Day 21 - A beastly big push to Belgium
We knew our penultimate day would be tough. We had a long way to go and a suitable amount of time to get there.
With the temperature hitting 28 around 9am, a day on the autoroute was the last thing we needed. However, Jase pushed on and we arrived in Luxembourg around lunchtime. The only thing of note being the amount of Lithuanian truckers. Loads of them.
Luxembourg City is odd. Firstly, it’s another of those places that wafts its signs in the vague direction of car parks but then doesn’t tell you exactly where they are. Secondly, it’s very business oriented. Turning around between glass skyscrapers in search of parking, a woman saw Alex the meerkat tied to our bonnet. She gave a hearty double thumbs up. He’s been gaining quite a bit of attention, especially in Switzerland of all places.
In the old centre, we stopped for lunch and a legion of soft drinks - it was 30 degrees. We also found our last accommodation.
It was in Kortrijk, an unheralded Belgian city near the French border. We’d always planned to spend our final night in Belgium, but not here. That was until we found out Mike D of the Beastie Boys was doing a gig. It would be a great way to celebrate the end of the trip.
Like many places in Belgium, Kortrijk was pretty. A quick wander and a local beer later and we were enroute to the venue, an old factory on the outskirts.
Lightning greeted us and soon came the downpour. The half indoor and half outdoor venue managed to keep us dry while Mike D belted out his newer tunes, before finishing with a bass-heavy Beastie Boys classic.
Finishing a trip like this can leave you deflated, especially on a long journey home, but this was just the tonic.
Songs of the day
Ian: Asleep On a Sunbeam by Belle & Sebastian
Craig: Minimal by Dubioza Kolektiv
Jase: Autumnsong by Manic Street Preachers
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