Wednesday, August 10: like previous three years I combined riding the CBX with visits to some interesting museums, ánd finish the trip at a biker camp site. Contrasting goals, I know, but proven to be a nice mix.

The weather forecast was bad: a lot of rain was predicted.

The bike was ready for it, and so was I.

The trip to Tilburg was an unexpected pleasant one, with lots of sun.

Museum De Pont is one of my favorite Dutch museums, so a perfect start.

I already knew Anish Kapoor's polished concave/convex stainless steel mirror (Vertigo, 2008) but it's still impressive. Constantly protected by a guard, or sometimes even two, to prevent visitors touching it.

You see the guard on the right, and the little black spot in the center is me. Question to you photographers: how did I take this picture...?

Charlotte Dumas (no sister of...) pictured what had become of the search dogs from 9/11.

I love museums which allow artwork proper space, like this work, When I Am Pregnant (1992) by Anish Kapoor. An empty room with 'just' a white bump on a white wall. Minimalism at its purest.

As I reached my destination for the night, camp site De Molen, the sun returned. I put up my tent in a quiet corner, just below the monument the site was named after.

At certain moment an older Belgian man walked by, and handed me a beer. I asked him why, and he answered 'You seem to be a nice guy'. Well, that's a nice welcome.

I met Chris, a Welshman, starting his four month motorcycle trip through Europe this very day. His goals for the months ahead: meeting bears in Finland and wolves in Spain. And correcting anyone (as in: me) the misuse of 'England' vs. 'Great Britain'. Very funny to see his agitation grow after every beer. ;)

At 02.30h we emptied our last can.

Thursday August 11: it was a bitter cold night, actually the coldest since 1993. I woke up early – did I sleep at all? – and looked at the sad weather forecast: rain all day long.

The very moment I left the camp site, it started raining. I rode to Museum Hedendaagse Kunst (Museum of Contemporary Art) in Antwerp.

Outside there was a festivity for children. The weather and this empty play tool were a sad but perfect match.

Fortunately after that I entered beautiful emptyness, like De Pont. Watched lots of documentaries on the new electronic music, drugs and its effect on politics, art and society in general.

Some smoked, some kissed and most of them danced. And chewed gum, for whatever reason. ;)

I just sat down and enjoyed the video and the music as it took me back in time.

Ah yes, always a joy: a picture from Andreas Gursky (Union Rave, 1995). It shows a mass of people at a large rave party. Every single persons expression is clear, even in depth. So many stories in one picture.

About 14.00h I rode to Kemzeke (B), to the Verbeke Foundation. Next to my bike you see Geert Verbeke, the founder. A quite mysterious man owning an out-of-the-box museum.

I was very lucky to start my visit with a live demonstration by Theo Jansen. His work really fascinates me as it is a combination of art, engineering, mechanics and biology. Wind makes the Beach Beasts, as he calls them, come alive at the Dutch coast line. Look at this documentary (in Dutch), or just type in Theo Jansen and strandbeest in YouTube and you'l find his spectacular creations.

Over 25 years, day in day out, searching for the DNA of selfmade creatures.

A very inspiring artist. With a lot of humour and self-mockery as well.

I laid my hands on the last copy of his book, called De Grote Fantast (The Big Daydreamer) ...

... which he signed: To Otto, the very last copy.

It was a challenge to take it home in one piece, but I succeeded.

Like three years ago I spent the night in the Camping Flat, by Kevin van Braak. A 12 meter high structure of scaffolding pipe, divided into four floors. Including artificial grass and looking out on the very noisy highway E34 it's a wonderful parody of our modern desire for experiencing nature and freedom.

I met Dea (l) and Eus (r) and cooked a dinner for the three of us on my little stove. They took rum, which went surprisingly well with the food. We talked art, work, and life in general. Nice company.

Friday August 12: sleeping in the Camping Flat is a weird experience. Unlike a normal flat you feel everyone who's inside: even if one just rolls over in the night, the whole structure starts to shake.

And don't forget the traffic noise from the highway, all night long. About 06.00h I woke up from a very (very!) loud passing motorcycle. I think it was a twin cylinder bike with megaphones instead of silencers; I'd heard a similar sound before at a Belgium bikemeeting, years ago. It didn't irritate me, it made me grin.

!The rain had stopped!

Verbeke Foundation doesn't present itself as a normal museum, more like an art rebel. They say it's inharmonious, which I think is not the case. Unfinished, in motion, unpolished: yes. But not inharmonious. Just look at this loo.

I spent quite some time to learn the history on the Beach Beasts ...

... taking close looks at them ...

..... and trying to catch the creatures on camera.

There was more to see. Loved the sound machines by Ad van Buuren.

As I walked through the art park, outside, I discovered this pile of bones. My first association was the holocaust, and it made me stop at a safe distance.

As I came closer it turned out to be a pile of cow bones, which, of course, are far less confronting.

As I came closer, I even saw the beauty of it. Blossoming flowers smoothed the first impression.

There was no sign to tell me who made this work of art. Later I found out it was made by none other than Herman de Vries, a famous Dutch artist. This work is called In memoriam the cows, and was only one year old.

I'm looking forward seeing this work change in the coming years. At certain moment it will be almost overgrown, showing just glimpses of its eerie base.

Herman de Vries' fascination with nature and death was obvious in his other works.

Don't want to open this box...

Not all was sinister though. An unexpected road sign for a highway ...

... leading to a one meter wide strip of highway, including lamp post and guard rails ...

In the afternoon I left for Lewedorp (NL), leaving Belgiums horrid architecture behind ...

Picture: uglybelgianhouses.tumblr.com

Sunday August 14: on highway A58 I noticed far more bikes then normal. At a gas station someone told me there was a bike meeting at another gas station. I couldn't think of a good reason not to go have a look, so I did. Dozens of fast bikes gathered at wat was called 'Mega Meeting', or 'Speeltuin' (Playground).

No choppers here, only racers. The atmosphere was a bit tense, with a whiff of testosteron. The presence of policemen didn't soothe. I left after a few minutes; not a situation to draw too much attention.

As I continued home, I was overtaken by a wheelying Hayabusa. An artistic performance to finish a nice holiday.