April 27, 2016: Cycling home stage 5 - Home sweet and wet home! But I made it!!!

Garmin Activity: https://connect.garmin.com/modern/activity/1144379602

85 km, 3h42, elevation gain 600 m. Trip rating 65%

回比利時的那天還是下雨！在如此惡劣的天氣下回家很傳奇！ 1000公里，總升一萬二米，45小時的長途這樣告一個段落，任務完成！明天開始騎回布拉格，差不多會是一樣的數據。天天來個報告，禮拜一晚上大概抵達布拉格！祝我好運吧！

The last day! Less than 100 km from my doorstep!

It was raining non stop and I was insecure about getting outside. When it was almost nine am, I decided to just hit the road. I got wet straight away. It was a nervous and careful passage through the city of Aachen. Then, I saw this sign: the Netherlands!

I had now officially ridden throughout the Czech Republic and entire Germany. More than 900 km of route accomplished. A feeling of pride befell upon me! It gave me the courage to face these remaining 85 wet kilometers.

The Netherlands were wet, just like most of Western Europe.

There is a so called three nations spot where Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium meet. As a proud passport owner of two of those three nations, I had to stop here for a quick video report.

I had ridden throughout Germany, now I was in the Netherlands, and Belgium was next on the map.

Lemiers, the three-nations community

The global picture of the ride was very monotonous: rain, rain, rain

It was just a matter of counting down the last miles; 85 became 78, and became 66.

The Grey Netherlands

The city of Maastricht was right in front of me. See the word FIETSPAD? It is Dutch for cycling trail

Little creek, would be quite cozy in summertime

Me wearing millions of layers of textile. 

As I marched through the city of Maastricht, I had to control my speed. There was traffic, there were turns and tiny spaces everywhere.

Some construction works that forced me to seek alternatives

This is a picture taken right outside of Maastricht. Hasselt, the city near my place was indicated at 44 km. Boy, was I mighty close now!!!

Yet another muesli bar. I think I had around 30 on my trip home hehe

Then it really happened, it finally occurred: I made to the the KINGDOM OF BELGIUM!!! Region of Flanders, Province of Limburg. Considering my whole itinerary with foul weather, this was truly a gigantic milestone! Almost home!!!

This too calls for a mini party ^^

^

A moment of seriousness as we study the traffic laws in Belgium: Max speed in city areas only 50 kmph. That's where I need to watch it...

Epic blurry picture of a downright wet international ride

There was yet another big surprise for me: right after that BE sign, I had to make a turn to the right, which led me to this position. You will probably just recognize a channel with a bike line. For me on the other hand, it is the Albert Channel, where I spent thousands of kilometers over the years and which is my territory. Only here, I realized that I would not have to cycle through cities anymore, I could just go along this channel. This was AWESOME!!! Let it rain on me, let it rain!!!

Bartman and the Albert Channel, reunited at last!

That is why I love this area so much, straight segments of never-ending concrete, no traffic, just fantastic average speed. 

Admittedly, it would have been better on a sunny day without all this head winds, but who is complaining here?

Some construction works along the channel forced me to deviate. This was close to Genk, a city which is roughly 30 km from my place

Alternative routes for cyclists

Then a heavy downpour kicked which lasted for almost an hour. I got pretty soaked and I hid under this bridge. I let my mom know that I would be home in less than one hour.

No bridge wall without graffiti, same thing as in the Czech republic

LUMMEN! My home town! I had officially connected Prague to my home town of Lummen. What an amazing feeling. From here it was still eight km to my house, but I already felt home.

I felt like a home coming queen, enjoying the walk of honour

This is the last picture I took, in my own street. It was still raining softly. I made a movie clip of the last mile as well. 

My ride from Prague to Belgium had been successful, covering one thousand kilometers, 12K elevation gain and 45 hours of pedaling. One of my greater rides, yet not the greatest. That trophy still goes to my 2015 July Tour de Taiwan. 

Right now, I would spend ten days at home, working in the Heerlen office. I would attend my father's 65 year birthday party and my own birthday would also be spent at home. In less than two weeks, I will cycle all the way bike to Prague as well! Report over and out...