Cycling to Maastricht
Recently I decided to visit Maastricht. I live in Luxembourg already 1.5 year, but so far didn't go to Holland, and that's weird! So, on Saturday morning, at 6.40 I took my bike and went the Gare - the place, from where all my adventures usually start.
The plan was to go to Ёlwen (Troisvierges), wait there 40 min for the bus to Hautbellain, ride from Hautbellain to Gouvy, the first Belgian railway station, and then take a train to Vise, a small Belgian town on the border with Holland.
That's why I love Northern Luxembourg: I've arrived to Ёlwen at 9.15 and took the bus at 19.18, although on mobiliteit.lu there was no transport at this time)) This happened to me quite often when I lived there)
It took me 40 min to get to Gouvy. The area is quite hilly, but once you are on the top, it's sheer joy to ride down the hill!!!
In Gouvy I had to wait 1h for the train to Liege. Finally I had time to do my homework for Luxembourgish course))
The train arrived. An old Belgian train without a special place for bikes. The controller saw me and said "Avec un vélo? La dernière voiture!". Running to the last wagon while the train is still here))
In Belgium one can buy a ticket for bike right in the train. A single ticket costs 5 euros. That day I was planning to change trains for many times, so I asked for 1-day pass (8 euros). Interesting: the controller said that he can sell me for the same price a bike ticket including Vise - Maastricht!
In Liege I had a 20 min time gap before the next train. I decided to ride a bit in the city. But didn't manage, because I've discovered a velo-centre right near the Gare) They offer bikes for rent (around 12 euros per day), sell maps and other bike-related literature. Five min before my train I've bought a brochure "Les cyclists et le Code", and received a free map with cycling paths (how useful it became in several hours!).
The train to Holland had an interesting space for bikes: it is separated from all the train, a controller asks where are you going, puts the bike to a special room and gives it back at your station.
To Vise I've arrived around 13h. Cycling path exists (which is already good), and goes along the river Maas through small Dutch villages. Very nice route! The only thing I disliked: on the signs with direction only numbers of cycling paths were mentioned, no names. If you don't know what is "78 ->", it's quite difficult to find a way.
After 1.5h of cycling against strong wind I've finally arrived to Maastricht. The town is awesome! Dutch language & architecture, lots of bikes on the streets... And the weather was great.
At 17h I decided to start cycling home. Now the wind is blowing to my back!!! I still have 4 hours till the last train and 30km, should be enough! To the border I was cycling without problems, but when I came to Belgium... Yes, it's not Holland)) The route was quite picturesque, and everything was fine until the cycling path ended with a fence. Just a fence. No way further.
It seems, the cycling path turned somewhere, but there were no signs, so I had to investigate where is it. A local guy told me the name of the village and shown on the map how to get to Liege. "You must go straight, then turn left to the road and you'll arrive to Herstal." Brilliant. Two hours till the last train and 15km.
Here it worth saying more about the quality of cycling paths. I actually suggest to show Belgian designers of bike lanes a real bike...
In 1h I came to the village Herstal. While cycling there the bike path ended a couple more times, but I've found it again somewhere in bushes. One our till the last train and 7km. Eventually I took a train at 20.04 to Liege.
I've managed to catch the last train to Luxembourg. As always, I didn't have cross-border ticket. Usually at this time no one doesn't check anything. The controleur (from CFL, likely) has come=) I pretended that I'm sleeping, and he decided not to wake me up. At this moment the door from the main part of wagon opens, and there's my bike. "Oh, she's also with a bike!". I am s-l-e-e-p-i-n-g and I don't care) Likely, he didn't tell me anything...
I've arrived to Luxembourg at midnight. The trip was really great, I've got my energy)
Instead of conclusion: (coffee in Liege, waiting for the last train in a bar where all the clients were with bikes...)
