Back to Calais via Belgium and the French Coast
Day Eighteen
Day 18 marked the final full riding day of the trip as I left Aachen and made my way back towards Calais. It was a day that crossed three countries, took in some familiar names across Belgium, and finished with a ride along the French coast before returning to the Channel.
The morning started under grey skies with a bit of drizzle as I packed up and left the hotel. Thankfully, the rain never really amounted to much and, before long, the clouds began to break. By the afternoon, the weather had completely turned around, leaving clear skies and comfortable temperatures between 23°C and 26°C ideal riding conditions after the damp start.
The route covered 347 miles in around 6 hours and 42 minutes of riding, taking me through Lummen, Antwerp, Ghent, Ostend, and Dunkerque before finally arriving back in Calais.
The motorway sections kept the pace moving, although there was plenty of traffic to work through at times. Filtering helped keep the journey flowing, while the cameras captured the changing scenery from busy multi lane roads to the quieter stretches of smaller motorways. Crossing the bridges and watching the landscape change as Belgium gave way to the French coastline made for some memorable riding footage.
One of the lighter moments of the day came before setting off, with a bit of dancing outside the hotel a reminder that not every travel day has to be all serious miles and navigation. Sometimes it's those little moments that make a trip memorable.
As the afternoon unfolded, the cooler temperatures made for an enjoyable final run towards Calais. Passing through Ostend and then Dunkerque brought a sense that the adventure was gradually coming full circle. After nearly three weeks on the road, seeing Calais on the signs felt both satisfying and a little bittersweet.
Looking back over the day, it wasn't about dramatic mountain passes or spectacular twisty roads. Instead, it was a day of steady progress, changing countries, and reflecting on everything the journey had delivered. From the damp departure in Aachen to the sunny arrival back in Calais, it was a fitting final riding day before heading home.
Day 18 Stats
Route: Aachen → Lummen → Antwerp → Ghent → Ostend → Dunkerque → Calais
Distance: 347 miles
Riding Time: 6 hours 42 minutes
Weather: Overcast with light drizzle in the morning, clearing to sunny skies for the rest of the day
Temperature: 23–26°C
Every tour has to come to an end, and this ride back to Calais was a reminder that even the transition days have their own stories to tell.
