Ensdorf, Germany to Luxembourg City, Luxembourg
Finally a day with a change of scenery. I feel like I’ve been riding along rivers for too long. The rivers have provided quick and easy riding, but I would have been bored with another day of it. Today started along the water, but I quickly got into some hills that weren’t too difficult and provided nice views. I spent time in 3 countries, starting in Germany, crossing into France, and finally ending in Luxembourg.
The day started by packing up at the hotel and trying to get on the road as quickly as possible. The sun has been rising around 5:30 AM and when I was woken by the train passing by at 6:30 I thought I had slept through my alarm because it was so bright out. I got out of bed around 7:30 and was on the road at 8:45. I got on the bike path right next to the hotel and spent 6 miles riding along the water until I got to the town of Wallerfangen. I knew there was an Aldi just off route where I could pick up food for the day. I had eaten a banana and 3 stroopwaffels for breakfast but grabbed a smoothie to top myself off. I also bought a premade sandwich, a bag of baby carrots, trail mix, and sour gummies. I like the routine I’ve gotten into of picking up lunch food at the beginning of the day. Being able to pull over on the side of the road to eat lunch has saved me a lot of time during the day.
After my grocery shopping, I got back on the road and had another 8 miles along the river before the ride got interesting. I had a 5 mile uphill which started on a road, but after 2 miles moved onto a bike path that went through farmland filled with wind turbines. The scenery was much nicer than riding along the river and the uphill didn’t bother me all that much. I have a few days left with some elevation before I hit western Belgium and the Netherlands where it will be completely flat.
After reaching the top of the climb I had several miles of rolling hills. At some point along this stretch I crossed from Germany into France. The signage is awful when crossing country borders on farmland. Around mile 25 I began to descend back down to another river. It was just before noon and I decided to stop for lunch in the town of Apach. I found a bench in the shade and ate the food I had packed earlier. After a quick rest I was back on the road heading to the Moselle River which acts as the border for Luxembourg.
I rode along the Luxembourg side of the Moselle for 5 miles before starting another climb. At this point I was only 20 miles from Luxembourg City without a place to stay. I had originally planned to stay at the hostel in Luxembourg City but found it completely booked up. I know people reserve rooms in hostels and then cancel the reservations the day of, so I pulled out my phone to check one last time. Luckily a spot had opened, and I booked it quickly. The cheapest hotel I could find in Luxembourg City was $180. I’m not sure why it was so expensive, but without a spot in the hostel I would have likely ridden past Luxembourg City and camped at a place just outside of town. The hostel only cost $30 for the night.
With a destination now booked, I could focus on finishing out the riding for the day. I spotted a hill to my left and knew I’d have to go over it. The climb wasn’t all that bad and once at the top I was taken through a winding bike path that traveled through a forest. I finished out the day with some annoying hills and traffic entering Luxembourg City. I checked into the hostel, got my bike stored and took a well deserved shower. The hostel has a restaurant, so I grabbed a beer there and watched some of the Federer/Wawrinka French Open match while I edited photos and wrote today’s blog.
I don’t have any real plans for Luxembourg City. I will likely just find a good place for dinner tonight. Luxembourg City is shockingly hilly, so I’m not sure I’ll venture too far away from the hostel, just to save my legs. Tomorrow will be another day of ups and downs through the Luxembourg countryside before I cross the border into Belgium.
Musings:
- I don’t know how Europeans deal with all these coins. My wallet has no place to put all the €1 and €2 coins I keep receiving as change. I have been throwing all the coins in my handlebar bag and when it starts to get heavy, I grab a handful and pay with them. The issue now is every time I pay with the €1 and €2 coins, I receive smaller coins back. I don’t know when I’ll use these small coins. It is so much easier to pay with a credit card, but some restaurants and hotels want cash only. Next time I come to Europe I will have to remember to bring something to hold all the coins, so I am not constantly losing them at the bottom of a bag.
Ramblin' Dan: Bike Touring Adventures 
Gorgeous!
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