By the numbers
On foot
15545 steps
11.63kms
On Bike
27.2 kms
The night was raining and pouring at several intervals. I
had gotten really tired after returning from the Menin Gate and the Last Post.
I did however want to look up information about bike routes, but I did not get
far as I was wanting to hit the land of nod as I had been up too late already
or was it early.. Since breakfast was at 830am, which I honestly thought was
late it actually allowed me to sleep in a touch before keeping an eye on the
weather before leaving. I was still unsure over the rain and now the wind.
Deciding just to leave as I didn’t really have a plan apart
from heading toward Tyne Cot Cemetery, one of the most well known ones in the
area. The first Step was Hellfire Pass a very dangerous section of the British
lines as supplies had to pass through and shells would be lobbed and explode
within the area.I was really uncomfortable riding through the area on the road
as I kept thinking I was riding the wrong side of the road. I did find a track
early on that took me away from the road, but once I hit the roundabout that
was Hellfire Pass, I had to use a path that was dedicated tro me. I decided to
ride against the flow of traffic as I wanted to see what was coming to me. I
crossed the road after coming across a moped in the path coming to me. That was
a good idea to change sides and then it did seem easier, but I was afraid cars
would be attracted to me.
I arrived in the town of Zonnebeke where I passed a sign for
Polygon Wood. I thought I really should stop and have a look at that, but
pushed myself to keep heading for my first destination of Tyne Cot. The best
thing was my map knew I was on a biike and I was following the blue lane to
where I needed to go. I had bought my phone holder with me from home as I knew
I would need that especially today. It helped a bit. I took some roads to Tyne
Cot Cemetery and then it decided it wanted to rain a little bit. I raced for a
building that was all about the Tyne Cot Cemetery and how it was formed. It had
been part of the front lines during World War One that included two German pill
boxes amogst the graves. When they talk about the iron hsarvest, they are
usually talking about the unexploded explosives that they keep coming across
especially sionce the bombs didn’t all explode. The cemetery does have a loo,
but it costs you. I put a coin in and was too slow with the turnstyle as it
locked. I had to do so again and do it much quicker. It was funny watching
people later on trying to find the exit and that was the same way you came in. When
I walked the cemetery, there were a few others there too, but it was also
blowing a gale and on and off there was rain. I found the family member I was
looking for quite easily and I was happy to give a copy to my grandfather there
and then. I had the data on my phone to do something like that and did it I
did. I wasn’t going to wait until later on. My phone’s storage card is slowly
filling up with all the photos that I have been taking. Luckily, I have been
storing them on an external drive, but I am thinking that I might need to look
for a larger storasge card. When I pulled up there were motorcyclists leaving
and when I left there were some who had arrived, They seem to have actual trikes. I have no
idea what type as I am not going near to find out.
On leaving the cemetery satisfied with what I had found, I
set my map to do its thing and the surprising part was it found a bike track
back into Zonnebeke. I looked at my msap and had to turn around as there was
something I wanted to look at. I came across a sign that spoke about a man
being found near the remains of a railway line. They had the train line showing
and /I had thought at first it was part of the trench system. I kept on
stopping at these signs the entire way as they told a little bit about the
battle in the area regarding the
Australian infantry. I did come across a bunker that was a German First Aid
post. That backed onto some business that had many tyres waiting to be recycled
or dumped. It decided to bucket it down just as I reached town and the funny
part was that I found a bike shelter that sheltered me from the rain. I should
point out that I wasn’t using my field guide as I did not want it to get
sopping wet as then that would be a bad thing to return home. Nearby was the
Passchendaele Park that I know had a New Zealand monument. I wanted to see the
monument, which I did and at the same time used the loo..
I chose now to visit Polygon Wood Cemetery as that was one
place the Australian soldiers fought and was a forest or was at that time. Now
it is forest again, but does seem to be one of those one lane roads where
people have to wait for you to pass. I had trouble getting out of the park
trying to follow the arrow as there was a path that said to Polygon Wood, but
the map didn’t want any of that so I had to go by the road, which wasn’t too
bad as I passed a path again on my way to Polygon Wood where I was trying to
peddle against the wind. Like I was happy about that as I was getting tired
legs and could feel the burn. Each time I moved the bike somewhere after
getting off I would bash the peddle against my leg just below the knee. I found
the Butts New British Cemetery and the Polygon Wood cemetery as they were right
across each other, but the map was taking me into the bush. I didn’t go in
there for a reason as I didn’t want to get something in my tyres and I was
actually running out of time.
I wasn’t sure where I wanted to go after that as I could
have taken the path back to Ypres and to the Canadian War memorial, but I kind
of wanted to get away from the windy weather and the possible rain that could
hit again. I decided that I could head out to the Hooge Crater Cemetery. One
reason for heading here was that within the New Zealand diaries for the
artillery was that the HQ was being moved to both Hooge Crater which is in the
area and also at the Birr Cross roads, both are in the same area that I had
originally wanted to ride to. Getting there took maximum effort as it ended up
being slow as I was against the wind all the way and went down some weird side
roads that took me out just before the museum, but actually near a theme park
that I didn’t know was there. At one stage I had to stop as it started raining
and I had to get my wet gear on, but I think I was slow with that as I was
damp. I did find a cafe called the ANZAC Rest, but I kept on going. I stopped
in front of the Hooge Crater museum even though it was one on the list I wanted
to see, I just didn’t have the time or energy. I didn’t have lunch as I had a
huge breakfast, but now it was mid afternoon, it was starting. I had a look at
the cemetery, before riding away towards Ypres after a route reset.
I was now heading
back to the town via the Menin Gate. I did have no problems crossing the road
at Hellfire Pass like I panicked over earlier in the day. Cars seem to stop for
riders unlike at home where you would get abused. After Hell Fire Pass I had
enough of riding against the wind so walked a little bit and then seen several
cemeteries as I went past. I wanted to visit them including the town cemetery,
but I thought I had done enough for one day. I got to a familiar area where I
ended up walking the bike the half a km back to the bike shop. They were happy
to see me and asked if I had any problems. I told the lady only the weather and
her reply was I cant fix that. I will use the Bike Bar again when I am here. I
ended up back in my room and had a shower, though I did have a feed not long
after I left the bike at its home. I ended up back at the Last post at 8pm, but
even half hour before starting there was a crowd. I would hate to think that
started an hour before and I had the spot right next to where all the wreath
bearers would walk out so there wasn’t too much to see. There was a choir singing
tonight, so there must be something different happening each night, which is
good. I don’t know if its because of the Dday stuff that everything is busy,
but I do know I will be back.
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