BRM 300 Aurore Cyclo

Hoy toca madrugar. Salgo de casa con la bici y llego a la salida de esta dura BRM 300 de Aurore cyclo en Anderlecht . Encuentro a los randonneurs habituales, nos tomamos un café, luego la inscripción, algunos  las dos cosas al mismo tiempo. Bernard ya está listo, esperamos a Antonio y salimos a las 06:30. , estaremos juntos todo el día y parte de la noche. Día largo.Las sensaciones ya me rondan y hay un pico de adrenalina que se asoma. Buen ambiente en el Bar.

 

 
Solo de ver esta mesa  uno ya se anima a estas horas.

 

 Empezamos en la oscuridad a un ritmo moderado, queda mucho por delante y difícil , la meteo no nos va a ayudar mucho, más bien lo contrario.

Atravesamos el este de Bruselas luego el bosque de Soignes y pasamos por La Hulpe y Hoeilaart , pueblos bonitos y tranquilos donde a estas horas el tráfico es una delicia , tan solo los pájaros y otros animalillos pasean por la calle ,adelantamos a un ganso  que gozada !!.Por siempre así , pienso.

 

 

 

Nos dirigimos hacia el sur y el viento ya nos encara ,nos ponemos los impermeables , la primera salva de agua llega y nos mojamos , no llueve muy fuerte pero el agua fina continuada nos moja y nos destempla en esta mañana fresca.La carretera se ensucia de barro y nuestros pies también.

 

Algo destemplados llegamos a la Abadía de Maredsous km 101. Comemos un bocata de casa , yo tortilla de atún. Miramos con detenimiento la nueva máquina de Antonio , una maravilla para estas pruebas que hacemos, en lugar de cadena tiene una correa dentada, un solo plato y en lugar de piñones un cilindro con todos los engranajes acoplados. Muy buena bici, creo que el futuro de la bici funcional y práctica está en este segmento, y digo funcional que no comercial.

 

 

Muy buena bici , diseñada y equipada con cuidado ,esmero y  precisión por Antonio , muchos kilómetros y muchos largos viajes le esperan y eso deseo.

 

 

 Seguimos dirección sur hacia la frontera francesa, hasta Ohnaye pasamos por una serie de toboganes muy tiesos que hacen daño a las piernas, el paisaje es muy bonito, todo verde y un ambiente muy campestre , vamos tranquilos , casi demasiado tranquilos ,descendemos hasta Hastieres , una bajada muy rápida ,seguimos luego por un tramo plano para bicis hasta el tercer control en Francia  en Vireux -Vallerand km 135.

Pedaleamos por la ruta de las fortificaciones , muy escénica , muy tranquila.

Y aqui la prueba de una de ellas , Chateau de Hierges.

 

Agradezco la parada en el control y de paso me como un pastel muy bueno en esta pastelería francesa, recuerdo aquellos años que recorría el sur de Francia y me alimentaba prácticamente solo de pasteles. El azúcar hace su efecto y parece que las piernas se mueven mejor.

 

Estamos en la frontera Belgo- Francesa , en las Ardenas , territorio con una geografia bastante accidentada y muy fuertes desniveles , todo muy escénico lleno de naturaleza pero las carreteras suben y bajan sin parar , adios terreno llano , direcion Chimay ahora y lo notamos en las piernas.

 
El siguiente control es en Froidchapele km 183 y hacia allí vamos. El organismo empieza a sentir la fatiga y los kilómetros, he bebido mucho pero comer no lo consigo , ando algo justo. Desde Virelles dirección ya norte atravesamos el bosque de Froidchapelle , una carretera que es un inmenso tobogán detrás de otro y otro y otro , parece que no se acaba y para regalo nos cae una tromba de agua de categoría , mucha y muy fuerte , me deja las piernas como un tablón de madera , estoy helado , tengo frío, seguimos hasta el control donde hacemos una breve parada. Km 183.

A penas consigo comer un pastel , el segundo hoy, me tiemblan las manos , la temperatura es my baja, decidimos  seguir de inmediato,para no perder el poco calor corporal que nos queda.

Dirección ahora Beaumont donde empieza un tramo de la Ravel o pista para bicis que nos hace ir más cómodos, avanzamos más rápido y nos animamos.Paramos a recoger los impermeables que hoy han cumplido bien su función.Aun los tendremos que sacar otra vez pero para protegernos del frío.

 

 

Después de Thuin seguimos por otra Ravel pero esta vez es diferente, suelo mojado con barro con ramas , hojas casi troncos gordos , mierdas de caballo y todo lo imaginable , bueno para pegarte una torta monumental , es ya bastante oscuro y no se vé bien el suelo pero es demencial , andamos con cuidado pero aun así las bicis y nosotros acabamos que parecemos salidos de las más dura prueba de ciclocrós en un barrizal.

 

 

 La noche se instala y es necesario las luces y el chaleco reflectante , seguimos a un ritmo algo lento pero tenemos tiempo para llegar en el plazo , por la noche el ritmo baja porque no se ve bien , la navegación es más laboriosa y las fuerzas ya van menguando. Llegamos al cuarto y último control en Thieusses km 253 son la 22:50, paramos lo justo y seguimos por las carreteras solitarias hacia Bruselas.

 

Los últimos kilómetros discurren por el canal de Midi que llega hasta Bruselas. Hace frío y algún reguerillo de mocos cae por la nariz. A lo lejos se ven las luces de la ciudad reflejadas en el cielo , llegamos a nuestro destino a las 01:15 del domingo con 300 km  recorridos y un desnivel acumulado de más de  tres mil metros. 

Las condiciones no han sido muy favorables pero una vez en el final de esta larga  y dura BRM te sientes satisfecho y contento de compartir esta aventura con dos compañeros ; Antonio y Bernard.

 

Vuelvo a casa y entre mis sueños se cuela una canción de Phil Collins

 

"If Leaving Me Is Easy"

I read all the letters, I read each word that you've sent to me
And though it's past now, and the words start to fade
All the memories I have still remain

I've kept all the pictures, but I hide my feelings so no-one knows
Oh sure my friends all come round, but I'm in a crowd on my own
It's 'cos you're gone now, but your heart, still remains
And it'll be here if you come again

You see, I'd heard the rumours, I knew before you let me know
But I didn't believe it, not you,
No you would not let me go
Seems I was wrong, but I love, I love you the same
And that's the one thing that you can't take away but just remember...

If leaving me is easy,
Coming back is harder...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

BRM 200 Lier

The day starts slowly and we are ready to live  this long distance, 7:00 sharp we begin our way starting in Lier. The speed is fine and a group with some known people follow Louis , the one who knows the way perfectly , just because he has proyected it. As usual each one with his thoughts.

 

 

There is agroup leaving at 7:00 , the next grout will start at 8:00 they will go fast and we will arrive alltogether to the first control in Holand.

 

 

 

 We follow Louis  in the beginning , the way goes towards a series of roads with number for bicycles very quiet very well preserved and flat , we talk and talk , just pleasure to cycling in the cold morning , a little bit grey but no rain in all day , nice moments .The sun is coming for a while  to say hello and good bay as soon as possible.

 
Slowly but surely we head north, the path is very nice and avoids all traffic , 52 km in peace and all pleasure , time to think , time to rest and time to talk with friend , Bernard says " cool this morning " and he was right the speed is human 25k/h but we head fast to the Dutch border where we arrive at 9:10 just at the same time as the fast group.

What a beautifull way , all quiet all peace , no cars just enjoy the moment , all for us and our bicycles , this BRM is just a peace of mind , in fact it is called " pearl ofthe contryside " and indeeed it is.

 

The afternoon is coming and also a drops of rain visit us, the road get wet but nothing serious for us, the sky gets darker and Antonio Bernard and myself follow the way in a friendly atmosphere ,they talk and talk I follow behind with my thoughts , I start thinking how can be the nest challenge next august the famous PBP , I get anxious and leave quick my dream , I want to enjoy this day , very nice afternoon.

We find a British cyclist in trouble, he has no spare inner tube , I give mine to him, some weeks later in the 300 of Lier he gave one back to me , all even.
I prefer seeing those happy guys behind me just enjoying the way altogether. I feel a relive.

 

 

 The afternoon is still with us and the last kilometres are a bit hard because of the wind but the countryside and the light are wonderful  , we follow the canal almost until the end in Lier.

 

This is the first time I finish a 200km in less than 10 hours , three stops in the controls and the ride all in , exactly 9:40 , not bad , the most important is that we have enjoyed so much this BRM , it is difficult to plan this beautiful track  avoiding busy traffic roads and offering us a beauty countryside.Very nice day, I come home , a happy man gets in , new BRM´s are waiting , new roads will offer the best and the worst in live ,each of us will wear the load of his own will , some will be happy with the  offered destiny , others will not and will have to fight to deserve it.

Late at night I listen a nice song. Where are those times of youth when all was happiness, I wonder .

 

 "Everyday"  Phil Collins

 
'Love can make you do things you never dreamed possible...'

I got lost, couldn't find my way
and I guess there's nothing more to say
love can make you blind, make you act so strange
but I'm here and here I will stay

So everyday I cry
yes everyday I fall
do you ever wonder why, why I love everything about you

But everyday I say I'll try to make my heart be still
'til then every way there is to cry, ourselves to sleep we will

It picked me up, knocked me off my feet
I've got no way to explain
still I love you, love you, love you but this fire inside
will never see the light of day

So everyday goes by
and everyday I fall
it makes me wonder why,
my life's worth nothing without you

But everyday I say I'll try
to make my heart be still
'cos every way there is to cry,
ourselves to sleep, we will

You'll never know, no, no, no ,no ,no
you'll never know just how close we were
you'll never know, no, no, no ,no ,no
you'll never know
no you'll never see

The book closes and we try to forget
but I know that things won't change
how we feel, how life goes on
and that seems so strange

And so the light fades away
try, try, try as I may
I can't stop thinking about you
it seems my life's worth nothing without you

But everyday I say I'll try
to make my heart be still
'til then every way there is to cry,
ourselves to sleep, we will

Everyday, everyday you know I try so hard
everyday, everyday it gets a little harder


Thanks to all people that follows the page , soon the long long journeys  will come.
See you

 

 

BRM 200 Luingne

The others told me not to fly that far , I paid no attention , the signal was there, north , and I headed north alone . No food for a long time  , bad time , and the worst no land at sight.  All blue , deep blue , up and down I fly in between throug the line of the desire. I feel cold in my eyes , the right wing hurst since three days ago but here is no way back and the whish is stronger than the present , I don´t regret the fact, to find or die. I feel weak now , too many days flying alone and in peace. Downd there is white everywhere , at last after so many months flying alone in the cold air I embrace the unknown , I meet he desire, that feeling stronger than any other, it was waiting for me , we go togeather now flying to eternity. I realice now my future is over, there is no way back, no regrets , the line is crossed I got it, a wonderful white thunderstorm whispers words of love , it takes my wing, I dissapear , my wish is fullfilled , I will be flying for ever.

What a nice day today, cycling 9 hours with friends to the norht first,south then , 200km of pleasure.
Willy from Cyclo Club Mouscron has organised this BRM " Vers La Hollande " , it is very nice and has a high light; the visit of Brugge that we crossjust through the center , it is a very nice town plenty of red brick houses and lots of canals and bridges which give name tothe town.

The morning is a bit cold, 4°C but dry. People start at his own wish, we start at 07:45 and the big goup that leads Willy satrt at 8:00 sharp.We are more or lessthe same people , Antonio , Daniel ,Marc , Alain,Patrice,Robert ,Jan ,Mic , Guy a, Ronny, Stefan and many people from different cyclo clubs in France.

We start in Luingne, near the french border and the track we have to follow pass near a lot of villages in Flanders, Dadizele, Brugge,We are going to cross Belgium fron south to north to arrive in Cadzand in Holland.

 

It is a nice track , specially the bike roads near the canals with lots of trees at both sides.

We go fast in the  morning , we have strong tail wind and we reach 30km/h with almost no effort but we think also what will happen to us on the way back, but for the moment we enjoy this dry morning and the lanscape so green and so peaceful . No hills at all.
The roads here in Holland are a dream for the randonneurs.It is easy to travel no matter where in Holland with the bike , thisis another world.

We reach the seashore , and we have a few minutes rest in front of the sea, very nice moment .I would like to have wings and fly over the ocean , that only happens in a dream.

Just at midday we arrive to Cadzan , we have a drink and we eat what we have carried from home. Control one , 101km 4 hours, I´m impressed. Thaks wind.

Now is time to return to the start point , Luingne . Things are different now , we have to fight the south wind, the tenmperature has risen until 12°C but I don´t feel the warmth , our speed now is barely 23 km/h , antonio Bernard and me start to deal the situation in shift , three minutes each in the front, we play the right game and soon we reach the second control in Landegem km 152 in Belgium.
Here we meet Marc and we go on the way to Luingne togeather , the wind flows fast but Marc´s speed is high , I can follow.
Allwe need to donow is to follow teh kanaal van Schipdonk until Deinze,Kortrijkand finaly Luingne where we arrive at 17:45.

It has been a happy day I will say, all in peace , no troubles whatsoever, very nice company , the countryside was friendly , the weather fine a good BRM in fact. I think all of us have enjoyed the ccircuit , it is always different when we visit another countries , it gives me a sensation like if I was a traveller and explorer.

Time to recover , to talk , to drink a pint . It has been a happy day , a good day , surely life has sometimes very nice simply moments to offer.

Time to cook.

Time to drink.

Time to listen a nice song .  Supertramp.


"Downstream"Took a boat Sunday, down by the sea
It just felt so nice, you and me
We didn't have a problem or a care
And all around was silence, everywhere

You are the reason I was born
Be with you through all seasons
I'll always hear you when you call
We'll keep the love light shining
Through each night and day
A lonely life behind me
Oh what a change you've made

So down here on the ocean we will stay
Went through a lot of changes
Turned a lot of pages
When I took a boat Sunday

To know you as I know you now
That is all I need
And we will get along somehow
If we both believe

So down here on the ocean we will stay
Went through a lot of changes
Turned a lot of pages
When I took a boat Sunday


Hasta la proxima amigos.

BRM 200 Anderlecht

 

I’m sited on a comfortable deep blue old leader armchair on top of a very high mountain, probably the highest as I can’t see any other as high in the landscape, it is amazing! , I breathe easily and I have no symptoms of high altitude sickness, I am so happy to see my only two friends , the sun and the moon , I realize I wear summer clothes , nothing in my pocket , a trumpet nearby , I do not know since when  I am here but I am eternally happy and in peace . I take my trumpet and I start to play a song of hope  , a song of love , as I don’t know anybody I don’t know if I play good or not , so no critics, I like my music anyway . I don’t know for how long I’ll be here in the middle of the thin freezing deathly air but it seems to me as if I’ll be playing the trumpet for ever and I’ll be happy for centuries ahead.

Tara tara tararaaaa, wake up man ......

The same ritual as last Saturday starts, first coffee, then the story of this BRM 200 from Anderlecht to Solre le Chateau in France. A very nice track made by André from Aurore Cyclo Club in St Gilles is waiting, 200km. A nice day, a little windy but no rain.

 

 

The meeting today is at 7:30 in a place called, “ La clef du Cimentière “ in Anderlecht , south of Brussels, I like very much this spot , green , all in peace , quiet people, big open space all around with very high nice trees. Convenient, we can leave Brussels easily towards de Midi channel and avoid trafic , great !!.

I get my BRM card and wait for Antonio to get ready to start at 07:35. Here ,the same people as last ride but with Yves Jan and the two Daniels ; 80 people in total .

 

 

 

  We start in a smooth rhythm, I feel cold in the hands and in the face, - 1·C, Daniel joints us and we start moving the legs faster. At the sides of the channel the green is white now.

 

 

We head south direction in a more or less straight line to France, some easy km are welcome to this cold morning, talk and talk. Soon we reach the first control in Strépy-Bracquuegnies km49. Until now easy. The wind stars to say hello , later in the afternoon  it will say a very long speech and very loud.

We pass Binche , the streets keep still the souvenirs of the carnival and we take the bike path , the Ravel for a long ride , it is always nice to ride these      roads , lot of fun in a save environment now , difficult to find nowadays. The sun is with us but it still does not warm .

 

 

Plenty of nice trees on the way, I like so much the trees here in Belgium, it seems to me that nobody watch them and there are so many and so beautiful , I like trees , I remember in march 2007 planting 140 olive trees with my father in Tosos , now they are almost 4 meter high  a delight.We need trees.

 

 

After Binche we head south again to the Sambre river we cross it towards the bridge which links Erquelines in Belgium and Jeumont in France.

The head wind stars his loud melody and it becomes hard to listen and very hard to tackle with , an enemy this time.

 

 

 

The road now follows both  sides of the river , sometimes right sometimes left , funny thing , until Roussies where some hills awaits us.

Now things change , with the road climbing uphill and the strong south wind , the sun now heats , I go slow now , each one takes his own speed and the group split easily , we will meet again in Solre le Chateau . Time to recover and to eat .

 

 

I arrive to Solre le Chatau at 13:05, second control km101 the others are already there, I feel tired, the strong wind now and the slopes did not help but at least it was sunny and warm; the countryside is very nice and the scenery is plenty of light and colors , the sky blue , I feel the sun heat in my back now. Time now for eating and to drink a local beer in a local bar,  Madame Ninie like always is ready to serve to all of us , a hard work.

I need a beer. I drink a Floreffe , local made,  hoping it gives me strength and power  to my legs  to ride the way back to Brussels.

 

 

After 20 minutes rest a group of 15 people start the way back , the afternoon is bright and warm we head north now to Berelles and the very strong tail wind help us and the cycling  speed is very high now, the group splits . Antonio Bernard and me keep together from now until  Anderlecht.

 

People start to go fast , even uphill ! ; tailwind is the answer.

 

Jan overtakes us, he looks like a rocket !!,he goes really fast and disappears in seconds.

 

 

 

It is easy now and I have time to watch , breath and enjoy the roads and the villages , we are still in Franc e , soon after crossing again the Sambre river we reach Belgium again. Some more km on the Ravel, Erquelinnes, Peissant, Bray. Some trees fight the winter and surely they´ll win and receive the spring with the best dress , the flowers.The sun is back !

 

 

 

 

We cross over the canal  du centre  bridge and soon we arrive to the third control in Thieusies , km 147. A few minutes break, a drink and we continue our trip , it is getting colder and my body feels it , the good thing is that the wind is in our side, less effort to reach  high speed.

 

 

We follow small nice rural roads, Naast, Steenkerke, Rebecq , then Tubize and finally we are again in the Midi  Chanel , 15 km more and we reach Anderlecht at 18:45.

 

 

It has  been a nice day ,no rain ,  hard in the morning , easy in the afternoon, the track has been modified by his author Andre , and to me it has been a great change for the better, very nice track with traffic free stretches  and a good hint of difficulty, crossing rivers, uphill, downhill,  sun, clouds, wind all happiness.

 

I am so happy too because I have repaired the rear mudgard , as it is the second time I wroke , I had two halves so with a nut in the center I´ve joined both old ends and it works !!. Anyway SKS is going to send me a new part.

 

 

I come home, tired ,with red face skin but happy again, the wind is out still singing  loud ,through my window  I see the branches of the linden dancing very fast songs  with it.

Time to cook and to recover.

 

 It is easy to say but we need to search into the other side , just from time to time ,yes ; the other side, it is always there and we ignore it , the moment we deal with both we are saved.

Tonight I need to hear one of my favourite songs from ;
The Bee Gees

"Love You Inside Out"

Baby, I can't figure it out
Your kisses taste like honey
Sweet lies don't gimme no rise
Oh, oh what you're trying to do?

Livin' on your cheatin'
And the pain grows inside me
It's enough to leave me crying in the rain
Love you forever but you're
Driving me insane
And I'm hanging on
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh

Oh, I'll win, I'll never give in
Our love has got the power
Too many lovers in one lifetime
Ain't good for you
You treat me like a vision in the night
Someone there to stand behind you
When your world ain't working right

I ain't no vision, I am the man
Who loves you inside and out
Backwards and forwards with
My heart hanging out
I love no other way
What am I gonna do if we lose that fire?

Wrap myself up and take me home again
Too many heartaches in one
Lifetime ain't good for me
I figure it's the love that keeps you warm
Let this moment be forever
We won't ever feel the storm

I ain't no vision, I am the man
Who loves you inside and out
Backwards and forwards with
My heart hanging out
I love no other way
What am I gonna do if we lose that fire?

Don't try to tell me it's all over
Can't hear a word I can't hear a line
No man could love you more
And that's what I'm cryin' for
You can't change the way I feel inside

You're the reason for my laughter and my sorrow
Blow out the candle I will burn again tomorrow
No man on earth can stand
Between my love and I
And no matter how you hurt me
I will love you till I die

I ain't no vision, I am the man
Who loves you inside out
Backwards and forwards with
My heart hanging out
I love no other way
What am I gonna do if we lose that fire?

And now to end this up ; the other side.

 

 

Thanks to everybody  and all he best !.