Beautiful autumn, rolling hills, just the right amount of mud, and a bike (unsurprisingly).
Last fall, I cycled from Eupen to Spa through the High Fens nature preserve. The visibility was low, I got a puncture, and then, there were no trains in Spa to take me home due to some track maintenance. I had to cycle further to catch a connection from a different city, only to score another puncture along the way. Still, it was a fantastic outing. So much so that when the leaves started turning color this year, the memory of that trip resurfaced, and I decided to do an Eupen-Spa ride again. Only this time, I double-checked if the trains were running and already put winter tires on the bike. Not that I expected snow, but they also increase puncture resistance a bit and improve grip in the mud; both of which come in handy since I tend to prefer being off asphalt, where any route seems more adventurous. Seeing the burly rubber fitted on the bike further fueled my stoke to get out, and the forecast spelled glimpses of sunshine as a bonus. I was in for a treat.
Indeed, just outside Eupen's city limits, the day started delivering both views and riding fun. My first stop was Gileppe Lake, where I anticipated the autumn views to really come alive. Still, I got a good dose of golden foliage on the forest road even before I got there.
Passing the vivid scenery of the lake did not disappoint, and the pleasant air temperature only added to the happy mood.
On the other side of the lake, I joined an unpaved road to climb onto the high plateau. Interestingly, while I met numerous cyclists on fancy e-mountain bikes between Eupen and the lake, they completely disappeared as I continued further into the High Fens. I would think the engine would be great to explore areas further away from the parking lots, but each to their own. I did not complain that I had the roads mostly to myself from now on.
I didn't follow the same path as last time. I like to switch things up; moreover, I revisited one of the most fun sections of last year's route about a month ago, only to find it widened and smoothed by a bulldozer. One could drive a family car there, but it's far less engaging on a bike now. Thankfully, I found alternatives where uneven terrain still takes center stage and requires the focus that good cycling deserves. Like these:
The trails were so good that I just kept going across the plateau without much stopping. The only outlook that I stopped to take a photo along the way was this:
I did take a break, though, at the next point of interest I included in my itinerary for today: the excellent Bayehon waterfall. While it's much less famous than the one in Coo, it is much more to my liking, and this trip felt like a good excuse to revisit it.
A lunch later, I left Bayehon, only to descend towards another river of the region, Hoëgne.
I followed it downstream to Hockai, where I returned on asphalt. That was okay, though, as it is one of the nicest rail-trails around, car-free, and scenic.
It took me all the way to Spa, which welcomed me with a downpour. Still, I liked its atmosphere, and a homebound train was only around 10 minutes away.
What to say. The hills did it again for me. And for once, not having to deal with setbacks was pretty great. Thanks for reading!
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