're able to put Derk at 9.10 AM on the rowingbike. Again he departs unfaired and under sunny circumstances.

First stop: Lummen. Derk arrives here at 11.16. He detoured a little, but, as he says himself, those are all additional kilometres! Everything still going well. With this first part he has covered almost 30 percent of the day-trip and it's still well before noon. At 11.40 AM he continues.

The Rowingbike Team is getting more at more efficient. Frans proves to be the only one who can bring a little bit of structure in our financials. Kees makes superb meals en the internet stuff is getting shape. Kees and Frans drive the camper, I'm the navigator. Apart from this, there are several other things to do: clean up the camper regularly, planning routes, buying food, cleaning the dishes, helping Derk with his rowingbikes, checking if Derk isn't forgetting something as usual, and so on...

On to Bassenge. Kees prepares a big pasta supper. Right in time for his food, but a little later than we expected Derk arrives. He tells us that he fell while turning a corner. He didn't saw a several centimetres high ridge in the road en tripped over it. His speed was not too high (20 - 25 km/h), so he got away with a minor scratch on his bottom. Lucky Derk!

Without further stops Derk rides on to Beaufays, the final destination for this day, close to Luik (Liege). Despite a couple of steep climbs and some wrong turns he arrives at 17.40.

Immediately we ride on to Huy, the start for tomorrow. This may prove to be a harsh day.

Go to day 4 »

The mayor of Zuyd Coot visits Derk wish him good luck on his Tour.