Leaving Gent then following the gradually widening river Schelde on the excellent jaagpad canal service roads: three cars all day, and hundreds of bicycles, a 50:50 mix of young racers and older couples on Dutch-style e-bikes. Onwards and crossing the Schelde by free foot ferry at Mariekerke, then a second ferry across the Rupel, before a well-deserved beer at De Musette cafe at the Boom velodrome, and on to accommodation near Duffel.