After arriving at the Roeselare train station, our instructions were to call the hotel to arrange for pickup. The problem was that we could not figure out how to use the pay phone... So as Abe and I discussed our options outside the train station, I felt like I was in an episode of the Amazing Race. I decided to ask a stranger in my broken French, if we could borrow her cell phone to call our hotel. The lady I asked told us we could use the public pay phone in the station, which we already knew. Dejected, we walked back in and tried putting our credit card in the phone (it didn't take coins). We were greeted with loud beeping. Finally, Abe asked the station attendant for a phone card (5 Euro). Yay, we got the phone to work!
Abe talked to the hotel owner who said he would pick us up in 30 minutes after he took his shower. I asked Abe if he told us what type of car/van he would be in and whether or not he gave the guy any descriptive information on how to find us. The answer to both was no. But there he was, about 30 minutes later, able to spot the American travelers, pas de probleme.
We stayed at the Hostellerie Vijfwegen Bis, a nice, modern place with a sort of Bob Newhart do it all driver/reception desk/info desk/owner/restauranteur/busboy/jack of all trades. It was a beautiful, modern place and we were informed that we had been booked the honeymoon suite. It did not disappoint.
Our bicycles had already arrived at the hotel from the travel company, so we decided to try them out. We took a circle route around part of Roeselare and ended up at a café for an afternoon snack. We tried 2 types of waffles. One with butter and sugar, the other with chocolate. Nice! I found a local Brug Witte Beer but Trix stuck with a sparkling water. Next up was a Grimbergen Bruin to wash down all that chocolate.
After the snack, we went back to the hotel for our orientation. A representative from the travel company met us to check out the bikes, go over the route, and answer any questions. We met two other couples doing the trip as well. Dave and Laura from Harrisburg, PA, and Howard and Marsha from Chicago met us for our welcome drink... a Trappist Westmalle Dubbel.
For dinner, our hotel restaurant "Frogs" was closed for a private party so we walked down the street to a nice Flemish restaurant called Ter Vijfweghe. Trix tried a scampi curry w/ homemade pasta entrée and I ordered a 3 course set meal. First was a shrimp in a cream sauce, then a steak made with geuze served with a huge bowl of frites, and finally a flaming cup of crème brulee. It was all awesome. And of course I didn’t miss an opportunity to try another Trappist beer, a Rochefort 8’!
Our bed was calling so that was it for Saturday. Tomorrow, we will start the bicycle trip to Ieper. The first 2 days are the only ones with hills so we will be tested early I guess. The part of Belgium we’ve seen is very flat as far as you can see and I’m sure we’ll be thankful for that by the end of our trip! Time to stretch...
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