Despite the early wake up call on a Saturday racing in Serskamp, Belgium is one of my favorites. The course is fun, up and down around the apple orchard. It's a proper race with announcers keeping the crowd informed between the "best of the 80s" mix on the PA. Each lap I'm reminded of being the American at the local race--certainly not a fast American! But good enough; 15th on the day and not lapped. I'll take that and €5 prize money. Of course that was consumed as a burger stop on the way home.

The race reminds me of why I love racing in Belgie. Despite being just a local race there are plenty of racers showing up in campers and box vans; a paying crowd watching. The seniors at sign in confirming you have the right number. And as I've had the pleasure of seeing over the years hospitality of the people. A lady came out of her house as I was finding my jacket in the car and offered somewhere warm and dry to get cleaned up. Tempting but on a warm fall day just good to be in the sun. A long day for certain but a good one.

Sunday brings a race closer to home; round two of the local series at the Hillversum club. A big group on the start line of a tiny course. Truly amazing what can be done in the space of a football field. A long enough lap but after five rounds I was getting a bit dizzy with all the turns. Yesterday's packed sand replaced by slippery grease; difficult enough to pass on made even more so while sliding around. A good day, no worries where I finished as the legs were still heavy from yesterday. And home in time for lunch; maybe a quick ride before watching the World Cup on TV.