Day 1 / Gent -Oudenaarde / 36.3 km

Being a pelgrim is a busy occupation (Maybe I should return to work instead of running to Santiago).

I’m already running behind with updating the blog after 2 days. It’s now 21.31 on day 2 when I finally found the time to update the blog. 

My first day on the road has been great. Although initially the weather was not really supportive it became a great sunny running day.  Not only the weather was great but I really appreciated all the friends who came to wave me goodbye and run/bike with me this first day. Due to the weather and bad roadconditions not all people who wanted to be present were able to make it but an additional beer when I return will forgive their absence.

As mentioned in the previous blog I postponed the departure  with 1 hour which was a good decision as by the time we left Gent the weather was great and running conditions perfect. 

It was great not have to run alone that first day : Big thanks to Sinaida, Klaas, Ann, Ona, Bert, Eric, Katrien, Maarten and Patrick. Super thanks to Tom who proofed to be the only “real” friend by running the entire distance to Oudenaarde.

Also great support from Luc and Inge who biked most/all of the way.

In total we covered 36 km at an average of around 10k/hour which was somewhat faster then I had planned. After 2 stops (Merelbeke and Gavere we arrived in Oudenaarde around 16.30 to enjoy an Ename. A 3rd stop was plannen initially but the cafe where we wanted to stop had strangely disappeared. 

In the evening after a nice sauna it was time to compensate the calories burned (4750 kcal) with large quantities of Tom’s pasta and Bente’s wine. 

Around 23.00 my body said it was time to sleep which I promptly did.

What I learned that first day : 

- I’m a lucky man 

- Weather is unpredictable 

- It’s great to run with friends 

- Some people can run an keep talking. 

- Though shall not move chairs in a Gavere bakery 

- The running did go better then expected 

- “Opgeven is geen optie”

Song of the day : 

Leaving - Yo la Tengo

Below you can find some pics of the first day. More were taken by various people (please forward them so I can post the on the blog)

Bed nº 1 

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