The tunnel

It was obvious we had left Flemmish speaking Belgium behind, with their cycle lanes and considerate driving and headed into the city. The cycle lanes finished literally after the last picture on the blog. We headed up the R20 towards the Basiliek von Koekelberg. Right in front of it were a set of traffic lights and a busy junction, we knew we had to take a right and go around this magnificent building.

So we headed right, and under what we all thought was an underpass.

I had this horrible recurring thought going into the tunnel that a car was going to come around the corner and flatten us.

With the sunglasses on it was VERY dark, and the cars were flying by at 70kmph+

Initially it was quite scary, the following thoughts kept going through my head:

None of us have lights
I wish I'd bought travel insurance
I'd like to know how fast we're going, but I'm not taking my eyes off the road
I hope there are no potholes or bumps in the road, because I wouldn't see them
Why are we STILL going downhill?
How long is this tunnel!!?
Are we going to end up outside of Brussels?
Have those cars that are merging seen us?
I hope Spen's filming this
We're all going to die
I want to see where I'm going but I'm not taking my hands off the handlebars for ANYTHING.
Should we stop? No it's too far, and there's no way we can go back now
What DO the car drivers think we're doing here, having a laugh?
Ok, we haven't died yet, this is ridiculous and actually quite funny.
And finally, is this a way out? Yes it is, get out QUICKLY.

I can't wait to see Spen's video of the experience. None of us made a sound throughout, I think we were all caught away in our own thoughts.

As soon as I came out, and maybe a bit before, I can't remember (it was SUCH a rush), I couldn't stop laughing.

For me, it more than made up for quite an uneventful ride and especially the dreadful cycle lanes. Just before we reached Brussels I gave up riding on them and had joined the main road which was much smoother without an inch step every 5 meters or so.

The hotel is very nice, and the shower was wonderful, I'm laying on the bed watching the Tour de France (though I think we'd all prefer the Tour de Sloggi) in my thick bath robe, getting very hungry but not really wanting to move.