12 May 2026

Today we made a wee expedition across the border to Sluis in the Netherlands, on a very specific shopping mission. With that done, we crossed back into Belgium, heading for West Flanders. 

I took these quick pictures through the car window (not bothering to open it, as it was freezing) as we crossed the Kanaal van Brugge -

and drove along the Damse Vaart, lined with poplar trees, next to the canal

to the village of Damme outside Bruges. 

Lunch was grilled turbot and a glass of Cremant d'Alsace at the Damsepoort

And then a productive mosey around this well-curated old bookshop run by an equally (?) old man -

On the way home we stopped to pick up homemade ice cream from the farm automat.

watched by a sleek, well-fed pony in the adjacent field.