SKL's Walking Blog

Belgium Coastal Path – 2

Ostend to Groenendijk Strand – 2nd July 2025

I’ve jumped ahead to a slighter shorter stage than was planned because it is bastard hot and there were a couple of sections to traverse that had no chance of a break for more than an hour. Very glad I did.

I don’t always like seeing the destination on the horizon and we’ll see how this one goes. Quite a lot of people around already.
Ok an hour or so in and I’ll need to get off the beach and out of the sun. Barely feels like I’ve moved.
I did wonder if the Belgians had left anything of the Atlantic defences from WW2 in place.
They would have extened all along the coast like this – a bunker every thirty metres or so . The trams come past and stir up that sand into my face. Time to head back to the beach.
After next break I noticed this on the ship next door. Shit, 33 in the shade. no wonder I’m cooking on the beach.
This montrous casino build right out on the sand – the power of bribery? I would say that this whole coast is.
Those bloody travellers nicking the construction equipment and leaving it to rot.
I often wonder if gaining a commission like this, sets an artist up for life.
Unlikely to be the same dudette though.
A lovely idea for an aging, still frisky man. Not getting any any other way.
Love it. A doggie only beach.
I can almost touch it, which of course means that it is still miles away. It is strange – the beach – pockets of people and then stretches of little to no one.
Like this.
Off the beach for the last time and the path to the right to the ferry is shut for works. Extra mile then and if ferry not running, I think I’ll give up – way too hot.
The dock and it’s free!
There she is – lovely stuff.

This just reinforces my opinion about walking in the southern med in the summer. Even with shade, cooling and drinks available almost immediately if I come of the beach, I ahd a bad few moments when the heat got to me. To be don’t something like I did in Spain or Portugal – hours between shade – wow, not a chance.
Hopefully cooler tomorrow and I can go back to the longer stretch.