A one day motorcycle trip to Belgium and Luxembourg
Thursday, September 30, 2021
This morning I left at half past eight for a ride to Luxembourg. I've been planning
to do it for a while, but it just never happened, but now I do.
Via Putte I crossed the border with Belgium and rode through Wuustwezel and Brecht
to Herentals and then past Diest to Herk de Stad, where I, around half past ten,
filled up the tank of my BMW R1200GS.
Shell Haesen, Grote Baan 20, Herk de Stad
8,37 liter at 1,702 Euro per liter
An hour later I stopped at McDonalds in Hannut to eat and drink something.
McDonalds in Hannut
A nice and spicy Cheese Samurai and a cappuccino
From Hannut it was only a short distance to Huy where I crossed the Maas, but
not after I had parked the motorbike along the quay for some pictures.
Along the Maas in Huy
The bridge over the Maas in Huy
Along Marche-en-Famenne I rode past Bastogne to Esch-sur-Sure where I
parked the bike next to the river with a view on the castle.
Esch-sur-Sure in Luxembourg
One of the tunnels to and from Esch-sur-Sure
From Esch-sur-Sure I rode through beautiful country roads to Larochette where
I refilled my tank at a large gas station in the center. I also bought a bottle
of water and a Twix there (and ate half a Twix). From home I had covered about
315 kilometers to Larochette.
The beautiful Luxembourgish rolling landscape
The castle of Larochette
Refuel in Larochette (and buying water and Twix)
With a full tank I left for one of my favorite roads, the road from Larochette
to Echternach but.... unfortunately, the road was closed due to construction.
That was a setback. Via an alternative route, less spectacular unfortunately,
I still rode to Echternach, but I couldn't get into the center of Echternach so
I rode around the center a bit.
Along the border river Sure (or Sauer) I drank a bottle of water and ate the
other Twix before I left for Beaufort.
I went to Beaufort to get a bottle of Cassero. Cassero is a liqueur of
blackcurrants with a high content of vitamin C and is only made in the
Beaufort castles (there are two castles, an old ruin and a newer castle).
After arriving at the castle I parked the BMW in the parking lot next to two
more motorcycles, belonging to a Dutch couple.
I walked to the usual entrance of the castle but unfortunately, it was closed
and there was a sign that you could enter the castle further up the hill so
after a good walk up the hill I came to the entrance of the newer castle,
which is behind the castle ruins. This is where they sell the Cassero.
Beaufort Castle (and the newer castle just behind it)
I bought a large bottle of Cassero and also bought had a cup of coffee, because
that's they had a small café there too.
Next to the entrance of the shop/café you could also see the kettles where I
think the Cassero is made.
Cassero, liqueur from the Chateau de Beaufort and a coffee
A look in the 'kitchen'
With the bottle of liqueur in a bag I walked across the courtyard out of the
castle and back to the parking lot, fortunately downhill.
The courtyard of the castle
Back in the parking lot I put the bottle of Cassero in the topcase of my bike
and stuffed my rain jacket around it. Then I set my Tomtom to Valkenburg in
Limburg and started my ride home.
After about fifteen minutes of riding I came to Dillingen and, over an old narrow
stone bridge in the Rue de la Sure, over the border river into Germany.
The old stone bridge over the Sure, seen from the German side
After about fourtyfive minutes of riding, I stopped again to drink a bit of water
and to enjoy the beautiful surroundings here in Germany, along the beautifully
winding wide roads.
In a parking lot along a wonderfully winding road in Germany
Passing Sankt Vith and Malmedy I came near Liege (Luik) in Belgium and also came across
a very high highway viaduct that I rode under.
A freeway viaduct, high above the valley
Finally, near Liege, I decided to get on the freeway because otherwise I would be
home very late. I still had to refuel and just when I wanted to ride into a gas
station, traffic came to a standstill in a traffic jam.
With a short distance over the hard shoulder (sorry), I drove to the gas station
to refill my tank.
At half past six, I parked the motorbike in front of the shop at the gas station
and went inside to go to the toilet, and later on, I bought a bottle of Spa sparkling
water and a Mars candybar and ate it (and drank the water of course).
Shell Barchon Autoroute E40 - Liege Cerexhe
From Shell Barchon I rode home via the fastest road (the freeway via Antwerp). I
rode constantly 120 km/h for almost the entire way and that went very well.
At Ossendrecht I left the freeway and rode home via Ossendrecht and Calfven. Around
half past eight I could put the bike back in the garage.
Today I was on the road for twelve hours and rode almost 650 kilometers.
It was wonderful to ride in a 'real' foreign country again and Luxembourg is a
beautiful country. Wonderfully narrow winding mountain roads and nice villages
and later in Germany the beautiful winding super good roads where you can just
drive 100 km/h.
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