Botswana 🇧🇼

Chobe River Cruise

Chobe Game Reserve 

Ntweta Pan and the Meerkats

Bushman visit

Very interesting to spend time with the friendly Bushmen people to learn about their hunting and gathering & survival techniques. 🏹 🔥

The Bushmen are the indigenous peoples of southern Africa. Largely hunter-gatherers, their territory spans several nations and they have called the region home for tens of thousands of years.

The tribes are well-known for the profound connection they have with their land, for their intimate knowledge of the natural world, and the delicate balance they have maintained for millennia with the environment.

Moremi, 

Moremi's thick sand 🚙

Moremi Game Reserve Botswana 🇧🇼 and it's challenging sandy roads 😀🚙 Our Ranger got stuck in the the thick sand. 

So, I eventually offered to drive the vehicle, so that he can help to push. He is much stronger than I and I got the opportunity to drive the landcruiser out of the thick sand 😀 💪🏻🚙 Luckily it was a fantastic group who helped finding wood to put under the tyres and helped pushing the car. We all actually enjoyed the experience 😀

House Boat on The Okavango River

Caprivi Strip. Now called the Zambezi Province of Namibia 🇳🇦 

Baobab Trees 🌳  in Botswana 🇧🇼 . Beautiful!

Tsodilo, Botswana 🇧🇼 , a UNESCO World Heritage Site, has been called the ''Louvre of the Desert'sodilo has been called the ''Louvre of the Desert' since it has one of the highest concentrations of rock art in the world, '. Over 4,500 paintings are preserved in an area of only 10 km2 of the Kalahari Desert. Record of the area gives a chronological account of human activities and environmental changes over at least 100,000 years. Local communities in this hostile environment respect Tsodilo as a place of worship frequented by ancestral spirits.

The archaeological record of the site gives a chronological account of human activities and environmental changes over at least 100,000 years, although not continuously.

Often large and imposing rock paintings exist in the shelters and caves, and although not accurately dated appear to span from the Stone Age right through to the 19th century. In addition, within the site sediments, there is considerable information pertaining to the paleo-environment. This combination provides an insight into early ways of human life, and how people interacted with their environment both through time and space.

Four countries meet.

 

Diversity Trail

Wander through dense Afromontane and Milkwood forests on the Diversity Trail. 

Indigenous forests, known to be 1,000 years old inspire a sense of enchantment during the 40 km slack-packing trail.  Explore cool labyrinths with your guide and uncover the secret world of the forests where a tranquil sanctuary of life pulsates under the tall canopy.

Experience this and so much more on the 40 km slack-packing trail in the Overberg.

Day 1

The lovely Diversity trail day 1 started at the Stanford Kitchen Restaurant where we enjoyed a light lunch and met our excellent guide Christoff. After lunch we went on a walk through the historical village. Then we went on a leisurely cruise down to the beautiful Stanford River on board the Lady Stanford and enjoyed  the lovely scenery and rich bird life with our knowledgeable guide. The day concluded with a short drive to Bellavista Country Place where we had time to check in and refresh. The evening we had a very informative fynbos gin tasting and delicious dinner with magnificent views of the sun setting over  Walker Bay.

Day 2 

Day 2 of the Diversity Trail and we walked along the beautiful forest and fynbos trails on Grootbos Nature Reserve. We enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Grootbos Environmental Centre.  After lunch the trail lead us into the incredible and ageless afromontane Witvoetskloof forest. We walked through the forest to the waterfall where I was really keen to swim but no one else was keen to join and I did not want to waste everyones time. Afterwards, I regretted not swimming. We walked back along a flower picking track to our pick up point were we got into a 4x4 vehicle for our transfer back to Bellavista Country Place. The evening we enjoyed around the fire place enjoying a delicious dinner.

https://strava.app.link/APgMKyaJJLb

Day3

On day 3  of the beautiful Diversity Trail we explored the Walker Bay coastline. The trail started at Bella Vista and lead through the rich coastal fynbos on Grootbos Private Nature Reserve. From there we head into the Walker Bay Nature Reserve, and walked through a remote dune field, onto the Plaat beach. We enjoyed lunch on the beach after which we strolled along the beach to the archaeological site at Klipgat Cave – the home of Middle Stone Age and Late Stone Age people. Inside the cave, our guide will interpret the fascinating insights into early human occupation along this coastline. In Whale season there is good possibility to spot the Southern Right Whales. We were transported back to Bellavista Country Place. This evening we enjoyed a wine tasting with Giant Periwinkle wines (a boutique wine farm and committed member of the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy) and dinner at the fire place.  Another delightful day ⚘️👣

 

https://strava.app.link/gJpPPYZGPLb

Day 4

Diversity Trail day 4. And we explored the nature, art, wine and culture of the Walker Bay region. We enjoyed the walk which offered views of ocean, farmlands and fynbos landscapes. The days interpretive walk focused on the conservation efforts of rhe various partners in the Walker Bay Fynbos Conservancy. We walked on a beautiful trail through Fynbos and the Flower Valley Farm after which the trail will dropped down via the vineyards, where we learned about the complex interactions between soil, climate and grapes 🍇.  After the morning walk, we will enjoyed  lunch 🥗 and a tasting of some of the estate’s premium wines 🍷 at Lomond. After lunch we were transferred back to Bella Vista and had time to relax. The last night's dinner was at Grootbos restaurant  Before dinner we visited the Hannarie Wenhold Botanical Art Gallery, which includes South Africa’s first Fynbos Florilegium – a unique collection of botanical art. Another delightful day!

👣🇿🇦

https://strava.app.link/VXwqVzUfRLb

Day 5

We enjoyed the lovely views over Walker Bay while having our last breakfast after which it was time to go home 🏡 

We thoroughly enjoyed this beautiful trail wand can highly recommend it.👣

Europe Cycling Part 1 South of Rotterdam to Koblence

Assembling Bicycles 🚲 after our flight ✈️ 

Our Bicycle trip started 🥳 Assembling Bicycles, saying goodbye to Sofia Spaans & Klaas who were amazing in assisting us. And Janet Moyle and Thinus arrived!! Super excited!!🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️🇳🇱

Day 1 Piershil to Utrech

Cycling 98km  from Piershil to Utrech in Netherlands 🇳🇱  Incredibly beautiful 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⚘️ (Day1)

Utrecht, the fourth largest city of the Netherlands, is often seen as the intimate alternative to Amsterdam. It has beautiful canals and parks, vibrant restaurants, interesting museums, and special historical buildings. The Dom Tower, at 112.32 meters, is the highest church tower in the Netherlands and the symbol of the city. The Utrecht University is the biggest university in the Netherlands 👨🏼‍🎓📚

Utrecht lies on the Vecht, which is a Rhine branch. A special way to discover all the beauty of Utrecht is by canoeing through the canals. 🛶A lovely way to marvel at the historic canal houses, vaulted cellars, and lively restaurants.You do have to duck every now and then at a bridge, but that is part of the 😁 

https://strava.app.link/fHcLLZDSvKb

Accommodation: Stay Okay Utrecht Central.was perfect for us. Very practical. Walking distance to station.🚆 Storage space for bicycle boxes  🚲📦 Safe parking area for bicycles 🚲  across the road. In the heart of the city. Large room with private bathroom. Clean, efficient accommodation. Will stay here again

Day 2 Utrech via Amersfoort to Putten 

Cycling 78km  from Utrech in Netherlands via Amersfoort to Putten 🇳🇱  Incredibly beautiful even in the rain  ☔️  We found a cosy little house on the border of the Veluwe forest. Birds singing woke us up this morning.🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⚘️(Day 2)

Amersfoort is known for its medieval city centre, quaint streets and picturesque buildings. Amersfoort is named after a ford in the Amer River,  today called the Eem River. 

 

Around 1500, Amersfoort was expanding so quickly that more space was needed. To accommodate this rapid growth, the first city wall was demolished and new houses were built on its foundations using the rubble. The Wall Houses (Muurhuizen) is one of the intriguing features of the city.

Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren (The Tower of Our Lady church), is 98 metres tall, and visible from all corners of the city. The city owes this tower to the Miracle of Amersfoort. In 1444, a statue of the Virgin Mary was found in the outer moat. When the statue appeared to cause all kinds of miracles, Amersfoort became a world-famous pilgrimage destination. The many donations from pilgrims made it possible to build Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren.

Amersfoort boasts several breweries, such as De Drie Ringen, Rock City and 't Mirakel. Thanks to its location on the Eem River, the city has plenty of clean water to make beer 🍺  One can taste and learn more on special beer route.

De Nieuwe Stad, is a 'city within a city', located in a former industrial area right next to the historical city centre. The authentic, original factory buildings have been redeveloped into sustainable work and meeting places. 

Amersfoort is the only city in the Netherlands bordering three nature reserves: the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the Veluwe and the Eempolder. Of these, the Eempolder is closest to the city centre. From the city centre, you can travel to this polder region on foot or by bicycle or scooter. 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻👣

https://strava.app.link/dLcMmzg6xKb

https://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en

Accommodation: https://www.airbnb.com/slink/YJ5pjace 

Lovely place. Will definitely want to stay here again.

Day 3 Putten via Veluwe NP to Arnhem 

Cycling 48km from Putten  via Veluwe forest to Arnhem.🇳🇱  Birds singing all the way. Incredibly beautiful .🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⚘️(Day 3)

Netherland has 21 National parks! Veluwe is definitely my favorite! In the parks we found all the typical Dutch landscapes, such as dunes, woods, moorlands, bogs, valleys and swamps. We did not see the wolves but saw rabbits and enjoyed birds singing. Veluwe is a dream for cyclist, hikers, birdwatchers and nature lovers

Arnhem it is called 'The Gateway to the Veluwe'. The city offers the perfect mix of city amenities and relaxing green spaces. 

Arnhem is probably best known for a famous Second World War battle that took place there in 1944. During the Battle of Arnhem, the (now famous) John Frost Bridge was literally and figuratively 'a bridge too far' for the Allies in their attempt to liberate the city during the war. Traces of that battle for freedom can still be found today, not just in museums but also via sculptures and other (outdoor) art. The Open Air Museum, where the past comes alive with authentic buildings and objects, is highly recommended

https://strava.app.link/Y7RYYtPuAKb

 ⛺️Camped at:

https://campingwarnsborn.nl/en

Great Campsite for small tents. Very clean. Friendly,  helpful staff. Boxes to charge phone, watches etc,  Fridge to put in iceblocks. Table & benches. Quiet. Will definitively stay here again when in area.

https://www.hogeveluwe.nl/en

Day 4 Arnhem to Nijmegen 

Cycling 63 km from Nijmegen 🇳🇱  Xanten, Germany 🇩🇪 Lovely route. Great to cake &  coffee  on way 🏊‍♂️ 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 5)

Nijmegen is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands with an abundants of natural beauty, thanks to its location on a hill along the Waal River.

The Romans settled in Nijmegen over Two thousand years ago Traces of the Roman's history and archaeology can be enjoyed in the city’s streets and museums.

Nijmegen was also the northernmost residence of Emperor Charlemagne and a flourishing imperial city. Unfortunately, Nijmegen did not survive the Second World War intact. On 22 February 1944, a large part of the inner city was destroyed by allied bombings. When you’re standing on the Grote Markt, you can see a clear difference in the type of buildings when you’re either facing the Waaggebouw or when you turn your back to it.

 A large number of students, numerous events and festivals, unique hot spots, and cozy restaurants all add up to an unprecedented liveliness in the city.

Nijmegen has beautiful cycling routes. After cycling put your feet in the sand on the city beach next to the river Waal, or relax at one of the numerous sidewalk cafes. 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻☕️🍹

Nijmegen

 https://en.visitnijmegen.com/to-see-do/cycling

 

https://strava.app.link/GXQ8ts2REKb

🏡 Accommodation: https://www.airbnb.com/slink/YJ5pjace

Lovely place. Will definitely stay here again

Day 5 Nijmegen to Xanten 

Cycling 63 km from Nijmegen 🇳🇱  Xanten, Germany 🇩🇪 Lovely route. Great to enjoy cake & coffee on the way 🏊‍♂️ 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 5)

Xanten was one of the most important Roman sites in Germania for about 400 years. One can visit the remains of the Roman town in the LVR Archaeological Park in Xanten. It is the largest open-air archaeological museum in Germany and a real highlight for history buffs. The impressive reconstructions of Roman buildings show what life was like in a Roman provincial town. Spectacular buildings include the harbour temple, the amphitheatre, the inn and the imposing city wall with defence towers.

https://www.nrw-tourism.com/a-archaeological-park-xanten

https://strava.app.link/GXQ8ts2REKb

🏡 Accommodation:

Day 7 Xanten to Dusseldorf 

Cycling 78 km from  Xanten to Dusseldorf, Germany 🇩🇪 Lovely route.  🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 7)

Dusseldorf, on the Rhine River, is the fashion capital of Germany, with more than 800 showrooms presenting the latest designer and couture creations. The abundance of pubs, clubs, and bars has earned Düsseldorf's Old Town the nickname of 'the longest bar in the world'.

https://strava.app.link/s1fI3V0GFKb

🏡 Accommodation: We stayed with friends who spoiled us 😀 It was lovely!!

Day 8 Dusseldorf to Witten

Cycling 61 km from  Dusseldorf to Witten Germany 🇩🇪 Lovely route especially the Nordbahn Terasse above Wuppertal.   🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 8)

The Nordbahntrasse in Wuppertal is a 22 km long, wide pedestrian, bicycle, and inline skating path on the former railway lines ). It runs on a west-east axis along the northern slope of the Wuppertal urban area. The route includes five cycle path tunnels with a total length of two kilometers. The route leads past numerous testimonies to Wuppertal's industrial and transport history, residential areas, monuments, and geological features, which are described on around 90 accompanying panels.

https://strava.app.link/syJp189pHKb

🏡 Accommodation: We stayed with friends who spoiled us 😀 It was great!

Day 9 Witten to Gevelsberg 

Cycling 12 km from Witten to Gevelsberg, Germany 🇩🇪 Lovely short route. Relaxing day   🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 8)

Gevelsberg, a charming destination in the Ennepe-Ruhr district. The cycle circel route Ruhr to Ruhr is great 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻  

https://www.outdooractive.com/mobile/en/travel-guide/germany/gevelsberg/1018930/

🏡Accommodation: We stayed with friends who spoiled us 😀 Blessed ! Petra baked the most delicious apple tart 🍎 😋 and the sauna was fanatic!

https://strava.app.link/RET2qhL4IKb

Day 10 Gevelsberg to Cologne 

Cycling 65 km from Gevelsberg to Cologne, Germany 🇩🇪 Lots of Hills today. We especially enjoyed the Balkan Trasse  & Alte Bahn Trasse 😀🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 9)

Balkantrasse – the name is reminiscent of the Balkan Express. This was the popular name for the former railway line between Leverkusen-Opladen and Remscheid-Lennep. Today, a cycle path runs along this route. Ideal for leisurely cycling with views from lofty heights.

https://strava.app.link/m1mUrDYYJKb

⛺️ Camped at: https://waldbad-camping.de/ Campsite okay but not great. Staff friendly but not keen to help. Location practical. Wifi no free. Not willing to put ice block in freezer. No safe spot to charge phone. No tables or chairs for small tents. I will choose another site next time. 

I had bicycle problems and on the way to Cologne we stopped at Stephen Gehle (on photo 👆🏻) He fixed both our bicycles. It would have been incredible difficult without Stephan Gehle. It was like cycling up a sand dunes, after Stephan changed my bicycle It was like ski-ing down a Ski scope. THANK YOU!!! Zweirad-lGehle 

Day 11 Cologne to Bonn

Cycling 67 km from Cologne to Bonn, Germany 🇩🇪 Cologne is lovely & the cycling along the Rhine close to Bonn was beautiful.  Landscapes, many people enjoying the great weather. Swimming, enjoying a beer, kayaking etc. Less enjoyable for me was 2 flat tyres but absolutely worth it😀🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻🌳(Day 10) 

https://strava.app.link/IcDc9vosLKb

⛺️ Camped at:

https://campingplatz-genienau.de/ Good campsite. Friendly & helpful staff. Clean. Wifi free and working on the whole campsite

No tables & chairs for small tents. Willing to put freezer block in freezer. Charging point at the restaurant to charge phones. Good restaurant."Gemütlich" . Will gladly stay here again 

Day 12 Bonn to Koblenz 

Bonn to Koblenz. Cycling along the Rhine River 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⚘️  Love it! Enjoying every moment! (Day 11)

https://strava.app.link/OksPwZ0zOKb

🏡 Camped at: 

https://www.moselbogen.de/ camping at Gülser Moselbogen. Great Campsite.  Very friendly & helpful staff. Table and bench available for the small tents which is great. Free wifi, works well on whole campsite. Will gladly stay here again. 

Euope Cyling. Part 2 Koblenz 🇩🇪 Germany to Amsterdam Netherlands 🇳🇱 via Belgium 🇧🇪

Day 1 of Mosel Section of our long Cyling Tour

Cyling 89km Koblenz to Zell(Mosel).  We turned away from the Rhine and continued cycling along the Mosel River 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⚘️  Love it! Enjoying every moment! (Day 12)

Koblenz, the beautiful city, lies at the confluence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers (hence its Roman name, Confluentes) and it is surrounded by 4 mountains, the Eifel, Hunsrück, Westerwald, and Taunus. A Roman town founded in 9 bce, it was a Frankish royal seat in the 6th century and was given to the archbishops of Trier in 1018 by the Holy Roman emperor Henry II. It was chartered in 1214. After passing to Prussia in 1815, it was the capital (1824–1945) of the Prussian Rhine Province. After World War I it was the seat of the Inter-Allied Control Commission for the Rhineland (1919–29). Although most of Koblenz was destroyed in World War II, many of its historic buildings have been restored, the reconstruction giving the city a beautiful historic old town.🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⛺️

The Moselle, a left bank tributary of the Rhine, river rises in the Vosges mountains and flows through France and Luxembourg into western Germany. A small part of Belgium is in its basin as it includes the Sauer and the Our.

Along the banks of the Moselle the vines thrive on sunny steep slopes, and in slate soils rich, high in minerals. This is the vineyards from which the famous Moselle wines are produced. The gradient of the vineyards is incredibly steep. Simply amazing!🍇There are plenty of wine tasting opportunities on the way🍷😀

https://strava.app.link/COc2kxUCPKb

🏕 Camped at:

https://www.campingpark-zell.de. Fantastic setting om the banks of  the Mosel River. Small selection of food and drinks for sale at reception which is great. Especially for us on bicycles. We do not have to carry extra "grocery" weight with us. Helpfull, friendly staff. Wish they had table  or bench for small tents. But that seems as if most campsites does not have it. Free wifi, works well on whole campsite

 Day 2 of Mosel

We cycled  30km from Zell (Mosel) to Kröv (Mosel)🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 Picture perfect! (Day 13)

Zell & Kröv are beautiful & quaint little towns. The setting of the camping spot in Zell was amazing! 

We discoverered that grocery stores on the Mosel are closed on a Sunday. 🥨🍒🍆 So we had to make alternative plans by the😋🍻

Zell(Mosel) is a picturesque wine growing town with historic wine cellars, museums, varied gastronomy and historical monuments and idyllic streets is geographically right in the middle between Koblenz and Trier. 

The wine town at "Zeller Hamm" - a Mosel bend - belongs with its 331 hectares of vine area to the largest wine-growing communities in Germany. 

Wines of the "Zeller Schwarze Katz" are known for their special quality and wholesomeness throughout the world. Learn more about the history of this famous vineyard and viticulture in Zell (Mosel) on the "Zeller Schwarze Katz" theme trail. Follow the cat tracks and enjoy the view of this beautiful wine-growing landscape on your way through the vineyards.

Above the town the Collis Steilpfad leads up ladders and footbridges along old vineyard walls to the Collis Tower, towers which over the town. The sweaty ascent is rewarded with a breathtaking view over the valley and the wine-growing landscape

The Mosel region around Zell has a wide selection of hiking paths to offer visitors. These have something to attract every type of hiker. It windes through the natural landscape of the Mosel and the neighbouring Hunsrück uplands. The Ferienlandwanderwege (Holiday Country Trails), have been recently established and signposted with red grape-hearts. Whether a half-day-tour or a day trip – the trails range from simple to more demanding.

Kröv: https://www.kroev.de/

https://strava.app.link/N3yX5ftoRKb

🏕 Camped at:

 https://paradies-camp.de/  🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻⛺️

Great Campsite.  Very friendly & helpful staff. Close to supermarket. Efficient campsite. Good heart restaurant woth fair prices. Wifi, works well on hole campsite. Lend us a small table and chairs. Willing to put freezer block in freezer. Street a little noisy but not to bad. Will stay here again 

Day 3 Kröv to Trittenheim 

We cycled 48km Kröv (Mosel) to Trittenheim 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 Day 14. Another great day! We cycled 48km Kröv (Mosel) to Trittenheim 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 (Day 14). Another great day. The wonderful vineyards,  beautiful river , landscapes is just amazing 

The gradient of the vineyards is just incredibly steep. I am amazed!🍇🍇🥂🍷

https://anniestours.blogspot.com/2024/03/?m=1

https://strava.app.link/5lU27f3VSKb

🏕 Camped at:

https://www.camping-trittenheim.de/

Great Campsite.  Helpful staff. Very clean. Wifi, works well on hole campsite. Lend us a small table and chairs. Willing to put freezer block in freezer. The owner lend us good quality glasses to enjoy our wine. 🍾🍷Will stay here again 

Day 4 Trittenheim to Konz 

We cycled 48km from Trittenheim via beautiful Trier (considered oldeat city in Germany) to Konz.🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 (Day15)  Another great day!🍇🍇🥂🍷

We were lucky,  we had enough time to enjoy ☕️ & breakfast and pack up our camp before the rain started. It was a fairly cold rainy day 🌧  but we still enjoyed it a lot. We spend some time in Trier, lovely city. We bought a new gasbottel at Globetrotters
Amazing store! I got carried a way a little... In short, I had some retail therapy. Will show you..

The campsite in Konz is located at the confluence of the Mosel & Saar River. We started the Mosel Section at the " junction" of the Mosel & Rhine River. Special!

Trier is considered Germany's oldest city.  It is also the oldest seat of a bishop north of the Alps. 

Trier was one of the four capitals of the Roman Empire during the Tetrarchy period in the late 3rd and early 4th centuries.

 In the Middle Ages, the archbishop-elector of Trier was an important prince of the Church who controlled land from the French border to the Rhine. The archbishop-elector of Trier also had great significance as one of the seven electors of the Holy Roman Empire. 

Due to its significance during the Roman and Holy Roman empires, several monuments and cathedrals within Trier are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

https://strava.app.link/eoLU4p0dWKb

🏕 Camped at:

https://campingplatz-konz.de/

Great Campsite at the confluence of the Mosel and Saar Rivers. Friendly & Helpful staff. Wifi, works well on whole campsite. Tables and chairs available for the small tents as well as charging points. Willing to put freezer block in freezer. Facilities bit older but clean. Very  reasonable rates. Good, hearty restaurant on site. Will stay here again. 

Day 5  Konz to Kylburg 

We cycled 65 km from  Konz to Kyllburg in the South Eifel of Germany 🇩🇪🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 (Day16) Wonderful route. Some stretches magically beautiful. We also cycled thoroug Bitburg known gor good Bitburg beer 🍻 The route was challenging towards the end, with many "uphills". We slept well😴🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

Naturpark Südeifel in Germany, lies within the  German-Luxembourg Nature Park  which is a cross-border nature park, which was established on 17 April 1964 by state treaty between the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It thus became the first cross-border nature park in Western Europe.

https://strava.app.link/mScG7sLTXKb

🏕 Camped at:

https://campkyllburg.de/

Great Campsite on the Kyllriver. Friendly & Helpful staff. Wifi, works well on whole campsite. Tables and chairs available for the small tents as well as charging points. Fridge with small freezer section available for small tents. Facilities good &  clean. Very  reasonable rates.  Will definitely stay here again. 

Uphill and downhill. Challenging day with heavy bicycles. 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️⛺️

Day 6 Kylburg to Kronenburger See 

We cycled 64 km from Kyllburg to Kronenburger See in the Vulkaneilfel  of Germany 🇩🇪🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 (Day17) Wonderful route.  The route was challenging lots of uos and downs but amazingly beautiful We slept well😴🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

Naturpark Vulkaneilfel in Germany, lies within the  German-Luxembourg Nature Park  which is a cross-border nature park, which was established on 17 April 1964 by state treaty between the German state of Rhineland-Palatinate and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. It thus became the first cross-border nature park in Western Europe.

https://strava.app.link/VvlSmgU2YKb

🏕 Camped at:

https://www.campingpark-kronenburger-see.de/

The only campsite in the area that we could find. Efficient Campsite  Friendly & Helpful staff. No Wifi, works, no charging points, no tables and chairs available for the small tents. No Fridge orfacilities freezer facilities. Bathroom facilities good &  clean. Reasonable rates.  Will stay here again, partially because there is n other options.

Day 7 Kronenburger See to Monschau 

We cycled 65 km from  to Monschau through the Nordeilfel  of Germany 🇩🇪🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 (Day18)

Beautiful route and  we saw water buffalo on the way which I thought was amazing!

My bicycle 🚲 broke down. We were blessed that this happened 500m from a bicycle shop in the small village of Sourdough in Belgium 🇧🇪 . Even more blessed that the store, Burkardt, had all the spare parts in stock. 

We visited the picture perfect historical city of Monschau. Beautiful!

Water buffalos 🐃 are helping the Deutsche Bahn🇩🇪🚆to transform former military sites into a swamp which ensure the survival of other animals.🐸

https://nachhaltigkeit.deutschebahn.com/en/measures/water-buffalo

In other areas the water buffalo 's🐃🍶 milk are used to make delicious buffolo mozzarella 🧀 😋

The North Eifel, the northern part of the Eifel, is a low mountain range in Germany and East Belgium. It is a beautiful area that offers plenty of hiking,  cycling opportunities as well as cultural activities.

https://nordeifel-tourismus.de/en

https://strava.app.link/VvlSmgU2YKb

🏕 Camped at:

https://zum-jone-bur.de/

Good Campsite. Good location. Friendly & Helpful staff. Wifi frre but only works in reception area. works. One table and bench available for the small tents. No Fridge or freezer facilities. No charging points, charged at plugs in bathroom. Bathroom facilities good &  clean. Willing to put my freezer block in freezer. Reasonable rates.  Will stay here again. 

Day 8 Monschau to Vaals via Aachen

We cycled 60 km from Monschau via Aachen (in Germany 🇩🇪) to Vaals (in the Netherlands🇳🇱)🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 and cycling  through Belgium🇧🇪. (Day19) Part of the route is called the Three Landen route. With good reason, we were criss-crossing between 3 Countries 🇩🇪 , 🇳🇱, 🇧🇪

One often only realize that you now in another country when your phone indicates "no network". Then you have to switch" the network operator" to the country you in. When doing so, you find out in which country you actually are. 

And of course the menus in restaurants also suddenly change between 🌭 Bratwurst, Stoofvlees, Bitterballen and  🍟 Pommes frites, frietjes, friets etc. And of course the beers 🍻 Bitburg, Davel, Heineken and more!

Food for sale in Grocery Store also indicates to an extent in which country you are.  

Frites which the Belgians are believed to have invented back in 1781. Frites are thicker than French fries and very crisp because you fry them twice. You can pick up a cornet de frites (fries in a cone-shaped card container) from a mobile food stall known as a frietkot (or fry shack).

And to top it all, it is a beautiful route. 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻  Large part was on the lovely Venbahn route. 

The Vennbahn Cycle Route is a cross-border long- distance cycle route between Germany , Belgium and Luxembourg , which runs along the route of the Vennbahn , which was built during the Prussian era and closed and dismantled in 2002, over a distance of around 125 km.

The route was created as the longest cross-border, connected cycle, and hiking route in Europe on disused railway lines. The total costs were estimated at 13.6 million euros in 2012. The main financial contributors were the EU, Germany, Belgium. It is part of the RAVeL network (French: Réseau Autonome de Voies Lentes)

https://anniestours.blogspot.com/

https://strava.app.link/mhGo2JQt3Kb

🏕 Camped at:

Kampeerterrein Hoeve de Gastmolen in Vaals

https://g.co/kgs/2oX3S9u

Great Campsite. Good location. Friendly & Helpful staff. Wifi free but only works in reception area. works. Two table and benches available for the small tents.  Freezer available to use. Recreation room. No charging points, charged at plugs in recreation room. Bathroom facilities very  good &  clean.  Will definitely stay here again. 

Day 9 Vaals via Maastricht to Maasmechelen

We cycled 60 km from Vaals via vibrant city of Maastricht (in the Netherlands🇳🇱)  to Klein Borkel in Belgium🇧🇪. Wonderful cycling day! (Day 20) 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

Maastricht might be the oldest city in the Netherlands,  some claim that Nijmegen holds the title. Either way, it has been inhabited continuously since Roman times, evolving from a Roman settlement to a religious centre, a garrison city and an early industrial city.

Maastricht was almost in abelgium, the Belgians declared independence in 1830. When the border had to be drawn in 1839, General Dibbets, at the very last minute, stopped Maastricht from becoming Belgian territory and made sure it was part of the Netherlands.

Maastricht was the first Dutch city to be liberated by Allied forces after WWII ended, and also the site of signing of the Maastricht Treaty in 1992, which led to the creation of the European Union and the euro.

https://anniestours.blogspot.com/

https://strava.app.link/YAjNSGHb5Kb

🏕 Camped at:

https://www.campingsalamander.be/

Average Campsite. Good location to visit Hoge Kempen National Park. Friendly & Helpful staff. Wifi free but only works whole campsite. No tables and benches available for the small tents. We lend from other campers. Willing to put freezer block in freezer No charging points, charged at plugs in recreation room or at reception. Bathroom facilities not young anymore &  clean. Restaurant good. Will not necessarily stay here again. We did enjoy our stay. Many permanent/long term campers, all very friendly and helpfull.

Day 10: Maasmechelen to Borkel

We cycled 67 km from  Maasmechelen in Belgium🇧🇪 to Klein Borkel (in the Netherlands🇳🇱)  another Wonderful cycling day! (Day 21) 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

We are amased by the Netherlands 🇳🇱 friendly people,  lovely nature, good food, great hiking and cycling opportunities etc.

The Netherland may be small, but it has so much nature! 🐇🐦‍⬛There are 21 National parks and more than 160 Nature Reserves. In the parks you will find all the typical Dutch landscapes, such as dunes, woods, moorlands, bogs, valleys and swamps. Every park has its own local flora and fauna. It is a dream for cyclist, hikers, birdwatchers and nature lovers.

The knooppunt fietsnetwerk 🚲 is fantastic. The cycle junction (knooppunte) network is a system of regional cycle routes, composed of numbers from 0 to 99. You will encounter signs with the knooppunt numbers on along the regional cycle routes in the Netherlands & Belgium. At most of the knooppunte there is a map from where one can orientate onsself again. 

The system makes it easy to map out your own cycle route, simply by connecting the junctions. Whether you are a seasoned cyclist or just want to relax in the fresh air for a day, the network offers an ideal way to enjoy nature and discover new areas. Fantastic!🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️

https://anniestours.blogspot.com/

https://strava.app.link/cp44BmKn7Kb

🏕 Camped at:

https://zwaluwnest.eu/

Great Campsite on a farm. Very Friendly & Helpful. Wifi free, works on most of the campsite.  They gave us  tables and chairs to use. Willing to put freezer block in freezer. Charging point availablefor small tents  Can also charged at plugs in bathroom. Bathroom facilities very clean. No restaurant. Location great cycle or ho on hikes in adjacent nature areas Would love to stay here again. 

Day 11: Klein Borkel via Eindhoven to Rosmalen 

We cycled 80 km from Klein Borkel via Eindhoven to Rosmalen in the Netherlands🇳🇱). Another wonderful cycling day! (Day 22) 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

Eindhoven is a city of technology, design, and knowledge.  Here, engineers and creatives work closely together on groundbreaking projects. These crossovers give Eindhoven its exciting energy and make it an international top city for innovation.

Eindhoven is considered  the design capital of the Netherlands. Its biggest event is the annual Dutch Design Week, where hundreds of talented and established designers showcase their latest creations and new futuristic designs The Dutch Design Week (DDW) is arguable the largest design event in Northern Europe. 

The Design Academy Eindhoven and the Technical University attract hundreds of new students from the Netherlands and abroad to study in Eindhoven. 

More than 125 years ago, Philips brought light 💡to Eindhoven.  Industrial heritage sites, such as old Philips factories and power stations throughout Eindhoven, have been transformed into trendy shops, exceptional restaurants, luxury lofts, and creative workplaces

Even in the field of cycling, Eindhoven is innovative. The luminous Van Gogh Roosegaarde Cycle Path is inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night' and designed by designer Daan Roosegaarde. Hovenring is probably the world's first ever floating bicycle path?

Stratumcstreet, in the heart of the city, is officially the longest pub street in Benelux. 🍻 

https://strava.app.link/8lFNWXyQbLb

 🏕Camped at:

 https://degroenedonk.nl/ 

We planned to camp here 👆🏻⛺️

However, a friend invited us to stay with her. So, we did not camp here as planned. It was a blessing since there was a heavy thunder storm ⛈️ 🌬 and it was pouring with rain🌧☔️

We had a lovely time with our friend. The complex had a bouls evening & and invited us to join. It was loads of fun & we learned some Dutch while playing 🎉🎈

Day 12: Rosmalen via Culemborg to Kockengen 

We cycled 88 km from Rosmalen via Culemborg to Kockengen in the Netherlands🇳🇱).   Lovely route. Another Wonderful cycling day! (Day 23) 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

Culemborg is the birth place of Jan van Riebeeck who is regarded as Culemborg’s most famous son 

In 1652 Van Riebeeck and 82 men and 8 women arrived on 3 ships in Table Bay (Cape Town) 🇿🇦 They had to established a replenishment station for the Dutch East India Company. The  ships travelling from the Dutch Republic to Batavia could then stock up on water and  fresh fruit and vegetables in Table Bay.  They were the first European colony on South African soil .

Culemborg was a prosperous trading settlement that received its city rights as early as 1318. It remained an independent domain outside of the Dutch Republic up until 1714 that gave refuge to criminals and debtors.

Throughout much of the era of the Republic of the Seven United Provinces (1581 to 1795), Culemborg remained a free city with market and asylum rights and a place where people trying to evade courts and creditors in the Dutch Republic could seek refuge. The laws of the Dutch Republic did not apply here and in the 16th and 17th centuries, Culemborg developed a fairly dubious reputation for itself. In Amsterdam, the phrase ‘going to Cuylenborg’ became synonymous with declaring bankruptcy and running off to evade the consequences. However, this did not mean that Culemborg was a lawless wild west: local law still applied.

Elisabeth of Culemborg was the last descendent of the House of Culemborg. A wealthy philanthropist, she left an indelible mark on the city. She was responsible for commissioning a new town hall and founded the Elisabeth Gasthuis, a home for elderly men and women. An orphanage was also built in 1560 with money from her estate. 

https://janvanriebeeckmuseum.nl

https://strava.app.link/TGDY7PCyhLb

 🏕 Camped at:

https://www.campingvdpanne.nl/ 

Campsite on a farm. Very Friendly & Helpful. Wifi free, works on the whole campsite.  Willing to put freezer block in freezer. Nothing for small tents. No tables and chairs to use. No  Charging points available for small tents  Can charged at plugs in the bathroom. Bathroom facilities are old but clean. No restaurant. Lovely deck on water with bench. This was great

Day 13: Kockengen via Weesp, Amsterdam to Amstelveen

We cycled 60 km from Kockengen via Weesp and the de Pijp in Oud Zuid, to Aalsmeer in the Netherlands🇳🇱).  Lovely route. Another Wonderful cycling day! (Day 24) 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

En-route we stopped for coffee ☕️ with friends & family.  It was delightful to meet them on the way.

This was a cold, windy and rainy day, felt like Cape Town in winter.🌧☔️.

Weesp is on the Amsterdam-Rijn canal and the De Vecht River.  It's history dates back to the middle ages, to the year 1355, when it was granted city rights. From the 12th till the late 15th century  De Vecht river was a popular trade route for ships going land inwards. Due to a civil war in the late 15th century, the period of prosperity came to an end. After a period of economic decline, history of Weesp is characterized by breweries in the 17th century, porcelain in the 18th century and a chocolate factory in the 19th century. Weesp have monumental buildings, canals and small shops like Amsterdam, but its undiscovered by the big crowd. Amsterdam is just 15km away.

De Pijp is a charming, bohemian neighbourhood in Amsterdam, right outside the canal rings and neighbouring the famous Museumplein area; it’s a part of the bigger borough called Oud-Zuid. It has a residential feel to it, but it’s also lively, given the multitude of markets, shops and restaurants

https://anniestours.blogspot.com/

https://strava.app.link/wXdbpJ6FlLb

🏕Camped at;  No camping tonight.  We spoiled ourselves with a bit of luxury in a lovely abnb in Aalsmeer. Beautiful place, with lovely setting with a Weber gas braai on the deck. Inside fire place. Walking distance to supermarket and restaurants but in quiet relaxed area. Will definitely want to stay here again.
Accommodation:
https://www.westeindercabin.com/

 

Day 14 Kudelstaart to Piershil (where we started)

This we cycled 83 km from Kudelstaart to Piershil in the Netherlands passing by Rotterdam 🇳🇱 This is where started initially, circle route of 1600km completed
Lovely route. Another Wonderful cycling day! (Day 25) 🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻

Rotterdam's history goes back to 1270, when a dam was constructed in the Rotte. In 1340,

It is the 2nd biggest city in the Netherlands 🇳🇱and has the largest seaport in Europe 🇪🇺

The near-complete destruction of the city center during the World War II German bombing has resulted in a varied architectural landscape, including skyscrapers designed by architects such as Rem Koolhaas, Piet Blom and Ben van Berkel

Rotterdam is known for its university, riverside setting, lively cultural life, maritime heritage, and modern architecture.

https://strava.app.link/T6LzItXrnLb

🏕Campsite: no camping tonight. 
Accommodation: We stayed worh dear friends where we also left our bicycle boxes 📦  which we need for to pack bicycle for our flight back home

Day 26 

Time to fly home ✈️🇿🇦 It was an amazing 1600km  cycling tour through the Netherlands 🇳🇱 Germany 🇩🇪 Belgium 🇧🇪 Luxembourg 🇱🇺  🚴🏻‍♀️🚴🏻 

Emirates Airlines was fantastic!

 

Hope to be back in 2025 🚴🏻🚴🏻‍♀️😀