Earlier today I returned from my long weekend cycle ride through Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands.
With four cycling days, three overnight stops and over 340 km, this was a long, sometimes challenging ride on familiar and unfamiliar routes.
My overnight stops were B&B’s in Diepenbeek, Belgium together with Diessen and Wessem, both in the Netherlands.
The majority of the first day’s riding was through the Belgian province of Vlaanderen (Flanders).
The featured image is from the RAVeL 39 cycle route in Belgium, overlooking the Herve countryside.
The RAVeL routes are a network of cycle tracks throughout Belgium along the routes of former railway tracks which provide a fairly flat, smooth route through some of the most scenic areas in Belgium.
Once past the city of Liege I continued along canal-side cycle tracks for much of the remainder of the weekend.
A couple of wrong turns or un-planned deviations led me onto the wrong side of the Albert Canal for a while.
Progress was further delayed by fallen trees across my path.
With water on one side and forest on the other, I either had to go backwards and find another route or shoulder the bike and find a way around the fallen tree through the forest.
I chose the latter and kept moving forwards.
The weather throughout was changeable, with some wind, low early-morning temperatures and the threat of rain for much of the time.
As it happened I only got wet about 5 km from home when a front wheel puncture slowed me down considerably.
Fortunately I use tyre sealant fluid which allowed me to continue riding home without having to repair or change the tube at the side of the road.
All in all this was a great cycle tour, and there are over 140 pictures that tell the whole story.
