Waking up in Middelkerke

Last night we both slept like babies. We’ve woken up in a little town called Middlelkerke, somewhere on the Belgian coast. Outside our front window is a road, then farm fields as far as the eye can see. This morning was bright and sunny, with a chill wind that blew across from the sea. It was a beautifully slow start to our first day of van life. For the first time in months, we had no plans and no where to be. Lying in bed with a cup of tea felt like the most luxurious thing, even if our home is now the size of most people’s bedrooms.

We’re settling into the van pretty quickly. It’s amazing how you get used to moving around a small space. We already have our little routines and responsibilities that make it as stress-free as possible. We spent the morning catching up on some work and trying to get some plans in place for the next few days. Bruges is the main destination, then we’ll make our way down to Ypres and Flanders Fields. But today, it was time to explore this tiny corner of Belgium we’d found ourselves.

After lunch we took a walk into town, and stumbled upon a wide sweeping beach, stretching off to either side as far as we could see. The sea was calm and gentle, with soft sands sloping down to the shoreline. It felt a little bit like a British seaside town stuck in time. If you came here for restaurants, tea rooms and clothing shops, you’d be spoilt for choice. It was so quiet, with only a few fishermen setting up and people walking their dogs. It’s the kind of place that gets crowded in the summer, yet turns soulless with the winter. I can’t say Middelkerke is a charming or pretty place. The beach is lined with high rise blocks that give it a concrete jungle feel. But it felt wonderful to feel the cool sea breeze on our faces and watch the waves roll in for a while.