… go at having this tyre fixed.
As I came into Liège at lunchtime today I came past a tyre place that advertised second-hand tyres as well as new ones. I thought that that was a good idea because if they couldn’t fix anything they could probably sort out a tyre for me from somewhere.
But anyway, to cut a long story short … “hooray” – ed … they detected a leaky valve in the tyre that keeps going down – the valve that was supposed to have been replaced – and they put a plug in the tyre that had been nailed.
They did it so quickly that I had to check to make sure that they actually had done something, and it wasn’t cheap either. So I hope that it all works this time.
Last night’s hotel was really comfortable and excellent value for what I paid. I would stay there again without any hesitation.
This morning I had a nice hot shower and then set off for a slow ramble through Aachen and into Belgium.
An uneventful drive brought me into Liège where I had my tyres repaired and then I had a drive around the city centre. Liège is quite a depressing place – it’s far from being my favourite city – and it’s not improved one iota since I last drove round it 20 years ago.
On leaving the city I stopped for some groceries and then drove down alongside the Meuse as far as Huy where I stopped for a very late lunch and to read my book in the sun on a bench by the river.
And then to go back to Caliburn where I crashed out for an hour. Absolutely and completely too, the first time since I’ve been on my travels.
Later on I booked a room in a hotel – the Premiere Classe hotel in northern Liège. I’ve stayed here before several years ago. The hotels in Belgium are more expensive than in France and Germany and this one needs a good coat of paint and a clean on the facade but the rooms are OK. But €57 in Belgium compared to €35-€42 for the same hotel in France tells its own story.
For tea I finished off the rest of the sandwiches and now I’m off to bed. An early night will do me good ready for my final day on my holidays tomorrow. Starting on Wednesday I will have done everything that I’m going to do and I’ll be heading for home.
