Category Archives: Out and about

Bikes & trains & kip

Whenever I travel by train in Europe, which isn’t often enough, I’m reminded of the poor state of the UK’s rail network. Trains in Europe are more modern and, because they have no Victorian track legacy, larger. 

They’re significantly cheaper too. When recently booking trains in Germany, I found tickets to excellent value, with first class a lot cheaper than the UK standard fare. And then today, with a return from Ostend to Ghent costing only €10.80.

That’s €10.80 for a 120 mile round trip, on a shiny new train with tons of leg room. 

Another thing which has impressed me about our long weekend in Belgium has been the number of bikes on the road. And cycle lanes, lots of cycle lanes. Another thing in which the UK is deficient. 

Anyway, in Oostende, Brugge and Gent there were a lot of bikes. 

Moving on to a different subject, Belgium is something of a vegan desert. That’s desert, not dessert. I’ve eaten a lot of crisps in Ostend. People eat a lot of kip here (dead bird).

Ghent, though, was different. While we only found a few places, apparently there are more vegetarian/vegan eateries than in London. We found pizza in a mental converted church. 

The Holy Food Market was mad, but amazing. Imagine a huge old church full of eateries and bars. 

So today wasn’t about beer. The cultural stuff kept getting in the way. 

We did manage to stumble across Belgium’s only comic bar though. 

Also mad. 

I did love the emerging veggie revolution in Ghent. Here’s an example on a wall of a meaty restaurant.

Verloren in brugge

Last year we had something of a mishap in Bruges. Our phones had proven to be an unreliable method of navigation, as did our joint sense of direction. 

An unplanned stopover was the result, although the experience was pleasant at the end of the day. 

We found a great hotel and, an essential, a nice local bar. So a return visit had to be made. 

It’s a local bar, so the beer was decent and cheap. But a trip away isn’t just about beer. 

Yes, there’s the architecture too. And table tops. 

Blackburn II

Well, we’re now back in Blackburn. We’d have returned later, but there’s work on the line tonight and, if we’d not caught this train, we’d have had a replacement bus service – two hours later. 

Anyway, I now have a bottle if Tucher. In Blackburn. 

I may never be critical of Preston again. 

Blackburn

My second in command isn’t impressed with Blackburn. We decided to stay over when picking up eBay purchases. 

The hotel’s pretty nice, so all was positive when we embarked on a search fo decent beer and food. 

So, an hour later, we arrived at the station, looking for a sensible return destination. Which turned out to be Preston. Yes, Preston. 

I’ve never been here for non-work purposes; well, not until today. My second in command was quite taken by the place. I hadn’t expected that. 

The Hypnotist

We’re in the Ostrich (where my second in command once lost my hat). The place has changed, but only in terms of beer. There’s a much wider choice of real beer. Unfortunately, there’s only one unfined beer (apart from Stella, that is). And it’s called the Hypnotist. At only 6.7%, and an IPA, it’s pretty close to Jakehead. But not quite as nice. 

It’s beautiful though. 

Rust

It’s been quite a while, but we’re now enjoying a beer in Charter’s. A favourite bar of ours, it’s freshly decorated. The interior, that is. 

The bar’s still great though. There’s a band playing later. We’re pondering. 

York

I’m now home after an excellent day in York with old gentlemen. 

Some of us didn’t fare very well. But some did. 

No, the bloke on the left wasn’t with us. 

Only two of the five of us managed a nightcap in town; pretty shocking I think. But that’s how it is when you hang out with old men. 

Oh, I meant a second nightcap; the tipi didn’t really count.