😎🚴Flat sunny ride from Westouter to Merkem

Embark on a poignant cycling journey from Keibilken, Poperinge, heading towards Merkem. The initial stretch offers quintessential Flemish polder landscapes: flat, fertile fields stretching to the horizon, often dotted with grazing cattle and bordered by pollarded willows. Breathe in the fresh, open air as you pedal through this serene agricultural expanse. As you approach the former front lines, the scenery subtly shifts. Rows of towering poplars often line the quieter country roads, providing welcome shade. Keep an eye out for numerous WWI memorials and Commonwealth War Graves Commission cemeteries that dot the landscape. Closer to Merkem, you'll pass through areas that were fiercely contested. Look for subtle undulations in the land, often vestiges of old trench lines, and preserved bunkers or concrete structures emerging from the fields, stark reminders of the brutal conflict. The tranquility of today's nature often belies the violent history etched into the very soil.