... Koblenz to Mönchengladbach

Time: 13:40
Location: Koblenz and on the train to Mönchengladbach

If I could've stayed on the train to Köln. The scheduled time of arrival in Mönchengladbach would have been 15:20. In stead, I arrived in Koblenz at 13:11 and managed to catch the direct train to Mönchengladbach at 13:18.

Time: 15:08
Location: Köln (train has a small delay here)

Really tired at the moment. I haven't eaten anything decent because I did not carry enough cash with me on the train. Half of the items provided on the previous train were not available. A plastic-wrapped croissant was even an option to me, despite it being the least preferable, yet only affordable choice. Maybe the boredom is also contributing to feeling so tired. If only I would have taken a book with me on this trip...

Time: ca 16:00
Location: Mönchengladbach Hauptbahnhof (outside)

I had to wait until 16:20 and - to be honest - I was really tired of waiting. I've decided to cycle from Mönchengladbach to Venlo. This route was not part of my plan and, as often turns out, I've done something unplanned, which eventually backfired in a chain of events. Using google maps, I'll somewhat explain the route to Venlo.

Note: this was the ideal route. I could have made a few minor detours.

After cycling a bit through the city centre of M.Gladbach, I've taken the Bundesstrasse to Viersen and at some point turned left towards Dülken. At what point I've taken a left turn is unclear, as I did not have anything documented. If only I had charged my smart phone and prepared for this route. Anyway, I've passed Dülken, Boisheim, Breyell and Kaldenkirchen on my way to Venlo (34,3 km).

In the Netherlands, I drank a beer and watched the World Cup match between Germany and the United States. After the game, I've decided to cycle towards Maastricht over Roermond. My decision was based on the premise that big cities have affordable hostels.

Time: 21:18
Location: the exact moment I left Reuver

If you make pictures on a cell phone, it is possible to see the time it is created. This is ideal to determine my position and the time at the moment the picture was taken. My phone is still charged a bit, although it indicates it has less than 20 %.

This is a typical dutch cycle path. Notice how perfect the asphalt is. Out of the 4 countries I've cycled extensively already, the Netherlands has the best paths.

Look at this awesome panorama. Really different from Landkreis Viersen (Landkreis = constituency) even though it is only 35 km apart.

I can almost see the sign.

Woohoo. Made it.

Time: 21:28
Location: Roermond

I've finally reached Roermond and passed a sign saying 'Maastricht 79'. Being aware of the time (21:28), I knew I would have to peddle another 2,5 h without a taking a break to reach Maastricht. Not only would I be utterly exhausted, it would also be unlikely to still find an affordable room there. That being said, I have decided to take the train from Roermond to Maastricht. I hope I won't have to do this on my actual trip from Eupen to Regensburg.

The bridge going to the city centre of Remunj (Roermond).

Small side note: before reaching the station, I've looked for an affordable room in Roermond. Only expensive hotels and over-priced bed & breakfast could be found in Roermond.

Venlo to Roemond (+24,6 km)
58,9 km

Before getting on the train.

On the train to Maastricht. Time: 23:03

Time: 23:36 in Maastricht. I was cycling over a bridge on my way to the "Stay Okay". Rooms cost 28,- per night, which is kind of pricey for a hostel but a good price for a single room. Not sure what I would have gotten.

I went to the hostel and asked if there was a vacant room. "Nope". Some school class was staying over, so the Stay Okay in Maastricht was booked full. The reception bloke recommended another "hostel" nearby and it wasn't really a hostel like you would expect. It wasn't a building, like most hostels are, but actually a shabby boat. Rooms were 35 €/night and it looked like I was going to stay here for the night. I couldn't pay with a normal bankcard here, so I had to look for an ATM nearby.

In stead of taking the obvious choice, I let myself get side-tracked by looking for an ATM to pay for the night. I thought if I'd peddle a bit towards Tongeren, I'd soon find a bank. It was at the same time a long term strategy to start looking for a route to take the next day. The receptionist from the shabby boat assured me he was awake all night, which contributed to the thought that I could have gone a bit further along the road to Belgium without risking my chances on a room.

I have already passed a  a sign with "Tongeren 15", an "now entering Belgium/Flander" sign and a sign of a municipality called 'Riemst'.

 Time: 0:39

Tongeren straight ahead. Before going to Tongeren, I've decided to drink a beer first.

This is the casual pub you'll see in Belgian villages. All the colours are sort of brownish and the tables are as wobbly as they look. The beer is very good though. It has to be mentioned that drinking Belgian's special beers is an overwhelming experience for those unfamiliar with strong beers. I drank a normal 'pintje' though (=lager).

Cafe Reynaert in Riemst I think.

Millen (Riemst)

Millen in Riemst in Limburg in Flandern - and as part of the Dutch language community - in Belgium

 Time: 1:10

Genoelselderen

 Time 1:18

Reached Tongeren at: 1:38.

Last city that I'll reach today. Really tired at the moment. Arrived at 1:38, cycled 77,6 km (18,7 km + 58,9 km). Crossed 3 different borders. Now only boredom awaits.

Time: 1:38

Entering Tongeren. You'll enter the city going downhill super fast.

This is really a bummer. Time: 1:43
I actually took the train 20 minutes earlier than the one displayed here. The train at 5:30 went to Brussel, where I could transfer.

I did not bother to look for a hotel or hostel. It was not really worth it anymore. To pass time, I cycled a bit through the city.
Nothing really going on anywhere besides on the Grand Square (Grote Markt), where a handful of pubs were open for the whole night. Here a picture of the church in Tongeren, the Onze-Lieve-Vrouwebasiliek (German: Liebfrauenbasilika).

Some kind of super hero with a special kind of axe. No idea actually.

Photo of another beer in a pub in Tongeren. I sat at a table, ordered a beer and charged my cell phone. At some point I finally succumbed to my need to sleep and, after what seemed like mere seconds, the bartender wakes me up. She has a mad expression and stares at me with contempt, as if I were a light-weight and a dishonor to her pub. Her stare seemed to indicate that it was time for me to go home. I drank another beer and left this pub.

For details regarding this statue, you can browse the Tongeren website. There are so many statues in Belgium, that I just do not care. If you do take an interest in statues, feel free to use google. Good luck!

Tongeren flag.

Sitting on a bench at the train station. This is incredibly boring, trust me. For my actual trip from Eupen to Regensburg, I have to take into account, based on what I've learned today, that not all cities have low budget hostels. Only in the bigger cities, you have a chance of finding something affordable. Next trip I'll plan hostels beforehand (hindsight note: I didn't do it).

Time: 4:54
Train will come in 20 minutes. I got on the train and slept until the conductor woke me up in Brussel.

The Train from Regensburg to ...

Travelling without a bicycle train ticket from Regensburg to ??

The title ought to be "The Train from Regensburg to Mönchengladbach via Köln", but my plans have been altered. In my previous post, I've explained a few difficulties I've had with booking a bicycle ticket on the internet. Now I'll show you how everything went.

The start of my journey.

 



Time: 8:40

Location: between Regensburg and Nürnberg (train)

I've tried to book the Inter City to Köln, which failed as it was full for the entire week. I also got an error message when booking a City Night Line ticket (+ bike ticket), stating that I could not buy a ticket online because it is impossible to book an international - or night ticket online. This really made me agitated because the error message came up at the very end of the booking process.

Imagine looking for a possible connection for an hour or so. First looking at all the possible international long distance connections, which was impossible to book on the internet; after trying that, moving on to finding Inter City fares that are booked full; only to end up finding City Night Line trains that cannot be booked online, due to not being able to book bicycle tickets online for night trains (it was also a train from Munich to Amsterdam, so it was an international train ride as well).

I am currently on the IC train to Köln without a bicycle ticket. Looking back on the whole situation, it actually makes good sense to have reservations, as the train went from Passau to Hamburg with ONLY 20 reserved spots for bikes. To get a coffee during the train ride, I've walked from front to back several times and they could easily have had another bicycle compartment. The passenger seats in the train weren't even filled for 1/5th.

I've felt unprepared in comparison to other cyclists who got on the train in Regensburg. Some had carts with them or huge backpacks. No idea what they were carrying. Anyway, I had the coolest bike pump. That was for sure.

After carrying my bike inside the train and putting it in an empty spot, I've noticed how there are train tickets on most bicycles (Fernzug Fahrradkarten). My bike did not have such a ticket and I thought: "Well, the owner of this [my] bike might have forgotten to put the ticket up or he/she [I] could have been uninformed about this procedure," and I moved to a seat in the vicinity of my bicycle.

Some info on the train itself: direct connection from Regensburg to Köln with a transfer to Mönchengladbach. From Mönchengladbach to Tilburg and afterwards to Belgium, I am improvising my route.

Looking out the window of the train, I am enjoying the German landscape. Really looking forward travelling through it.

Time: 9:35

Location: Shortly after the train departed from Nürnberg

Other bicyclists got on the train and I am afraid that the bicycle department could be full from the next station onwards. Next stop is Würzburg and, if my fears turn out to be true, it could mean that people will start to claim their spots (including mine).


Time: 10:30

Location: shortly after Würzburg

As I have feared, the reservations in the bicycle storage area are going to be a problem. I'd have to explain how a bicycle department looks in an IC for you to understand. There are 15-20 bike stands with a number assigned to it. The whole wagon itself is split right in the middle, separating the passenger - and bicycle compartment.

Bicycle without a ticket on a spot reserved from Hanau

I sat in the passenger compartment when the conductor passed by and requested our tickets. He moved on, opened the door to the bicycles and started inspecting the tickets attached. The fact that he stood still at my bike for a while made me kind of panicky. I did not even leave Bavaria yet and I'd already have to get out.

The conductor came back and requested all the travelers to show their Fahrradkarte, in case they have one. Being nervous and all, I told him that I did not carry a bike with me. Seconds after, I knew it was a bad idea. In stead of playing dumb or coming clean, I just denied the whole thing and decided to become a spectator in the mess I have created. He has left my sight for 10 minutes, came back with a piece of paper and walked straight to my bike. After I saw him examining my bicycle, I knew I had to approach him.

I've explained him that it was impossible to book a City Night Line ticket on the internet and that booking this ticket failed as well (ofcourse I was aware of it being booked full). The conductor wasn't making a big deal out of it and examined his piece of paper again. He informed me that the spot where my bike stands, will be taken from the next station onwards. To my luck another spot is free until Koblenz, so we've moved my bike to the vacant stand and I've bought a bicycle ticket.

New spot for my bike.

A new bike on my old spot. No idea what would've happened if I hadn't approached the conductor.

A different note on the bike: look at the super serious attitude of the guy on my old spot. The ultra ergonomic handles, mega sturdy side-bags, some inexplicable gadgets under the seat, the sports bottle (probably filled with isostar), the bag on the steering wheel, etc. Makes me feel quite inadequate to be honest.