WELCOME HOME!

In Belgium!!!

The "Welcome Home" slipper gift

The last stop in Germany was Aachen. It was difficult to find a place to stay as there was a famous, annual horse event.
I ended up in a youth hotel where, I estimate, the average age of the guests was above 50+ years....

From Aachen it was only 30 more kilometers before entering Belgium. I was almost there....
Near Maastricht, I met another Belgian biker, Jos. 




Respect for Jos:  he already cycled more then 100 km at noon

He lives close to the same place where I live and  was already on the way since 4am in the morning coming back from Aachen, done so far more then 100km....












And then the moment of truth, July 12 @ 1:00 pm: Crossing the Belgium border....

Finally crossing the Belgium border

The first thing we did....


I entered Belgium at Lanaken. After approximately 13000 km done and 100 km more to go I was a little tired and thought: "Should I continue or take a little break". I decided to have a little break in the city-centre of that same Lanaken.
I passed by the market place with a lot of pubs. And guess what: accidentally (???), at the same time and on the same spot, the "wise man" showed-up.
After so long, it was nice to see him again!
And the first thing we did? Drinking my favorite beer: Hoegaarden.

It taste so great: a good Hoegaarden white beer!!!!!

The next stop was the flying club where other friends specially came over from Louvain. Their plan was to drink only 1 beer.
We visited the local "Tomorrowland" and went to a mini fancy fare.

Party crashing at the local Tomorrowland party

We didn't succeed in our "only 1 beer" plan. But no worries: good that they brought their "emergency tent" with!

So, another day passed by and I still was not home yet. There were still only 50km to go......should I ever make it?

The next day, I finally arrived at the world city of Dessel where some family welcomed me:

Arriving at the world city of Dessel....

The next days, other welcome parties followed....




Another getting together with some friends

13 179.....

From China to Belgium: 13 179 km.

13 179 km., 710 hours, 110 rides over 3 months and 3 weeks. That's what it took to make this trip, all by bicycle. 
And I have to say: I was a little earlier (2 months) then expected.

I had no major material related issues but only the normal wear and tear: 10 flat tires where from 7 front and 3 back. I replaced 1 rear tire, the chain and sprockets.


The end of an incredible adventure.....

This trip and adventure is now finished.

Before starting this trip, I had three concerns: The food and water supply when in abandoned areas, the mental part and if something should happen (accident, ...)
Luckily, none of this occurred. Sure I had some difficult times but in general it went all well, better then I expected!

And as you could read, overall it was an incredible experience: I met many, very nice, friendly an welcoming people. Slept in the middle of nowhere but also in nice places. Made friends and saw the most beautiful places and nature.  Discovered some undiscovered places. 

I hope that this story and adventure for all my readers and followers (whoever it might be...) was as enjoyable and pleasant as it was for me. 

As I am convinced that anyone can do this, each on his own way, I somehow hope that sharing this story could be an inspiration for some of you.
Important is to be open minded, expecting the un-expectable, prepared for the worst but think for the best. Always be positive, and,....ok....a little bit crazy!

With my best cycling regards,


The crazy Belgian biker

Almost there.....

Biking through Czech Republic!

I entered the "Ceska Republica" almost one week ago.

 

The nature combined with the beautiful landscape gives a wonderful feeling: I like Czech Republic! 

A lot of fields with wild roses

Nice churches almost in every town

I was biking now through the little villages. Every village had his own, nice little church.

The weather was not always so good. A lot of times I could see the rain showers not too far on the horizon.

Some rain on the horizon, just passed by

Shame on me, didn't know: Continental Jicin....

My road went via Jicin and by accident I passed a well known company.

The search of Uncle Peter


I was the first time in Czech Republic together with my friend Erwin almost 20 years ago.
At that time we met a very nice, already older person which became a friend and which we later called "Unkle Petr". We had very nice and memorable times together....

Erwin, another friend and myself even donated an oldtimer glider to Unkle Petr with the promise that it was in good hands and the guaranty that he will overhaul it, put an engine on it and treat it as his baby.

But we had no news since long time from Unkle Petr.
So, the real reason why I passed through Czech Republic was that I wanted to find our "Unkle Petr" again.
I know that the chance that he still was living there or even was still alive was not so big. But you never know!

So with only a old address in hand, I headed to Usti nad Laben, close to the German border.

Surprisingly, I could find his house very quick. Unfortunately, as somehow expected, no Unkle Petr anymore.
Even worse: he sold his house (or better the left over ruin) and, according to the neighbor, he moved to Germany.

Unkle Petr former house, now ruin

And the old glider.....well, it was still there on exact the same spot.

He promised us: "I will treat this plane as a my baby"

Usti nad Laben - Teplice: 32km!

Even more then Poland, it is amazing how the Czech Republic has been developed over these 20 years: no Trabies  anymore (well known ex-East German Trabant car), perfect roads and road signs, nice houses, nice cars, and a lot of bikers!!!!

Nice houses

With a little disappointment of the Unkle Petr story, there was nothing else to do but to move on, direction Germany.

Due to the rain, I decided to make a stop in a very small village, around 15km from Usti nad Laben.

The  "drinking brothers and sisters".....

There I met very friendly bicycle riders sitting outsite. 

 

We start to talk and I proposed the following rule: 

Rain = drinking beer
No rain = riding bicycle

They immediately agreed on my proposed rule!

That afternoon it rained a loooong time, so you can imagine in which kind of state we became!
I have to say, the men were champions in drinking and the women, they were champions too!

Finally, around 2 hours before sunset, it suddenly stopped raining and we all together continued to Teplice.
 
It was already late and due to the time, I decided to stay in Teplice.
I then realized I made a record: 32km in 6,5 hours....
Well, well.....it seems that the CrazyBelgiumBiker becomes a LazyBelgianBiker.

No regret at all! Teplice however is a very nice city with old buildings and a lot of nice churches.

Teplice by night

And then there was Germany

I stayed only 3 days in Czech Republic before entering another and last country: Germany.
And how do you know you are in Germany? Right!
Beergarden here, beergarden there, Schnitsels and wood factories.....

Every couple hundreds of meters you see this sign

Schnitsel must be the German national food

I diverted a little from my original planned route and headed direction Frankfurt to discuss some work related topics.

In 2 days, I had calculated, I should be there.
But I hate to say: I completely underestimated the (little) German hills going from east to west. The whole day it was hill up, hill down, hill up, hill down.
(It went so slow that I had to cancel my appointment.....)

Beautiful scenery but the little German hills were almost killing me

Even according my GPS it was a day where I did the most accumulated ascent over this whole trip......

At the end of the first day in Germany, I stopped in several little villages to find a place for overnight but without success.
Germany is a weird country in regards of lodging. In the small villages, the hotels are closed Sunday afternoon and Monday is their rest day......

Then a family approached me asking if I could use some help. And sure I could.
First the man, Christian, knew 2 other pensions to stay but both also were not open.
At the end, Christian offered me a place to stay at his home.
Lucky I was, I got even some upgrades.
His first proposal was to put my tent in the garden, then I could put my matrass in the barn, later he offered me a place in his garage between his 2 Triumph motor bikes.
At the end I was sleeping in his eldest son's bed, got a shower, diner and a nice glass of very good Italian wine! 

Drinking a glass of good Italian wine with Christian and Henriette

Breakfast with the family Tischer: Josiphin, Henriette, Joshua and Christian

It was a short visit but we had some nice talks. They were a very friendly and warm family! Thank you!









My legs complained in the morning and I promised them an easy ride. But the second day it was more or less the same: hill up, hill down.
I was on a road to Ullitz and, without knowing, it seems to be a historical important way.



Translation: "Here was Germany and Europa divided until November12,  1989, 10 am"

It was one of the roads that linked former East and West Germany but was closed for some decades after the World War II and opened again after the fall of the Berlin wall....



Completely exhausted I stopped in Schweinfurt where I met Loos, a very nice, smart (and beautiful) lady from The Netherlands.
Yes! I finally could speak Dutch again!

Because it was already very late and no other options, I decided to stay in the same hotel (with a very special "homeless man" rate...) as Loos.
While asking for a place where I could eat, a gentleman, who just finished his shift at Mc. Donald's passed by and give me his doggy bag.....
So I had a place to sleep and food....GREAT!

Loos and the Mc. Donald man

Loos had Vietnamese roots, studied chemistry and worked for a company that sells oil and grease. She likes techno parties.
Loos was an interesting person and promised to invite me for the next boem-boem party.

Nice talking while drinking a good beer and wine

Apparently, the hotel has a lot of bicycle tourist. The next morning I met the owner of the hotel.

He was interested in my story and invited me to come over again when there is one or the other bikers seminary..... 

 

Watching the German soccer game....

As I was close to Frankfurt, a former colleague while working in China, Michael, invited me to stay overnight in his house, have some barbeque and watch the German-Brazil soccer game.
He invited some other people too, Vera and Tim, also former work mates.

So, there it was, a Belgian guy in Germany eating (black) sausages and watching the German-Brazil soccer game.

According the cook in charge: burnt sausages is good for your health....it cleans your body

I have to say, I think I have already German blood as I was supporting quite fanatic for Germany.

All with a German flag. But Michael? He must have it on a secret place.....

The host, Michael, had still some Baijiu (a terrible but strong Chinese liquor) which he wanted to drink.
The rule we applied was the same as I did with the Belgium-USA soccer game: We all drink a round when there is a goal.

The concept was the same but the result completely different. Germany was scoring so fast that we could not follow to fill up the next round.....

Germany - Brazil: 7-1. Where is the party? Here is the party!

Even worst, we came into a logistic problem as we ran out of drinking material.....
The next morning some people (and I guess half of Germany) didn't feel well.....you might guess why but certainly it was not because of the burnt sausages!


The last kilometers....

Approaching Belgium and with only some hundreds of kilometers to do, I started to realize it is almost over...

I decided to change my tactic: no more direct routes, instead I will follow the river Main and Rhein. It is actually a great and well know R3, European bicycle route.
It's like a bicycle highway: I passed a lot of other bicycles.
It is just fantastic: No car traffic, special bicycle roads, beautiful scenery.....

Beautiful scenery along the Rhein

Typical houses along the Rhein

I am now in Kaltenengers, close to Koblenz. Today will be my last 150km in Germany. Tomorrow I am in Belgium......

In Europe!

Entering the European community...

After riding on the Chinese, Kazakhstan's, Kirgizstan's, Russia's and Ukraine's roads for around 10 000km, there was no way that I could ride with this sprocket and chain any longer. 

Old front sprocket. Completely worn out!

So right before I entered Europe, I finally changed it together with the front sprocket (only the front sprocket was done as I did not had the special key to change the rear sprocket as well).

It was a quick job and the bicycle drove again like new. 

I spent my last Ukraine money very well by buying 1 liter of  40% Ukraine "candies" that I will later share when back in Belgium.

The same day, by 6pm I arrived at the border check point.

Entering Europe, Poland

I was ready to give my passport when I heard the lady saying: "Nietu velocipet".

You don't have to speak Ukraine or Russia to understand that there was something not ok. Apparently it was not possible to cross this border with un-motorized vehicles.
I could go 100km north and cross the border there but due to the time of the day and the kilometers already done, I didn't want.

However, luck was on my side when the car right behind me understood what was going on and offered met to put the bicycle in the back of his van.

Not riding the bike and crossing the border....does not feel good!

So, here I was, together with Michael, his girlfriend, mother in law and my bicycle crossing the Ukraine-Polish border, in a car, entering Europe.






It's a pity because this will be the one and only kilometer I will not have done by bicycle.

Entering Europe brought some differences: good roads, nice cars and.....rain, going from light rain showers to heavy thunderstorms..... 
The first little city in Poland, Hrubieszow, I stopped for overnight.

The exams ended and the holidays began. While stopping for lunch I saw a lot of students celebrating their results with friends and family.
Last time that I was in Poland was some 15 years ago and I was impressed how the cities were improved. Nice villages with very nice, well maintained and clean market places....

Restored and well maintained Polish market square

Party crashing in Janow Lubelski with well dressed laywers

In another little village, Janow Lubelski, a drunk lawyer was interested in my "I love Belgium" T-shirt and invited me for vodka shots and later to his party.





The CrazyHungarianDriver meets the CrazyBelgiumBiker

I got again a strange email from my Hungarian friend Gabor who I met the first time in Russia on his motorbike some weeks ago....

"Hey Dirk, where are you now and what is your itinerary for the following 3 days, including the week-end.
Please sent me your planning and if there is any change, let me know...."

"What is this all about???? Is Gabor with the Hungarian secret service or what" I thought.

But no, Gabor is not. Instead, Gabor wanted to see me again and was willing to drive for this 1000km (back and forth)!
The CrazyHungarianDriver!!!!
After some emails and calls we decided: we will meet each other in Kielce.

And so it happened. We arrived almost at exact the same time. Gabor brought his wife with, Katalin, who studied and still speaks perfect French.

Together we went for dinner and had some nice time.

Katalin and Gabor came all the way to Kielce

The food was good, the company definitely too!!!!  

And the winner is.....MISS POLAND!

Miss Poland was already a nice dessert.

The other dessert was a delicious Brussels waffle which we bought in one of the street stands. 




In Hungary the woman are clearly the boss: Although Gabor wanted to stay, Katalin preferred to go back home the same night.....

The "emergency gift" from Katalin and Gabor

Gabor and Katalin also gave me a farewell "emergency" gift, including great Tokay wine (liquor....), the famous Hungarian Unicum (strong liquor...) and the chocolate with cherry (and......liquor!).


It was a short but nice visit. One thing is sure: we will see each other again and soon!

The place I stayed overnight was great. The reception lady, Sylwia, was one in a kind: upgrading my room, taking care for early breakfast and even washing and drying my clothes for free.

The well meant note to Sylwia

As she was working in the nightshift, I didn't see her in the morning but left again a well meant note!

 

Hotel "Ania-Luc"


In Gliwice, a city south of Poland, I have a friend, Luc, where I could stay (well...maybe I invited myself a little bit...).
Luc has a Polish wife, Ania and a son, Daniel.

The weather on the way to them, however, was terrible. A lot of rain. For the first time this trip I even used my rain clothes....

Don't know why Luc didn't recognize me at first....

We didn't see each other for almost 10 years but when we met again it was like yesterday.














That evening we went to a bar to see the Germany-Algeria soccer game.
As Luc needed to go to work the next day, we had a strict plan to take it easy and only drink a few beer.

A little party. as good customers we were...we even got a T-shirt

It turned out a little different: we managed the few beers but jumped into a lot of vodka shots. We came home after sunrise....Luc took a day off and I stayed 1 more day.

Przemek in the local bicycle store

That evening in the bar we met Przemek, a great guy working in a bicycle shop. He was willing to change my rear sprocket the next day.

Unfortunately he neither had the right key. But anyway, thank you for your time to try and to help searching.

 

Ania was the best: making delicious food, washed and dried some clothes.

Beside drinking some beers, Luc and me are sharing also another passion: flying. 
So, even still with a small hang-over from the evening before, we visited the local airfield.

Gliwice local airfield with the Yak-12M in background

After that, we did also a little sightseeing to visit the well known wooden tower, the second largest in the world.

The Gliwice wooden radio transmission tower

It is well know of his historical importance as in 1939, the German SS staged a "Polish attack", which was a provocation and later a justification to invade Poland and the begin of World War 2











That same evening it was even a little bit more Belgium in Poland as the Belgium soccer team was playing against USA in the 1/8 finals*.
We were like real supporters painted and dressed as Belgian flags:

WE love Belgium! And Luc....well, he was dressed as a Belgian flag.....

No jokes this time....but we made an agreement: Only drinking when the Belgium team scores.
But that was not a good idea as I got almost dehydrated: 90 minutes not one single goal.....

To help our national team finding the goal, we put a paper on the wall: "Score here", and it clearly helped!!!!!

 * Belgium won of course with 2-1

I really enjoyed the 2 days of stay with Ania, Luc and Daniel.

The little, cute Daniel. Time to say good-bye.

The next morning it was time to leave, heading to Czech Republic.
I am now close to the German border.....almost home!