Antwerp - Zeeland

14th – 16th July 2007 Antwerp - Zeeland

To see photos, click on this link...http://picasaweb.google.co.uk/findthebinghams/14th16thAntwerp

We left the rowers, runners and cyclists to it and moved on towards Antwerp, along the typical Belgian flat, dead straight and concrete roads (all with cycle routes, of course). Antwerp’s highly complex road system did for my navigation skills – and that was with Autoroute and gps!

We spent 2 free nights on an enormous cobbled carpark, on the waterfront (River Schelde) in the middle of Antwerp – yet more fab views of water and land activities - large container ships, jet skis, very giggly people smoking joints, couples getting close to doing whatever. Rick’s greatest entertainment stemmed from discovering a hotspot accessible from the van – oh joy! - although the varying signal strength occasionally meant sticking the laptop out of the roof window!

We found a super pedestrian tunnel, with cycle lifts, under the river, 0.5 km long, built in 1933 (when was the Greenwich one constructed?) and cycled into Antwerp centre – yet more impressive medieval Flemish buildings. We also discovered the Eurogames - we should have realised the pink logo was significant…..the gay games was certainly well attended; the city was bustling with life, music, entertainment. Great atmosphere. By now, it was 36 deg C.

We visited the Diamond Museum; although flashy, information was rather random and disappointing. The impressive station building (see picture) overlooks a busy square. Although not quite up to Sheaf Square standards, it did include the Zoo entrance, with camel landmark sculpture and life-size driftwood elephants!

Left Antwerp in amazing thunder and lightening and drove to Zeeland in southern Holland. We found ourselves in the Dutch Costa, with huge, beautiful sandy beaches, campsites everywhere in lovely scenery and a superb network of cycle routes. Hot and sunny - who would believe British weather is just over the way? (I keep hearing about rain on the radio, just before I hear the Archers!).

We cycled round Vrouenpolder (an inland lake that once was the sea) and admired the fascinating feats of engineering, from water drainage, to wind turbines and dams, to a sliding road on a lock-gate and the tidal barrage.

On to Rotterdam next…..