* Matilda on Tour — One Last Adventure Before Home

Thursday 21 May 2026 — Belgium Bound

Day 82 — Back on the Road
Grote-Spouwen Belgium 🇧🇪

A travel day today and, with road closures disrupting the plan, we simply pointed Matilda towards Calais and headed north 🚐

We are now settled into a charming little stellplatz in Belgium, right on the edge of a really pleasant village 🇧🇪.

One of the locals, Peter, came over to chat to us shortly after we arrived to make sure we had everything we needed — a genuinely kind and welcoming thing to do.

He also explained the long-standing village rivalry between Grote-Spouwen and neighbouring Kleine-Spouwen, proudly telling us the names meant “Big Calf” and “Little Goat.” Whether officially true or not, it certainly made us smile 😄

The bikes have already been out for a wander and first impressions are really good — clean, plenty of cycle routes and, thankfully, not completely flat either 🚴

It's been a testing day, but the sun is shining and we still ended up somewhere peaceful for the night. That counts as a win 🚐😅

Friday 22 May 2026 — Cycling Through Limburg

Day 83 — Blue Skies and Belgian Cycle Paths
Limburg, Belgium 🇧🇪

Waking up to deep blue skies is always a real treat. Breakfast outside this morning and it already promised to be a hot day ☀️

Belgium really does have an incredible cycle network and we thoroughly enjoyed today’s ride. Quiet lanes, little villages and beautiful countryside almost the entire way 🚴

Our first stop was a lovely wine tasting place overlooking the lake. Coffee on the patio, stunning views and scrumptious Belgian chocolate champagne corks on the side — a very enjoyable stop 😊

Later we cycled on to Tongeren and visited the cathedral there. Spectacular inside and well worth the stop. It also turned out to be a great place for lunch and a wander around the old streets.

Despite a few navigation issues on the way back, the route was lovely — immaculate villages, huge green fields and farmland looking incredibly lush in the sunshine.

One of those simple cycling days that just leaves you feeling good by the end of it 😊

Saturday 23 May 2026 — In the Heart of Belgian Cycling Country

Day 84 — Sandals, Sunshine and the Sportif
East Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪

Well, 84 days in and the sandals are finally out 😎. We are absolutely cooking today at 29 degrees.

It’s been another one of those travel days where we have somehow managed to end up at a completely free stop right beside the river. What a spot.

The other surprise today is that we seem to have accidentally stumbled into one of Belgium’s major cycling sportives. Tomorrow thousands of amateur riders will set off from Oudenaarde to tackle the famous cobbled climbs and roads of Flanders 🚴🇧🇪

We only had a short meander on the bikes ourselves today, using the compass rather than proper navigation. I definitely prefer following my purple line on the Garmin 😅

Back in the main square we stopped for a couple of Belgian pilsners while the atmosphere built around us. By the time we left there must have been twenty riders from one of the cycling teams standing nearby, with their bikes piled right next to ours.

As we were leaving, one of the riders helped me untangle our bikes from the heap. It really did make me chuckle — my bike sitting right alongside some very serious cycling machinery 😊

It really is amazing how these days unfold.

Sunday 24 May 2026 — Oudenaarde

Day 85 — Sunshine, Cobbles and Future Champions
East Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪

What a brilliant day.

Hot sunshine, brunch in the square and the sound of cyclists thundering over the cobbles before disappearing out into the Flemish countryside 🚴☀️

We headed out on the bikes ourselves later and somehow ended up following part of the sportive route for a while. The coloured signs suddenly made a lot more sense once we realised they were guiding thousands of riders around the famous Tour of Flanders roads.

There were some brilliant climbs along the way too, although one cobbled hill nearly became a very bad decision.
Definitely more bone-shaker than enjoyable.😅

Later we stopped at a café owned by a retired professional cyclist

Back in Oudenaarde the town was buzzing — music playing across the square, cafés packed, bikes everywhere and cycling fans filling every corner.

We wandered back later for the finale of the Under 19s race and blimey… these youngsters can ride. Belgium’s future looks pretty strong 🇧🇪🚴

Honestly, we were so lucky stumbling into this weekend. One of those completely unexpected travel moments that will stay with us for a very long time.

Monday 25 May 2026 — Ypres

Day 86 — From Cobbles to Remembrance
Ypres, Belgium 🇧🇪

We have had an incredible four days. Completely unplanned, but honestly some of the best of the trip so far — contrasting locations, zero camping costs and discovering what a fabulous place Belgium really is 🚴🇧🇪

Today though had a very different feel as we arrived in Ypres.

We spent the afternoon wandering around the square in 30-degree heat, admiring the beautiful buildings, cafés and cathedral before slowing the pace right down and simply absorbing the atmosphere of the city.

As the heat slowly began to ease, we explored more of Ypres properly, eventually stepping inside the cathedral. At first it felt similar to many others we have visited along the way, but somehow this one felt a few steps above the rest — the scale and atmosphere inside were genuinely breathtaking.

Early in the evening we ate out in the square, sharing a huge tapas platter between us. Far more food than we expected, although somehow we still managed most of it. 😅

Next stop tonight was the Menin Gate Memorial for the Last Post ceremony. Quiet, respectful and emotional, it is difficult to describe the feeling of standing there amongst so many people remembering those who never came home.

One of those evenings that will stay with us for a very long time.

Tuesday 26 May — Ypres

Day 87 — Brown Signs, Battlefields and Getting Lost
West Flanders, Belgium 🇧🇪

We set off on the bikes this morning following one of the brown cycling routes that weave through the countryside around Ypres.

Almost immediately the atmosphere changed — quiet lanes, open farmland and memorials appearing beside the roads as we rode.

Some of the cemeteries were large and striking, others small and almost hidden amongst the trees,

Finding our way back into Ypres took a little longer than expected, but even the wrong turns became part of the day.

We stopped for lunch in the square — a cheese board, cold Belgian beer and a chance to sit for a while watching everything going on around us.

Later we visited the In Flanders Fields Museum and it really was exceptionally well done. Rather than just displaying artefacts, it explains how the First World War gradually unravelled here and the unimaginable scale of destruction across the region. Emotional at times, deeply sad in places, but also fascinating and important to understand.

Walking through Ypres now, it is remarkable to think that after so much devastation Belgium rebuilt not only this city, but entire communities and landscapes destroyed by war.

On the way back we stopped for at the Menin Gate Memorial again, standing quietly beneath the thousands upon thousands of names carved into the stone. One of those places where words never quite seem enough.

Back at Matilda tonight, the pace has slowed again. A quiet evening, tired legs, and lots to think about after a day that felt very different from the usual travel days.

Wednesday 27 May 2026 — Homeward Bound

Day 88 — The Road Towards Home
Calais, France 🇫🇷

Today we began the journey home.

After breakfast we decided to head straight for Calais. After weeks of travelling without plans, having a ferry booking again felt strangely unfamiliar.

The drive was easy apart from a short motorway delay, and before long we arrived in Calais with plenty of time before boarding.

Over lunch we reflected on the trip — the amazing places we’d seen, along with the breakdowns, rain-soaked nights, SIM card problems and campsite mishaps that had somehow all become part of the adventure too.

The ferry crossing passed quickly, and before long we were arriving back in Dover. As we left the port, the journey suddenly felt very different as we negotiated the busy traffic around London.

Once we finally cleared the worst of it, we stopped at a wonderful village pub for dinner. It felt like the perfect finale to the trip — proper British food, a warm welcome and a few happy hours spent chatting, surrounded once again by familiar English voices. We then settled down for the night in Matilda tucked away in the pub car park.

As we settled in for the night, it felt strange knowing the journey was nearly over. 🚐

Thursday 28 May 2026 — Home Again

Day 89 — The Final Miles
Prestatyn, Wales 🏴

This morning there was no rush to leave. After one final quiet night in Matilda, we set off for the last stretch home, stopping for brunch at McDonald’s along the way.

The roads felt familiar now. Road signs we recognised, places we knew, and gradually the feeling grew that this incredible adventure really was coming to an end.

A small detour for coffee at my sister’s helped prolong the journey just a little longer before eventually turning towards home.

And then suddenly, we were there.

After nearly three months on the road, it felt slightly surreal pulling back onto the driveway. Gardens in full bloom, washing on the line, comfortable chairs and all the little familiar things that had been absent for so long.

We didn’t quite make the full ninety days, but honestly, what does one day matter? Somewhere along the way the numbers stopped mattering anyway.

And what a story it has been.

A huge thank you to everyone who followed along with the journey, liked the posts, commented, sent messages or quietly travelled with us from afar. Sharing the adventure each day somehow made it even more special.

Now it’s time to unpack Matilda, catch our breath and enjoy being home again for a while. 🚐. 🚐

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