For once I got an early start, I was away by 9.30 on a lovely sunny morning. said goodbye to my boat - I got quite attached to it in the last 2days - and headed east to Valkenbourg. it didn't take long before I got lost and ended up cycling an extra 10k to get there. My main reason to cycle to Valkenbourg was to cycle up the Cauberg which is the final climb on the Amstel Gold cycle race - one of the spring classic one day races. Well it took me 3mins 50 secs to climb it. The total ascent was a mere 60m with a max gradient of 12% - hardly Alpe d'Huez. Next i headed towards Vaals via Margratton & Slenaken this road was very undulating similar to roads over the South Downs. At Vaals I headed to Drielandenpunt via the highest point in Holland (321m). This point is also the border between Germany, Holland and Belgium. You can stand in all 3 countries at one time. Tim wants to know how you can do this with only 2 legs. Well......
After this was back into Belgium, I was in south Belgium or Wallonia. This is the French speaking side. There are no cycle paths (helmet back on) and in every way seemed just like France, a completly different country to Flanders ( and after Sundays elections they may be different countries soon, as Flanders has voted in favour of independence. The only 2 issues are Brussels - which is bilingual - and the monachy). Anyhow it also marked a change of direction for me after 6 and a bit days heading East, I was now heading South, and the wind was still following me :-)
I was heading for Spa, the roads were lovely but hilly, and I got to Spa at mid afternoon. To me Spa reminded me of a British Sea-Side resort that has seen better days. I found out where the 3 open natural springs were (the 4th spring in the town centre was shut) and biked to them sampling the water, which was awful, tasting of iron and smelling of Sulphur, still if you believe the info I am now cured of all respiritory problems and cured from my sterilty.
Finally on to Stavelot via the climbs of the Leige-Bastogne-Leige (La Doyonne - I think this means that it is the most important one day classic ride). The climb of of Spa rises to 545m (and is also the last cat 3 climb on stage 2 of this yers TDF). After that climb a great desent and one last drag climb and I got there. Probably my hardest days ride so far, but I felt good after my day off.
Todays Stats
Distance 135.02k
Climb 1837m (pretty hilly)
Riding Time 6.19.54
Average Speed 21.3kph
Total Time 8.51.56
Showing posts with label Maastricht. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Maastricht. Show all posts
Monday, 14 June 2010
Saturday, 12 June 2010
Day 6 - Leuven to Maastricht
Today was my easist day's cycle ride not just because it was the shortest but also because I decided to follow the main road via Tienen, St Truiden & Tongeren to Maastrict. Another late-ish start but most importantly another westerly and dry day, but at about 20C not as warm as yesterday. So far I'm winning 5 -1 on wind direction.
I'm getting well into the routine of touring now. My left pannier has at the bottom my evening shoes and 3 plastic bags of clothes, one for wet stuff that has not dried overnight, another for ''clean'' cycling clothes and the other bag for "clean" evening clothes. The term ''clean'' is rather a loose term and often means pre-worn as in 2nd hand goods being pre-owned.
In my right pannier goes everything else, washbag, recharger bag, all bike stuff, bag with the vitals (i.e. passport, camera, wallet, sun-glasses), snacks for the day, arm-warmers & raincoat and finally my helmet. Yes, since Gent this is now in my pannier, mainly because nearly all cycling is on cyclepaths and the Belgian drivers appear paranoid about hitting cyclists. When sideroads join mainroads cars have to give way, if they are on the path waiting to join the main road they reverse out of the way, if turning from a main road onto a side road they never cut you up or go near you. Cyclists nearly always have priority on roundabouts - I assume that - like in Holland - if a car hits a cyclist they are assumed to be guilty unless they can prove otherwise. I guess if they hit you on a cyclepath they have no hope - whatever it is cycling seems very safe here.
I had a long lunch in St Truiden where I wrote the post for Day 5, and thought I'd treat myself in Tongeren to a last beer in Flanders. The beer menu covers 2 pages about 40 beers is normal, not really having a clue and trying to avoid the common beers I tend to buy on the sound of the name. For this reason I avoided 'Bolleke Scotch' as it reminded me how I felt after our recent barbeque instead I opted for a Trappist Donker.
Maastricht is a beautful city - very classy but also very expensive. Following the advice in my Lonely Planet book I am staying for 2 nights in a ''Botel'' - which is a hotel on a boat. A hotel is a bit of an exageration. It is 2 old boats joined together with tiny rooms (my room is about 7 foot square), but very friendly and smack bang in the centre of town.
In the eve I found an Irish bar called John Mullens. I met a few kindred spirits from Tyneside and Colchester and watched the game. It was a good atmosphere (even though we were outnumbered by Americans) only to be spoilt by ROBERT GREEN. AHHHHHH!!!!!
Todays Stats
Distance 78.91k
Climb 444m (slightly more hilly than last 2 days)
Riding Time 3:17:24
Average speed 23.9kph
Total riding time 6:49
I'm getting well into the routine of touring now. My left pannier has at the bottom my evening shoes and 3 plastic bags of clothes, one for wet stuff that has not dried overnight, another for ''clean'' cycling clothes and the other bag for "clean" evening clothes. The term ''clean'' is rather a loose term and often means pre-worn as in 2nd hand goods being pre-owned.
In my right pannier goes everything else, washbag, recharger bag, all bike stuff, bag with the vitals (i.e. passport, camera, wallet, sun-glasses), snacks for the day, arm-warmers & raincoat and finally my helmet. Yes, since Gent this is now in my pannier, mainly because nearly all cycling is on cyclepaths and the Belgian drivers appear paranoid about hitting cyclists. When sideroads join mainroads cars have to give way, if they are on the path waiting to join the main road they reverse out of the way, if turning from a main road onto a side road they never cut you up or go near you. Cyclists nearly always have priority on roundabouts - I assume that - like in Holland - if a car hits a cyclist they are assumed to be guilty unless they can prove otherwise. I guess if they hit you on a cyclepath they have no hope - whatever it is cycling seems very safe here.
I had a long lunch in St Truiden where I wrote the post for Day 5, and thought I'd treat myself in Tongeren to a last beer in Flanders. The beer menu covers 2 pages about 40 beers is normal, not really having a clue and trying to avoid the common beers I tend to buy on the sound of the name. For this reason I avoided 'Bolleke Scotch' as it reminded me how I felt after our recent barbeque instead I opted for a Trappist Donker.
Maastricht is a beautful city - very classy but also very expensive. Following the advice in my Lonely Planet book I am staying for 2 nights in a ''Botel'' - which is a hotel on a boat. A hotel is a bit of an exageration. It is 2 old boats joined together with tiny rooms (my room is about 7 foot square), but very friendly and smack bang in the centre of town.
In the eve I found an Irish bar called John Mullens. I met a few kindred spirits from Tyneside and Colchester and watched the game. It was a good atmosphere (even though we were outnumbered by Americans) only to be spoilt by ROBERT GREEN. AHHHHHH!!!!!
Todays Stats
Distance 78.91k
Climb 444m (slightly more hilly than last 2 days)
Riding Time 3:17:24
Average speed 23.9kph
Total riding time 6:49
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