I’ve now started the Yzer Front tour of significant places during World War
One. This is another town on the front lines completely destroyed even
though it was never occupied. The town sits on the Ijzer River, now a
popular location for luxury yachts well protected from the sea. During The
Great War, the Belgians flooded the Yzer plain blocking the German advance.
This 48-mile driving tour today goes along the river on both sides with
many stops along the way at points of interest.

Getting here was a bit of an adventure. I needed gas and nary an open
station was to be found. Many would take a credit card 24 hours a day, but
only with a PIN number. My PIN from the US wouldn’t work. I stopped at
several stations trying various cards without luck. Finally, with the car
making lots of ringing bells and chimes to tell me that I’m running out of
gas, I saw a fellow inside a closed station. I was able to convince him to
come out and sell me 50 euros cash of gasoline. I’m now good to go for the
rest of the day.

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