Watch the video, read the words and photos below, or both.Possibly the only drawback of the site… it was huge. The marquee and some of the campers were some distance from the chalets where we and other members stayed. Adding to the issue was that some of the pitches were waterlogged, so some members were dispersed around the site.In the evening of arrival day (Saturday 25th May 2024) there were welcome drinks and a brief address outside the Brasserie which became the pre-ride meeting point for many, and a place to ‘rehydrate’ after the day’s ride.Our ‘digs’ for the week.
Sunday 26 May – Day 1
Day 1 – Around the inlet part of Veerse Meer. The western end is contained by a large dyke which we crossed first. At the eastern end there’s a large lock. Each end of the lock has a road bridge that can be raised so, as the lock operates traffic can continue to flow, crossing the at the closed lock end, whichever it is.
We met up with Bernie and Sue for all the rides as we enjoy their company and we go at a similar pace. Riding with just one other tandem is easier than in a big group and most of the time we were just the two pairs but now and then we would catch or be caught by other groups, and there are always more tandems coming and going around the popular cafés.
After crossing the big dyke at the northern end of the Meer we rode to Veere, passing this mill close to the town.Sue and Karon on the little lifting bridge, KoninginBeatrixbrug.Houses in Veere.At the Market place we popped in to a bakers for some lunch to take away. The local offering is called a ‘bolus’, a bit like a soft, sticky and very sweet cinnamon bun. They come plain or with a custard filling.
After stocking up for lunch we popped next-door to a café for a coffee, sitting outside but under cover. The cover came in handy, as while we sat there a heavy shower passed through (rain, not tandemists).
The Sluizencomplex Veere, which allowed us to cross the Canal that cuts across the island of Walcheren.Approaching the eastern end lock, looking back up the Meer.Another coffee stop, this time at Kortgene. On the right is the Crispin Triple.While the scenery wasn’t always dramatic, you could often see anything coming the other way for miles.In the evening we made our way to the Marquee for Neil’s quiz – we should have ridden there, it was a good way and we spent some time trying to find the marquee. We formed a team with Bernie & Sue, Pia & Tilman and Liz & Mark.
Monday 27 May – Day 2
Day 2’s ride passed through Veere again on the way to Middelburg.After leaving Kamperland the second ride also took us out across the dyke – or Veerse Gatdam.The seaward side of the dyke. A huge beach… the dots on the surfline are three horses with riders.Virtually all of the routes were traffic free or almost. Here, beyond the horses, there’s a line of tandems that were ahead of us.Middelburg. We left the bikes just to the left and I hovered while the others wandered around a flee-market in the square for a while. We didn’t bother with a coffee stop here in the centre as we’d picnicked on a bench on the outskirts then popped in to a supermarket.
Tuesday 28 May – Day 3
Day 3 was an ‘out & back’ to Goes. While the weather in the morning was breezy but dry, a storm was forecast for later, so we decided to up the tempo a bit and not linger too long in Middelburg before a brisk return to beat the rain.An avenue of White Poplars just outside the small community of Geersdijk.Running below the dyke between Kortgene and the ‘Zandkreeksluis’ – the big lock at the eastern end of the Meer.Coffee and cake (or apple pie) stop in Goes, beside the big Market Square.The biscuits that came with the coffee must have been French.Say cheese!The little harbour in Goes.
Wednesday 29 May – Day 4
No planned rides for the day but the Rally organisers had arranged for some tandem suppliers to display a few models in the Community Hall at Veere. Tea/Coffee and boluses (the local baked speciality) were on offer too. As the weather was looking ‘ify’ we decided to drive over and once we had found the large car park on the fringes of the village, walked in to the centre.
Veere.Tandems….…tea and cake! They naturally go together.Veere.Back at Kamperland the Tandem Games was due, postponed from the previous night because of the inclement weather. Now it was nice! We stood on the shore and watched a yacht race get under way before the games.Ben and Jack limbering down at the Tandem Games.Egg and spoon timed circuit.If you didn’t stay between the lines, Neil and Stuart were on hand to flag you out.
Thursday 30 May – Day 5
The Peilerdam. For scale, there are already some tandems about to cross the sluices.Bernie and Sue on the Peilerdam.On the non-seaward side of the Sluice the water was a lot calmer.Beside the dyke there was a run of wetlands with salt-tolerant plants and a reserve for birdlife ranging from raptors to waders and meadow birds.A barge moored up at Zierikzee. We stopped here for a picnic coffee break..Zierikzee. After leaving the town we had to cross the 5km long Zeeland Bridge. The wind was up and coming from the side, across the bridge making it hard work and tricky on the relatively narrow cycle path which was right next to the handrail. More than once I found myself wishing the handrail was higher!Looking back at the Zeeland Bridge we had cycled across.
Friday 31 May – Day 6
Our last ride of ITR24. At our usual start time of 09:30am it was still raining, so we delayed the start until it stopped. Bernie and Sue had decided to sit this one out, preferring to stay dry and start packing for the move out in the morning.
Day 6 – out along the coast, to the north of Oostkapelle, then turning away from the coast at Domburg. Free ice-cream had been lined up at a farm, then it was a return through farmland and back across the Veerse Gatdam.Behind the dunes of Walcheren.As we neared Oostkapelle the path surface changed from tarmac to hard-packed grit and threaded its way between the trees. At Domburg we stopped for a coffee and joined some of the other ‘Thameswey’ contingent who we normally ride with back home. They were just getting settled for a coffee and cake and kept a couple of seats for us. Domburg was busy – even hectic. In places too crowded to ride safely, so we walked the tandem for a bit and were glad to get out into the quiet lanes.Calves at the ice-cream farm.The ice-cream farm was a popular stop.After leaving the ice-cream farm we tagged on to the back of the Dutch/German contingent and rode with them (just behind) for much of the way back.Crossing back over the Veerse Gatdam we had a good view of the Peilerdam we had rode the day before.The beach on the sea-side of the Gatdam.Back at the campsite we got rid of some unused bread with the help of these noisy locals.
The following day we left the ITR and headed for Bruges. We had hoped to arrive early and ride into the old town from our hotel near the town but the weather had other ideas, so we had a drink in the bar then called for a taxi to take us to a restaurant as the food in the hotel was all pizza and pasta… not good for Karon.
The day after we had time to stop off at a supermarket in France for some wine (some less than 3€) and managed to get aboard an earlier ferry to arrive home late afternoon.
