Bicycles and Belgians

In Belgium and Holland, bicycles are extremely popular.  In Holland, there is said to be twice as many bikes to people! (Still not sure how that works out...?)

On Sunday morning, after feasting on dutch pancakes, 'MURICAN pancakes and bacon Toon offered to take Hanna and I on a bike ride.  Hanna and I, in our food coma and feeling in desperate need of exercise agreed to go.  We put on our warmest clothing and found some windbreakers to wear in the chilly weather.  Toon managed to find some bikes for us to ride and we set off! Newest fact I learned about myself: I SUCK AT BIKING.  The bike ride started out nice and easy as we bumped along the muddy paths in a forest near the Laane's house.  Then....I slowly started to fall behind Hanna and Toon which was the theme for the entire bike ride.  Toon and Hanna WAYYY in front and kelsey bringing up the caboose WAYYYY behind.  I also caused the bike crew to stop a few times - oopziez. The first time we had to stop on my account was because my gears were shifting weirdly so we stopped to make sure the chain wouldn't fall off. Crisis #1 averted! We continued on our path and we encountered a huuuuge hill.  Hanna and Toon powered up the hill annnnnnnnd, Kelsey? Got off and walked. So, Toon waited halfway up the hill for me and gave me a push (I reminisced my childhood - remember pushing us up the Vernon hill mom?) to get me started again.  Crisis #2 averted! We kept winding around paths in the forest that often weren't paved and covered in rocks and mud.  I picked the mountain bike thinking that it would make biking easier but without knowing it I also picked the bike with the hardest seat in the world.  Lets just say biking over bumpy rock paths on a seat that is as hard as pavement HURTS. I still wince when I sit down.  I began to slow down and stand up while going over the bumpiest parts of the bike ride which put me farther behind Hanna and Toon.  When we got to a certain point Toon asked us if we wanted to take the shortcut home or the long way, I answered, "the long way!" (I wanted to prove that I could keep up with them).  FOOLISH. Our 45 minute bike ride turned into a two hour bike ride (mostly due to my slow bike riding).   Every time we turned a corner I was sure we were close to going back to the Laane household and every time we turned a corner we arrived at a new path in the forest. When we finally reached civilization Toon offered to take up the caboose I was insistent that he didn't have to but he said he didn't mind.  Honestly, I feel bad.  I was legit going slower than a person walking would go.  Eventually, Toon went ahead to make sure Hanna knew where she was going (THAT IS HOW SLOW I WAS BIKING).  I took that opportunity to speed up a bit by getting off my bike and walking to where they were.  Once we had crossed some major roads I got back on my bike and finished the....get ready....FIFTEEN MILE BIKE RIDE. I got back into the house and laid with my feet on a heater swearing I would never trust a Belgian with a bike.

One more thing to note: The haircut was interesting and different than a haircut in the US.  In Belgium, they had one person wash my hair, another person cut my hair and a someone else styled my hair! It's crazy how different some things are here compared to the US.

We are back in London :) We booked some train tickets to go to Winchester, England this weekend to visit a friend and we are sooooo excited to experience English countryside.  I really hope I can see some sheep.  And my butt recovers.

PS. Hope the superbowl was fun....I saw a lot of interesting tweets that make no sense at all! I did try to watch some commercials (the only reason I watch the super bowl in the first place).