Belgium

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Antwerpen (pilgrims house) — Lier (community accomodation) — Londerzeel (camping) — Ninove (pool camping) — Doornik (warmshower)

From Ulvenhout to Antwerpen, around the border NL and BE

For Belgium, I took the route to Antwerpen instead of following the standard Jacobsroute for bikes, and passed the Dutch-Belgian border without any notice. The weather was sunny and the landscape in the beginning was beautiful. Soon it became the standard lowlands landscape and I started to practice Vipassana while bicycling.
This is doable as it’s a method to be aware of what is there rather than to imagine something. Practicing the awareness inside (focus on the bodily sensations, mind is there for sure 😃) while also giving attention to the outside world requires some practicing. I did that while driving and during my last Camino also while walking. I guess that contributed to my last day’s distance of 60+ kilometers from Finisterra to Santiago.

At the beginning of practicing Vipassana while bicycling, it’s as if I am a beginner learning meditation again. My mind and body wandered off like that time I was first learning meditation. Moments of blackouts and mind that jumps from one idea to the another. No way to track…

As I am aware of this now, it’s interesting to track back the first moment that the mind jumped or blackouted, as those are mostly the moments where vulnerability are seated or needs to be healed. However, it’s also our first I instincts to get away from that.

With this insight, I often have pity (compassion) for those students whose guru tell them not being serious enough when they wandered off while meditating. It’s a natural process. What these practioners needed was live and compassion rather than gaslighting…

Before you try to do this, I would strongly advise you to learn the sitting meditation first. Also, one need a good understanding between the conscious and the unconscious regarding the physical safety. Especially when some emotionally strong stuff come up, or blackout lasts longer…

After some 20 or 30 kilometers of straight line, I reached the center of Brasschaat (a suburb of Antwerpen I guess). Then an agglomeration of buildings of around 10-15 kilometers.

City hall Antwerpen

Here in Antwerpen I can stay at the pilgrims albergue, right in the city center.

Pilgrims house in Antwerpen

I always liked wandering in this city. Though every time, it seems to be another city for me…

From Antwerpen to Lier is a short biking day. Here I stay in de Brug, a community that allows pilgrims to stay for one night, for free, as a service. They also take the refugees. I hoped to experience a glance of their community life. Unfortunately, due to covid, they have to settle the visitors in another part of the building.

View into the garden from my room at de Brug

Lier has a characteristic old center which I like. Rhythm follows still a peaceful pace. It’s small, but with craftsmanship and eyes for details…

The next morning I got breakfast served at 8am, and had a late departure. I went to the Sunday morning church service. The lady from Antwerpen albergue recommended the lithurgy performance of members from this community. They had a rehearsal at 10am, and the service started at 10:30am. Though I am not religious, I found it interesting to participate at the Camino. A good recommendation!

For me, I have an easy and simple life. Even now on Camino in the winter, the weather is good and I met many good-hearted people! A nice symbolic thing today though was that when leaving Lier, a couple was curious about my journey and we had a nice conversation. He came from Sicily and she from Germany. They both are living in Bruxelles. Angel (o) and Christ(one) wished me a good journey! 😉

The way from Lier to Mechelen has nice parts. The weather was good. I was around 1:30 pm in Mechelen, and wanted to stay at the seminarium. After a few searches, I couldn’t find anyone to ask whether they are taking pilgrims or not. And then, the weather started to change. More windy and threatening clouds. So, I decided to bike to the next camping. Underway, I started to realizing that I am in Belgium, where people take longer lunch breaks…

For the dinner, I had a pizza at the pizza restaurant here near the lake. And started with a coffee con leche. I know it’s not really according to the etiquette, but it reminds me of the happy moments from the last Camino. For me, it’s part of the Camino.

Pizza right next from the oven

The next morning I woke up with rain. Weather forecast showed raining the whole day. I tried to stay in my sleeping bag a bit longer as it will be a short biking day. Yesterday, I found a pole camping space at 30 kms from where I stayed. Pool camping is something uniquely Belgium, I think. It’s dedicated area in the nature where one is allowed to camp for free. Mostly very nice areas according to what I read and heard. I am quite curious to that! And on the map, Grimbergen and Affligem are not a big detour…

Sun showed up when I was ready to leave. Already around 11am…

Grimbergen isn’t as I expected. So, I skipped Affligem and went directly to the pole camping space.

The biking is a bit more difficult today, as the area starts to be hilly. The extra grams that I could have left home, starts to count…

The description of the pole camping area was very attractive. But the forest is some a few hundreds of trees that the owner planted so 10- 15 years ago. Nice view though. Also great that he offers this space for camping for free.

Here, I have lit my first camp fire!!!

First campfire despite of the rain 🌧️

The next day started as a beautiful day. Sunshine, hilly landscape, wide view. Just took my time to enjoy. So different than the comfort at home, which is also an imprisonment in some way.


Gerardsbergen is a big settlement that I came across. With a nice center, city hall, market. And they have their ‘Manneke pis’ too! Only not so dressed up every day…

Manneke pis in Gerardsbergen

Here I enjoyed my cup of coffee, as well as a mattencake, which is a local delicatess.

Mattencake

The weather started to change in the afternoon, headwind and rain were parts of the challenge, besides the hills which became steeper…
Added to the longer than normal distance, and you can guess that I am so happy to have reached my warm shower address. This is the first time I am trying this concept. It started as bike travelers supporting other bike travelers with free accomodation. Though they say that the organization is on the way to becoming commercial.
My hosts are very welcoming and making me comfortable. I am so glad to have this, especially with the rain poring outside.

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