This is the last trip before the cold months. Hopefully after that trip I will have done more than 10 000 km on my bike in a year.
Leaving Antwerp through the North is never very pleasant because of it's large industrial areas and heavy density with poor bicycle path. I went to Wijnegem and headed to Oostmalle on the N12. I would recommand an other route if you ever go in that direction, there is a nice cycle way along the canal starting in Schoten to Turnhout, I wanted to see something else but the other way is nice for just 5 km extra. From Oostmalle though you can reach Rijkevorsel, Poppel, Esbeek, Diessen and Oirschot following bike routes in the country side, you might see a few cars but I felt alone on most of the way specially around the border. In one of my day trips from Antwerp I already biked along the Dutch Belgium border not far from the route I took today and reached Baarle-Hertog a Belgium enclave in The Netherlands, I recommand a day tour in that enclave with a peculiar history, or even better get your bikes and tour the area. i found a nice camping on a farm: De Goos in Oirschot, 8.50 euros, quiet and clean. tomorrow I will probably cross parts of The Nederlands and Germany.
Belgium - Dutch border
Oirschot - 'S Heerenberg (Stokkum) 124 km
After a nice night, I woke up under the mist, visited Oirschot a nice little village worth a day visit and had a coffee 10 km further in Best, nice ride in the country untill Gennep. After Gennep I cycled to Sint Oedenrode through the country. From Sint Oedenrode to Veghel the cycle path is along side the motorway, better if you can avoid that then I cut through the country to St Hubert. From Ven Zelderheide to Kleve in Germany, not a very nice ride as I followed the main road, quite busy though I cycled through a forest wich could be worth going through on a less direct way and crossed the Rhein river, 25 km later I was back in Holland just next to the border in Stokkum, beautifull area, nice castle and gardens in 'S Heerenberg.
Camping free.
Castle of Stokkum
An evening visitor on my front wheel
Stokkum - Lette 129 Km
Nice area around Stokkum and the first hill, I am leaving The Netherlands, probably 50 meters elevation. I rode through the woods to Terborg, it looks more like a german city van a Dutch city, even the language they speak is different. I had my bike fixed in Gaanderen, after 8000 km, the axis had too much play, nice people they fixed it immediately and changed a piece all of that for 5 euros what a service, now everything seems in order again. If you are in the area, that's where you can go for your bike, Anton bike repair, 148 Rijkweg in Gaanderen. I hope that it will hold to the end of the journey I should really change the all bloc. My last city in Holland was Winterswijk, market was in town good atmosphere.
Then I screwed up the minute I biked in Germany I went North then south, find out that tourism offices are closed between 12 and 2:30 pm, they didn't have the map of the cycle path R1 that according to the web site should be available at the tourist office, on top of that nobody speaks english and apparently my dutch doesn't sound german enough. I felt lonely today and cycled 129 km for a route that could have been done in 90 km. With all that stress (yes I am the anxious type) I didn't fully enjoy the cities I passed or the countryside but tomorrow is an other day. Nothing really special in Coesfeld or Lette. Tomorrow I am determined to cycle back on the R1 from Münster.
Camping in Lette is 7 euros, nice lady who speaks english.
All they say on the sign is true ! Anton bike repair shop: No appointment, quick service !
Lette - Sassenberg 112 km
Went to Rorup then followed the R14 bicycle route to Münster. Had lunch in Münster, interesting city with a lake close to the city center. Then I followed the R1 to Warendorf, hilly and nice, some road section are in bad condition almost for a mountain bike, very bumpy. Warendorf is a nice little village worth visiting. Don't stay at the Warendorf camping and bike 8 extra Km to Sassenberg, this is from an "official source" apparently the ones in Sassenberg have better reputation and it is approved by myself. Note that few people speak english in the area, it is the first Tourism office where the person could speak english (out of 4), even the guy at the tourism office of Münster had a limited english.
Camping in Sassenberg is 8 euros, 50 cents for a hot shower and 4 euros for WiFi in the tent: 12,50 euros. Tonight it is Schnitzel mit Kartoffeln und ApfelSchole or something like that Rain has come, tomorrow will be a wet day.
The R14 goes through a farm
This guy really wants to sell his potatoes !
To be continued...
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