Week 1

June 4, Saturday.

Maastricht, The Netherlands to Saint Vith, Belgium
95 km, 7 hours, Av. 13.1

Finally morning had come along with the jitters. Always before a trip I get nervous but this time it was really bad. I have never thought in reality that this time would come and it has.
I was up early had my coffee my bike was ready from the night before so I really dint have much to do.
It was very emotional saying goodbye to my wife and daughter as I would not see them for 6 whole weeks. I have never been so long away from my family.
Just as I was ready to leave the house the doorbell rang, my good friend Jo Mommers, had come to ride with me for a bit and ended up going with me to the Belgian border, about 17 kms from my home.
So off I set on a clear Saturday morning on a three thousand kilometer ride to Greece, all alone.
I got on the N278 heading to Aachen for about 12kms then turned south for another 5kms after which I had to say goodbye to my friend and continue on by myself. As soon as my friend left the clouds appeared. Following some small country roads I got to Henri Chapelle, and from there I continued on small roads to this wooded area after Baelen and started the climb to N620 then got on the road N68 that goes from Eupen to Melmedy, the climbing continued but at an easier grade than in the woods.
When I reached a plateau it started to rain. I got out all my rain gear and continued on but the rain just got worst and with no cover I ended up getting very wet for the next +/-25kms.
When I finally reached Melmedy it stopped but not the hills, between Melmedy to St. Vith there are a couple more difficult hills.
I wanted to go further the first day but I under-estimated the hills and the weather din't help much, so at St. Vith
I decided to find a camp ground for the night. I found one about 2 kms downhill from St. Vith. The camp was OK I guess, I haven't camped in 15 years, it was clean, but not all that cheap.
After having to wait about an hour and a half for the rain to stop I set up tent and went quickly to take a shower. When I got back I cooked some noodles in my ten when it started to come down heavy and it kept it up all night long. I was beginning to worry that the tent might start leaking as I din't bother to check the tent for leaks before leaving to see if it was water proof, after all it was 15 years in the attic.
When I was done eating and was sure the tent did not leak I crawled into my nice, warm and dry sleeping bag and as tired as I was went right to sleep.
During this hard and wet first day of my tour, I did question the wisdom of doing this tour especially during the second difficult hill after Melmedy. I'm sure everyone has these thoughts, especially when it just rains and the hills are difficult and on the very first day. But after I set up camp and was nice and dry in my sleeping bag I just forgot all about it, and slept like a baby.

     
Left to Right:
1- June 4, Sat. 07:00 Emotional goodbyes.
2- The first wood soon after the rain and climbing began.
3- A very wet day indeed, soaked to the bone, but the hills still looked good.

June 5, Sunday.

St. Vith, Belgium to Echternach, Luxembourg.
85 km, 5 hrs. 30 min. Av. 15.9 Total 181 kms

Got out of bed at 05:30, I was up from 04:30 but enjoyed the warmth of the sleeping bag so I stayed another hour.
The morning was cold with heavy dark clouds. Everything was soaking wet, but I had to pack everything and move on, took me until 07:30 before I left camp.
The climb back up to St. Vith was steep, and when I finally reached the town I went straight looking for a bakery for some sweet rolls, water and energy drinks.
I took the N62 heading south to N7 and continued into Luxembourg where the N7 turned into an E road (and this was not on the map), with traffic traveling over 120 kph. I was worried a bit but the road had a wide shoulder and after a while I saw other cyclists on it which somehow made me feel better.
After a while the weather started to get better, the heavy clouds gave way to some very much welcomed sunshine.
Along this roads where plenty of hills, up one side down the other. Not extremely steep but after a while they began to get tiring,  the views where getting really nice, rolling wooded hills. When I reached a fork in the road I turned left heading for Diekirch. This decision was taken a few Km's earlier when I really got tired of the hills, and upon checking my map I noticed the river Sauer and decided to take it so I could avoid any more hills for the day.
After a very nice and quiet (meaning less and slower traffic) descend into the town which I really enjoyed after so many Km's on that "E" road. I had lunch in the very nice town of Diekirch, found the river and enjoyed the final +/- 30 Km's in warm sunshine and on a bicycle path to the town of Echternach. The river was very clean and I could see large fish in it,  there were many tourists in that area, no surprise because it was extremely scenic, with high wooded hills on each side of the river.
I set up camp about 500m outside of town washed up, went into town for a Doner kebab. When I returned I saw a couple of other touring cyclists (husband and wife) also from Holland. They were heading to southern France, we had a nice chat, I wished them luck and went straight to sleep.

     
1- Downhill into Diekirch.
2- Very nice cycling path along the river Sauer.
3- My first dry camp at Echternach, Luxemburg.

June 6, Monday.

Echternach, Luxembourg to Saarlouis, Germany.
121 kms, 8 hrs. 15 min. Av. 14.6 Total 302 kms

Woke up at 05:15 to a grey sky again and was on the road at 07:00. For the first half hour the ride was nice, but then the rain started again all the way to Sierck Les Bains, France.
The road was nice flat and very scenic despite the weather. The river went through some very nice villages. The only thing I dint like was when the heavy trucks passed me by with speed and they threw up all this water and dirt, but that's the life of a traveler. The castle on the hill above the river mosel next to Sierck Les Bains was very nice.
At Sierck Les Bains I turned SSW away from the river on D956 than later on D19, towards Bouzonville and was greeted with several very difficult hills. The scenery changed also, to more hilly farmland with small patches of woods.
After about 100kms I reached Bouzonville and what a dead town that was, no camping's and only two hotels one with a bunch of thugs hanging out in front of the place and the other was a nice hotel but too expansive for my budget so after a rest and good look at the map I decided to head on D918 than B405 for Saarlouis, Germany where the map said was a campground. So with the stiff hills I continued for another +/-20 on to the border with Germany, again up one side down the other and I was really getting tired now.
Finally just before the town there was this really nice downhill with fantastic views that made me forget all the climbs I had done from Sierck Les Bains.
I found the campground next to the center of town and was a bit worried about security for my bike and gear, but no choice so I slept with one eye open as they say. For dinner I went into town and ate at McDonalds, I had to eat real fast because rain clouds were gathering and I wanted to get back to camp.

        
1- Along the river Saur, very nice riding, before the rain started.
2- Sierck les Bains with very nice castle just above the town. The hills started from just the other side of town.
3- On top of the first of many hills after Sierck les Bains, long quiet roads perfect cycling great views.
4- Another long and steep hill going into Germany.

June 7, Tuesday.

Saarlouis, Germany to La Petite Peirre, France.
100 kms, 6 hrs. 30 min. Av. 15.2 Total 402 kms.

Woke up at 06:00 and was on the road by 08:00. I got on the river Saar as soon as I left the town, great bike path, lush green on both sides of the river some sunshine a pleasant day all around.
Just a few Km's out of town started some heavy German steel industry, one large plant after another, well kept and very green and clean all around but the views were like a film stage, huge old rusty buildings with large smoke stacks, the buildings were so huge they had over a dozen train tracks leading into them and I mean whole trains. Some of the buildings were new but cycling in fresh air every day and just thinking of people working in those very large and polluted places was, well it made my skin crawl.
Some of the surrounding villages were only populated by immigrants, I hardly saw a German person.
Moved on to Saarbrucken had plans to visit but it was just too big and dint want to take the chance of getting lost in a place I didn't really like and loosing a lot of time.
After Saarbrucken I took D61 after getting a bit confused getting out of town heading south to Sarreguemines with a few large hills and one about 10% which got a bit difficult.
The day turned out to be really nice the roads the weather the views, whenever I reached the top of a hill a few minutes later I had forgotten what I went through to get there.
I turned left at D13 heading for Drulingen and at Petersbach I turned to D9 for the last few Kms into La petite Pierre.
La petite Pierre was the best town I had visited so far, on top of a wooded hill surrounded by steep wooded hills it was really scenic. The camp I was looking for was a couple Kms down one of these hills in the middle of what looked like an ancient wood, dark and thick.
It was the best campsite I had seen so far and I was the only camper there. It was owned by this very nice couple with three small kids. The only other place near by was this hotel about 500m up this small wooded road. On one side of the camp was this small lake, it was really a very nice place and I would highly recommend it to anyone passing by this area.
I was realy hungry after setting up camp and the only place serving food was this hotel so I treated myself to a nice steak. Also recommend the kitchen of this hotel.
I was awakened in the middle of the night by some sounds in the woods that really scared me, it also got very cold in the woods, than I thought it could only be deer running around (I hoped) and went back to sleep.

        
1- Cycling along the very nice and well kept path along the Saar, after the German heavy industry.
2- Most of the day was spent on roads like this which is just a dream to cycle on despite the occasional hill.
3- Getting closer to La Petite Pierre in the back ground. Just a perfect cycling day not too hot and barely a breeze.
4- The best campsite so far. I was about 150m from the camp owner. It did get scary at night.

June 8, Wednesday.

La Petite Pierre, France to Strasbourg, France.
75 kms, 4 hrs. 50 min. Av. 15.4 Total 476 kms.

Woke up at 06:00 at 07:30 I was on the road. The morning was also very cold after I headed out of camp I was on a real nice down hill it lasted for about 20 kms, I din't think I had climbed so high. Not so steep but just enough that I didn't have to paddle, really great with fantastic views, only problem I had trouble keeping my fingers warm.
After the first downhill I stopped at this village to check my map, (not sure of the name of the town, and I wont guess), while I was looking at my map this very kind lady stopped and asked where I was heading so I told her Strasbourg, and she suggested that I take this canal that I had missed on the map, and she said only bicycles are allowed on it, very quiet with nice views. Man it was a god-send, after making the initial decision to go right instead of left I ended up in Saverne about 6 kms the wrong way. But it did turn out ok because the town was very nice to visit and I had breakfast there, there wasn't another place along the canal for at least 20 kms so it worked out OK.
The ride on the canal was all that this lady had said, the sun came out the path was good, not one pothole in the +/- 60 kms of canal, and after all the hills in the Ardennes it was a very welcomed change.
Till now I had not been to a large city only large town and Strasbourg really surprised me. Very big, very noisy, very polluted and very crowded with tourists, just a mad house.
The canal took me to the European parliament building (or something rather).
The architecture of many buildings were great, very beautiful and I was very impressed with some places.
I took the side streets to the central cathedral as the tourist office was there so I could get a city map to find the camp ground. And it camp turned out to be just out of the city, and next to the cities industrial zone, also I had to go past this very busy roads full of heavy trucks to find it.
The campground was OK I guess for the location was very happy it had a dryer so I could get all my washing done and not have it hanging out the back of my bike drying.
I had planed to have a rest day there but when I finally managed to get out of the center and find the camp my mind was already made up, next day I was out of there.
The city is very nice to visit off season, and by car. Drive in, drive around and drive out, not very nice for cycling. My opinion.
I wanted a nice quiet camp by a nice and quiet village for some quiet R & R.
After setting up camp and done all the chores I needed to do, I went out looking for an internet cafe to chat with my wife, check the mail and so on. Also got me a nice Doner kebab afterwards before returning to camp for the night.
When I got back to camp I met this very nice Canadian family doing Europe on bike and some train in between, and we had a nice chat together, and shared some tips and experiences.
I will try and get into Strasbourg tomorrow morning and send some postcards.
I had also gotten this infection on my right index finger, I cleaned it and used this spray band aid, more on this later.
And also had a cut on my left index finger on the inside of my last knuckle, where it could not heel, just a nuisances though.

           
1- The long  but cold downhill very nice ride indeed.
2- Leaving the Ardennes,  I came from in between those hills.
3- The long canal ride into Strasbourg, great day for cycling. I removed those leg warmers soon after this picture.
4- The famous or infamous Euro building  or something-rather. It's supposed to be famous, I think, LOL. 5- The cathedral, pictures can never do it justice you have to go there to appreciate the work.

June 9, Thursday.

Strasbourg, France to Breisach am Rhein, Germany.
108 kms. 6 hrs. 55 min. Av. 15.7 Total 584 kms.

Woke up at 05:30 got everything slowly together, I could not leave before 08:00 I had to get my passport back. First time I had to give up my passport at a campground, and it was not possible to pay the day before and leave early.
When I finally left the camp I tried to get into Strasbourg for some post cards but the traffic around was a nightmare, so I gave up and tried to find the road to Kehl, Germany just over the Rhine, but that too proved to be very difficult because there was this bridge being repaired so a lot of traffic was diverted.
It took me 1 hr. 15 min. to get out of Strasbourg and man was I happy, French drivers are courteous in the country but in the cities they are assholes.
As soon as I crossed the Rhine I turned south heading on this bike path along the river that I heard was good cycling. And it was for quite a while, but my right index finger got more swollen and I really began to worry so I stopped at the village of Ichenheim, +/- 20 km south of Kehl and saw the local doctor which he recommended that I use this cream to soften the tissue so it could open up. Then I figured out that the sprey band aid I used was the fault of this problem. Apperantly it doesnt allow air to get to the wound. I will be careful when and were I use this product in the future.
I continued on the Rhine river path trying to find Europa park where this Canadian family were planning to take their kids, there was a camping next to it.
After loosing some time getting lost in this wood, and overshooting the park by about 6 kms when I did find the camp it was almost underneath the roller coaster, no way, I was looking for peace and quiet, so I left without seeing the Canadians.
Looking in my map I saw that the next camp site was near Breisack am Rhine in a village called Hochstetten, 3 kms to be precise.
After Europa park I decided that rough gravel was too much for me and the bike, so I took the back roads going from village to village and what a nice ride that was, the small country roads were lined with cherry trees and they were just getting ripe.
I had bought some croissants, and sat under one of those trees and almost ate myself sick on cherries, great lunch.
And the small German villages were a dream to ride through.
Finally I reached the camp site at Hochstetten, it was a hotel and the grounds in the back were made into a camp site. Very clean, very quiet, (all the campers were over 40 yo) and reasonably priced. So I will take a rest day here.
It was the first camp site were all the facilities were operated with motion detectors I didn't have to touch anything and the showers, toilets and sinks were always spotless.
I would highly recommend this camp to anyone passing by this area, just a nice and quiet place to rest for a wary traveler.

        
1- Finally found my way out of Strasbourg and crossing the Rhine for the first time. And very happy to do so.
2- Perfect riding weather, very good roads and not much traffic, this is what its all about.
3- Stopped for lunch next to these cherry tree's. The roads were lined with them great place to ride this time of year.
4- Looking north from the hilltop church in Breisach am Rhine on my rest day. The river is just behind those houses.

June 10, Friday.

Rest day at Breisach am Rhine.

Found a bike shop so I could have my breaks changed and drive train cleaned. A good check up before I get into the Alps. I would have done it myself to save some money but with both index fingers bandaged up it was difficult.
I could not find an internet cafe, or a good map of Switzerland that I wanted to buy I guess I will have to wait until I get into Basel tomorrow for the map.
All roads lead into Basel and I don't really care to go into that city but I'm afraid I wont have a choice.
Also I will cross into the French side of the Rhine it looks on the map much more easier to navigate getting into Basel tomorrow.