Around the airport

I didn't have much time for a big ride this Saturday so I took this rather uninspired tour around the airport. The taste of sweet kerosene:

I did this on Saturday this weekend just after heavy rainfalls. The bike would suffer. But it is still winter so I was on my "bad weather bike". One of the criteria for the new flat was to have a decent place to clean the bike. Not a cellar or garage. The courtyard and the water hose really are a quick and easy alternative to cleaning indoors. So rain is a bad excuse for laziness.

very close to IKEA, yet countryside.

The way out through Nossegem and Sterrebeek is unspectacular, yet good to ride, safe for some passages on these concrete roads and unuseable "fietspad" through Nossegem. Just don't use it.

In Perk I passed the picturesque Kasteel de Ribaucourt which is unfortunately not open to the public. The area around it, the Hellebos, is nice for Sunday afternoon walks (and a beer or coffee at Chalet Lillebroeck). A good alternative to the Tervuren Park or Bois de la Cambre without the masses.

Back via Houtem (probably the ugliest village in the area - or is it Peutie?) into Brussels where surprisingly only minor bike cleaning was necessary: