Belgium 2005

Travelled into Belgium from Saint-Quentin in France, we took the A26 from Saint-Quentin towards Arras then there onto the A1 for Lille. As we approached the turning we needed at Lille the GPS went off and during the mad panic to get it back on we where already on the wrong road, the A25 towards Dunkerque. We take the first turning off and end up in a trading estate (I seen to remember doing something very similar in Spain in 2003 but this time it is my fault for not remembering the route and just relying on the GPS). After restarting the computer and getting the GPS back on we are not lost anymore and head around the western side of Lille to the A22 via the N352, instead of the east side as was the plan. As we pass into Belgium A22 changes name to the A14 we turn off the A14 onto the A17 and then the A10 to the site.

Missed the turning off the A17 for the A10 and head straight into Bruges instead of heading for the campsite, had to go down a side street and do a U turn to get back on the right road.

On arrival at the site in Jabbeke we park up and head over to reception, only to be informed that there is no room on the site if we have not booked but to drive over to the other part of the site where there is and ask at reception there. I think the first reception was mainly for holiday homes, static caravans, chalets etc and the second one for tourers.

The site is about 7 miles 11K from the centre of Bruges and the intention was to use the scooter to go to and from the city for sightseeing but as it was so hot and the site so nice and we did not really have enough time to do it, so we didn't (its not like we will not be back, as we certainly will but with more time for sightseeing).

We were a bit close to the toilet block, no smell or anything like that but lazy people would park their cars on our pitch while they used the facilities, very annoying.

The site has a lake with a sandy beach (when we were there they were constructing another lake which I believe is now being used, see site website), a large tea room, shop, Chinese restaurant and many sports facilities, also a good bar and takeaway on the real campsite. On the Sunday when we arrived there was, a market on the site selling clothes, shoes, toys, etc, and there was also a waterskiing demonstration, no wonder we never got into Bruges.

Another glorious day, had a walk into town, found a supermarket (we will stock up with beer and wine there tomorrow), then had a lazy day on site.

Back into town on the night for a meal and a few drinks we were sat outside but it got gold and it looked like rain so we made our way back to the site, as we were not dressed for poor weather. On the way back we had a drink in the bar/restaurant just outside the site it looked like it was mainly for eating (and the food looked good but we had already eaten) so we had one drink and headed back to the bar on site.

Off home today but the plan was to drive to the sea, then north following the coast to Zeebrugge, for the ferry in the evening. But first we had to get more beer to take home, so we headed to the supermarket we had found the day before. Last time we stocked up in Belgium, I could not get my head round the beer pricing system (see Belgium 2003), so this time I got someone to explain it to me, it turns out that if you buy by crate (Krat), you pay a deposit on the crate, refundable when it is returned, simple. I had intended to take plenty of steak hachés back with us but as we are in Belgium and not in France anymore they've got none, should have stocked up in France. Anyway I got a lot of beer but at the checkout my debit card wouldn't work, also they wouldn't accept my Visa or MasterCard and the queue for the till was getting longer and longer. Eventually my purchases were put to one side and a very red me was given directions to a ATM back near the campsite. At the ATM I found the problem was I had no money in my debit account and I had to use my Visa to get cash. On the way back I met Dot walking towards me, she was so embarrassed she had left the shop, anyway all well that ends well, I got my beer in the end.

We get back on the A10 straight to the coast, then turned right onto the N34 north along the coast towards Zeebrugge. The first place we stop is De Haan, we park up at the side of the road and walk back into the town and have chips and mayonnaise, a Belgium speciality, there are chip shops all over the town centre but to tell the truth, we must have picked the worst one, they were repeating on me all day.

De Haan is a very nice place, although we did not see it at its best, it was cold and overcast, what a change from yesterday. The sea front has long clean golden beaches with windbreaks and a very smart promenade with shops and restaurants. A tram system seems to run along the coast from Ostend to Zeebrugge but I am not sure it runs the full length (looked here and it does Tramway ).

After our walk it was still early but we decided to to make our way further along the coast anyway. We were soon at Blankenberge, then through to the other side and the next place we could fine to turn was just outside Zeebrugge. Anyway we got turned round and set of back into Blankenberge where we had spotted a supermarket where we could stock up with even more booze. This place had an even better selection of beer than the last place, also boxes of wine on special offer and chocolate for presents but before we got anything in the basket, I asked what cards they took and all was ok, they took any.

We parked up on the side of the road on the outskirts alongside the tramway and next to the place where they do sand sculptures. The beach between Blankenberge and Zeebrugge is partitioned off with windbreaks, made out of twigs and despite the weather there were people using them.