Day 26: Esch-Sur-Sûre to St Vith

I was relieved that breakfast was buffet style after the previous evening’s ridiculous and lengthy dinner service. It was fabulous and I snuck many a sandwich into my bag.

I was ready to check out by 8:15 am. I made my way to the lobby to pay and leave but found the front desk was closed. I was confused. I thought I had to be out by 8:30 am as per my instructions. I tried speaking with the cleaning woman but it was difficult for both of us. For me because of the early hour, for her because I am me.

I was just about to leave my key on the counter and depart when the matron arrived in a fluster. She said something about our 8:30 am check-out discussion and I still didn’t really understand, I paid, and then I was on the road.

It was nice to leave early because the morning air was still cool and almost damp. The sun hadn’t risen over the forested hills and I was basking in the shade.

I decided again to follow the larger roads, rather than any silly Google Maps recommendations. For the most part it was fine, however I was alongside some heavy vehicles for a while. That was delightful.

The ride was by no means flat. Rather, it was quite hilly. I guess I assumed that since Belgium is directly under the Netherlands it would be pretty flat as well. Not so. But, it is beautiful in any case. Many farms and cows, surrounded by greenery.

I stopped for a long coffee break in Lamy and was grateful to cool off in the shade. Nothing terribly exciting occurred on the ride – which, was fine with me after the events of yesterday.

Saint Vith is a quaint little town in the province of Liege, a German speaking region of Belgium. It was a hotly contested item during the Battle of the Bulge and few of it’s original buildings remained after the war. This makes it mildly underwhelming as far as architecture goes.

After a wee afternoon nap I rode my bike to the Biermusem. Of course I had to go check that out. Again, the ride through the country to get there was quite gruelling but it was all worth it when I sipped my first beer Belgian beer.

I had dinner at a little restaurant back in Saint Vith and an ice cream cone on the way home. I took it easy in the evening and prepared to ride to Pepinster the next day.

DOTD