16th April 2016.
10:26 hrs. 11 degrees C.
It’s cold and windy as I ride away.
This is the first time I’ll be starting a long trip from home.
16/4/16 must be a very auspicious day to start such a trip.
Everything seems in balance.
I don’t feel so balanced.
It’s not because of the heavy bike.
Last months have been way too hectic and I feel ill-prepared for the trip.
Still, that bike really is seriously overloaded. All the space and weight saved since I travel with an e-reader instead of (too many) books, is now occupied by other electronic gadgets which seem to be compulsory nowadays (they ‘re not).
We’ll see. Stuff can always be posted home.
I’m on my way north. I don’t know why.
I like it warm, so should go the opposite direction but I’m always drawn to the North because of the spectacular nature, the wild camping opportunities, the quietness.
I’m heading North along the Plassendale-Nieuwpoort canal. Later, after crossing the Dutch border, I will follow the LF 1, North-Sea-Cycling Route.



