2015_05_15 St Armand's to Ghent

When we woke up this morning it was pouring and I though there was no way I would want to ride i that type of weather.  Once we ate and the boat had moved a bit further south it was fine!  

Bikes at the ready in Sint Armand's

Way up at the top is the horse with 4 brothers riding

Inside small museum - old poster of the 4 brothers on horse.

There actually was sunshine and the wind was not too bad.  We went into the town of Dendermonde and Tom told us the story of the horse and the 4 brothers.  Every 10 years there is a festival where a large horse is carried around the town square with 4 brothers riding.  Tom said that the four have to be brothers born in a row with no sisters interspersed.  Their father and grandfather's must also have been born in Dendermonde.  It is quite an honor to be selected.  A nice city square for a while and we were off!  

We rode along the Schelde river until we got to one for the famous ferry boats and crossed to the other side.  Rode up to a "hill" (not really one at all) called the Donk.  Stopped for a coffee in Donk and then headed on to the castle.

We had coffee in a restaurant behind this statue of a farmer harvesting peat in Donk.

This castle was pretty sweet - we stopped for our lunch and then walked around the grounds for a while in Laarne.  

Eventually after quite a bit more pedaling we finally arrived in Ghent.  Ghent is really a big city relative to where we have been lately.  There is a famous cathedral, a city hall and a bell tower (belfry) all within sight of each other.  Walked to the river and went a bit further to a castle.

Ghent

Another story from Tom in Ghent

The Castle

Main cathedral

We changed some dollars for Euros (quite an experience in it's own).  Then back to a cafe along the river where we had hot chocolate for me and a beer for Connie. 

I finally got some free WIFI outside the restaurant and was able to send a message to Mackenzie!  Did a bit of Face Time with Mackenzie and Sarah sent a couple of images and a video.  Nice to see them!  I hope we will have WIFI tomorrow in Bruges.

Crossing a bridge leaving Ghent.

Back to where the boat was moored on the south of Ghent. There is a new captain on the boat (Karl - Walter has gone off to run a sailing cruise).  Karl helped to shepherd us back to the boat.  Dinner Salmon on potato salad, Fish with carrots and rice, apple pie. We watched the Europa Cup Final from Amsterdam on the t.v.  Chelsea defeated Benfica 2-1 in extra time - John from London was pretty happy.