The last few day in Tielt-Winge

Thursday, today, is one of our last few days here in Tielt-Winge Belgium. I can't say that I'm really going to miss the milk or the eggs sold on the shelf with the crackers, or the rice you cook in bags, but I will miss the fabulous training here and the all the strength I am gaining from the racing. I still have a few days however left in Europe. Tomorrow we are headed to Luxembourg for three races. We race a 5km team time trial under street lights at 9pm tomorrow night, and a road race Saturday and Sunday. I am excited to go to Luxembourg, it's supposed to be a gorgeous country. They supposedly speak "Luxembourgish" so maybe I can pick up on that hahah! Anyways, this morning it was pouring rain... big news for Belgium. We headed out on a ride, which felt like it took years, but really only two hours. The route was one of my favorite rides so far. There was a mix of climbing and flat, out in the open and through forest and tiny roads. The only problem with it raining in Belgium and riding is that the roads are always covered in cow manure and horse shit that when your riding in a big group, it's all being splashed up into your face. Trust me, it's not the best smelling thing in the world to be breathing in for two hours straight. I was sure to hop directly into the shower when I got back to the house. We spent some time washing our bikes, and I started to pack up my things. We arrive back from Luxembourg on Sunday night, and we are spending the day and evening in Leuven on Monday, so we won't really be here much more. My exams are all messed up for university right now. I don't know whether or not I am writing them in May at UBC, in September or next December lol. I think that it is just one of those things I can't worry about as everything will just fall into place. We went out with the New Zealand national team for dinner, but it was really just our Canadian girls team and some of the U23 guys from Canada and our coaches. We ate at a restaurant and they gave us 50% off all of our meals, it was delicious too. I tasted my first bit of Belgian dark beer too. mmmm. I should get off to sleep now, its 11 and i have to get up bright and early, which won't be a problem seeing as I forget what sleep is, to ride and then head off for the weekend. I know I have internet at the hotel in Luxembourg, but I probably won't get to write a blog tomorrow night. I will post it Saturday morning however. My race tomorrow is at 9pm my time, so by the time the race is finished and I get settle into bed it will be too late to write....Just in case if you wonder why I didn't write, I won't have crashed or got run over by a tractor or anything....

Karlee