#5 - Finding shelter (and some awesome news)
Yesterday’s ride was a bit of a challenge. It had me navigate between rain showers the whole time. Belgium is known for many great things, but the weather isn’t on that list unfortunately. Especially not in spring. Checking the weather app, I was fortunate enough to slip between the most severe showers, but I still had to find shelter a couple of times. It extended my travel time a bit, and the temperatures dropped a little, but nothing I couldn’t handle. I noticed my legs felt a little more tense in the cold, but they still kept going. Maybe it’s time to start looking for some purpose made cycling clothes. Remember, that three months ago, I hadn’t had any exercise worth that name in almost 25 years. So right now, I’ll take any victory I can. Even it’s just a victory over what little challenge Mother Nature throws at me.
About victories… Earlier yesterday, I visited my doctor for a first three month check up for the diabetes. He was impressed. It seems that all the things I’ve been doing have really payed of. Three months ago, I changed my diet. I started eating low in carbs and rich in proteins. I haven’t felt hungry once, but still, I’m eating much healthier then before. I’ve taken this to the next level so to say. Most likely, I won’t keep this up forever. And probably I won’t have to. But I will until my weight and my blood glucose are at a level I want them to be. Combined with my pretty intensive workouts, this helps me get back on track in record time. And from time to time, I reward myself with some comfort food. That pizza yesterday, tasted better than ever.
The goal of the trip was to pick something up. Something that will change my rides for the better.
I know most of the tracks and roads around my place from the top of my head. Having a photographic memory, doesn’t really help with finding variety when riding. That makes me want to ride further from home. Different regions in Belgium, and in the future, different countries. But for now, I’m somewhat limited in where I can go. More than 70 km a day, is still a bit far-reached. And I know there’s so many great places out there. Places I want to visit. Or revisit.
That’s why I bought a second hand van. It’s an old, beaten up thing, but I’m hoping it will serve me as it served its previous owner. He used it to travel with his sledge dogs. The back of the van was their space. Where the benches are now, I’m planning to make a work bench for the trike. A place to store it when on the road. In the front, there’s the living area. It’s small and outdated, but I don’t need much. Some changes will be made to suit my needs a little more, but the main set up will remain.
Much like the trike, the van is a slow traveller. Riding it home yesterday, I found myself cruising between the other slow traffic. Pulling away at traffic lights, I even was overtaken by lorries on more than one occasion. That was perfectly fine, since I found myself wondering about the travels to come. Rest assured… You’ll read all about them here.
