How strong is the lonely cyclist, bent over his handlebars, forging a path against the wind?
I decide to make the farewell to my most loyal lieutenant as brief as possible and I set off alone on the final section of the journey. First I pass the trench of death along the Yser, the last preserved stretch of the Belgian front, and then I head into the West Flanders polders. Despite the headwind, the cycling here is delightful. Via the Frontzate - the former railway line where the German advance was halted in 1914, now transformed into a cycle path - I cycle along a green axis towards Nieuwpoort. Along the way, I come across numerous war relics that lend themselves perfectly for a photo stop. This green axis leads me into Nieuwpoort, the official end or starting point - depending on your chosen direction of travel - of the 14-18 Western Front Route.
Since we want to take the train home from Ostend, I continue cycling for a while in that direction along the Coastal Route. Cycling here is easy: flat and straight along the Belgian coastline. It can be rather busy at times, so it is a good idea to make your presence known in good time to the many other ‘dyke users’. We come through unscathed. 😊 In Ostend, I can see Katrien in the distance waiting for me. It is like something from a romantic film; the soldier returning to the embrace of his lover.
For us, it is a happy reunion. We count ourselves lucky that we can hold each other in our arms once again. For the many brave souls who fought for our safe future, that was sadly not the case. Nearly 10 million soldiers lost their lives in WWI. Lest we forget.
