David & Darren
April – May 2026
"Twenty-six days. Two cousins. A lifetime of stories."
Trip Overview
David Holtz
Lieutenant-Colonel in the Canadian Armed Forces, currently posted at NATO HQ Brussels. A proud Canadian who is still discovering everything Belgium has to offer — one city, one beer, and one cobblestone at a time.
Darren Solmundson
Flying in from Vancouver, BC, Darren and David grew up together in Winnipeg before life took them to opposite coasts. A cycling companion since their Grade 8 days in Germany — they rode together in Germany and the Netherlands in 2021, and took on Greece last year. This is their most ambitious trip yet.
David and Darren have been making memories together since before either of them can remember — from Grade 8 in Germany, to growing up together in Winnipeg, to cycling across Europe since 2021. This is their latest chapter.
Trip Timeline
27 April – 22 May 2026 · Five phases · Three countries · Twenty-six days
Listen Before You Go
A trip overview audio guide and destination deep dives for Romania and Normandy.
David & Darren: Europe 2026
The full trip — what to expect, why these destinations, and how it all fits together.
Before You Go — Romania
History, culture, food, and what to know before landing in Bucharest. From Dacian kings to Ceaușescu's palace.
Before You Go — Normandy
Rollo, the Normans, Mont Saint-Michel, and the Viking city of Rouen. Context for the day trip.
Interactive Route Maps
Two maps: the full European journey, and a closer look at the day trips around Brussels and Belgium. Click any marker for details.
Brussels Welcome
Darren and Sydney arrive in Brussels on Monday 27 April at 12:55 after their Icelandair connection via Reykjavik (FI 680 from Seattle, connecting FI 554 from Reykjavik). Erika is also in Brussels for the first stretch — making the opening days a family affair. The phase includes a Bruges day trip, a day at Pairi Daiza Zoo with Lisa and Doug, Autoworld museum, and a 2-day overnight trip to Normandy (Mont Saint-Michel on 4 May, Rouen on 5 May) with a night at Campanile Rouen Nord. Sydney departs Wednesday 29 April; Erika departs Saturday 2 May. The longest single phase of the trip and the foundation for everything that follows.
Explore Normandy in DetailStaying at David's residence in Brussels throughout Phase I.
Romania — Bucharest & Brașov
Romania is the adventure centrepiece of this trip — a country of extraordinary history, dramatic landscapes, and one of Europe's most underrated capital cities. From the Belle Époque boulevards of Bucharest to the Gothic towers of Brașov and the medieval castles of Transylvania, this phase delivers the unexpected.
Explore Romania in DetailBrussels Base — Day Trips
Back in Brussels after Romania, this phase is a mix of rest and riding. A rest day on Wednesday is followed by the Waterloo Battlefield Loop on Thursday, a weather-buffer rest day on Friday, and the Ghent Canal Route on Saturday.
Staying at David's residence in Brussels throughout Phase III.
Paris & Antwerp
The penultimate phase brings Paris and Antwerp into the mix. A day trip to Paris by OUIGO train on Tuesday 19 May (Trainline ref M7FSRX), followed by Antwerp — Belgium's second city and one of the world's great diamond and fashion capitals.
Staying at David's residence in Brussels throughout Phase IV.
Farewell Brussels
The final two days. A last look at Brussels, a farewell dinner, and then Darren's long journey home to Seattle via Reykjavik. Until next time.
Final nights at David's residence in Brussels.
Cycling
Since 2021, cycling has been the heartbeat of David and Darren's European adventures. What started as a shared love of the open road has become a defining tradition — two cousins, two bikes, and the best roads Europe has to offer.
This trip offers some of the finest cycling in Western Europe: the ancient beech forests of Zoniënwoud, the Waterloo Battlefield Loop through living history, and the Ghent Canal Route through Flemish countryside. The bikes are optional. The stories are not.
A scenic ride through one of Europe's most intact ancient forests, the Zoniënwoud (Forêt de Soignes) stretches across 4,000 hectares of centuries-old beech trees just south of Brussels. Traffic-free forest paths make this an ideal e-bike ride close to home.
Head south from Brussels through the Zoniënwoud to the Waterloo Battlefield — site of Napoleon's final defeat in June 1815. The Butte du Lion mound offers sweeping views over the battlefield. A full day ride through living history, returning the same day.
Follow the Ghent-Bruges canal through Flemish countryside and polder landscapes. The route passes through Ghent's medieval waterfront — Graslei, Korenlei, and the Gravensteen Castle approach — before heading into open countryside along the canal towpath.
- ✓Own road bikes — no rental required
- ✓Cycling shorts and jersey
- ✓Helmet (mandatory in Belgium for road cycling)
- ✓Waterproof jacket — Belgian weather is unpredictable
- ✓Cycling gloves
- ✓Repair kit: spare tube, tyre levers, mini pump
- ✓Garmin or phone mount for navigation
- ✓Water bottles (2×)
- ✓Energy bars and gels
- ✓Sunscreen and sunglasses
- ✓Belgian cycling map or Komoot app
Essentials
Safety & Travel Advisories
- ·Belgium is generally safe for travellers. Brussels is a major international city with standard urban precautions advised.
- ·Be aware of pickpocketing in tourist areas (Grand Place, Metro stations).
- ·NATO HQ area (Evere) has heightened security — David is familiar with the local environment.
- ·Emergency: 112 (all services) · Police: 101
- ·Romania is generally safe. Bucharest and Brașov are popular tourist destinations with standard precautions advised.
- ·Tap water in Romania is not recommended for drinking — use bottled water throughout.
- ·Use only licensed taxis or ride-share apps (Bolt, Uber) in Bucharest.
- ·Petty theft and pickpocketing can occur in crowded areas and on public transport.
- ·Road conditions outside major cities can be poor — exercise caution if driving.
- ·Emergency: 112 (all services)
- ·France maintains a heightened terrorism threat level. Be vigilant in public spaces, tourist sites, and transport hubs.
- ·Paris day trip: be aware of pickpockets on the Metro and around major tourist sites.
- ·Normandy coast is generally very safe — rural and tourist-friendly.
- ·Emergency: 112 (all) · Police: 17 · Ambulance: 15 · Fire: 18
Historical Timeline
The places on this trip carry centuries of history. From Dacian warriors to the Revolution of 1989, from Viking Normans to the Norman Conquest of England — context makes the journey richer.