Day 28: Pepinster to Bütgenbach

My plan for taking the train to Bütgenbach today was not to be. Upon inspection, the Belgian train network does not extend far enough east to do me much good at this juncture. However, I analyzed the possible combinations, like any good engineer (read: total nerd), and calculated that if I took the train from Pepinster to Eupen, and then either took the bus or rode my bike from Eupen, it would be the shortest length with least elevation gain.

So, I crammed myself, my bike, and my bags onto the train in Pepinster. Because I am me, I arrived at the station about 40 minutes early. I watched several other trains pull in and out and observed that most had specifically marked bike carriages. But, when my train pulled in I couldn’t locate such a carriage. I walked along the endlessly long train trying to find the correct door. Soon I worried the train would leave without me so I just picked a door in a 2^nd class carriage and tried to pack myself in.

I noticed the train employee watching me from down the platform and then heard her whistle agitatedly. I poked my head back out, as I was half in and half out of the train, thinking she was likely going to tell me to move to the proper carriage, but she angrily gestured at me to get my ass on the train immediately. I felt like an infant being birthed through a train door as I jammed myself in.

The rest of the ride was a nervous waiting game to see if I would come face to face with her. I did near the end and she asked me to get out of her way in German. She didn’t ask for my ticket and didn’t get mad at me for putting my bike in the wrong car. Crisis averted.

After the train, the next hurdle was the big question mark regarding Belgian buses. No one I spoke to seemed to have any idea if they can take bikes and suggested I just ask the bus driver when the time comes. However, looking at the bus schedule I realized there wouldn’t be one leaving to Bütgenbach for a good four hours. Cycling it is!

I forgot to mention an important piece of information that came to light as I was leaving my hotel in Pepinster this morning: the pannier rack troubles persist. I don’t know how it is possible, but the OTHER side of my rack has come unhinged via a missing screw. At least this time the screw didn’t shear off leaving half still in the frame. No sign of the previous screw remained. How does this keep happening?!

I had no option to go to a bike store simply because there were none around. I loaded up the right pannier to redistribute the weight and delicately strapped both on. Riding like this wasn’t terrible, and there were no structural issues impeding bike function, so I had no choice really but to go with it.

Anyways, back to Eupen. Taking the bus was out. Cycling it was. When I had researched last night, I found a nice cycling route through the nature reserve / forest out of Eupen. Unfortunately, my cellular data is now expired, I couldn’t reach the internet, and I hadn’t the foresight to download the map before leaving wifi. I circled around town and eventually just ended up on a long, straight road through the forest. It wasn’t busy with traffic though so it was still an enjoyable ride.

I happened upon a nice place for a coffee in the middle of said nature reserve and took a break. There I made friends with today’s dog of the day and had a cappuccino.

Once I was through the forest, and in Germany, I linked up with a great bike route that was nicely paved and ran along an old railway track.

Back in Belgium, a little while along, I noticed a shift in the weather. The breeze was starting to pick up, the sky was greying mildly, and I felt a blanket of humidity surround me. I figured it wouldn’t be long before the weather forecast would deliver.

I made it to Bütgenbach around 2:30 pm and my bowels rumbled nervously as I caught my first glimpse of the lake where tomorrow’s sprint triathlon will take place.

I decided to detour into town to pick up a few things (i.e. Imodium) at the supermarket before checking into my hotel. Moments before I exited with my shopping it had started to downpour. I, and several other shoppers, stood under the awning outside watching and laughing at the rain bouncing off the road. We only had to wait about 15 minutes for it to calm down nearly to a full stop.

This downpour occurred precisely at the time the triathlon would have been in full swing. Let’s see what happens tomorrow (with the same, if not worse, weather forecast).

I strapped on my shopping bag and found my hotel again.

As I drink my post-ride / pre-race carbo load beer on the patio of the hotel, the sky looks and sounds like a grey whale (what does a grey whale sound like? I am assuming thunder for the purposes of this story). Thunder is rumbling in the distance and another lashing of rain could hit any moment. Oh wait, it just did. Everyone is running inside.

Going to take the night easy and get a good rest before the tri tomorrow at 1 pm. It will consist of 750 m swim, 20 km bike, and 5 km run.

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Anecdote from the last few days: There are groups of scouts everywhere out adventuring in the Belgian summer. The other day a big group of boy scouts waved at me and gave me the thumbs up as I ripped down the hill into Spa. I half expected to see mom in the group with her bucket hat headed to the boy scout jamboree.

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DOTD