Road to the alps

Burned out and ready to go Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Photos Share

Trip start
July 14, 2024
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Sunday, July 7, 2024 at 12:44 AM
🌙 13 °C
Altitude: 12 m
Netherlands Wijde Aa 52.535946, 6.10699552°32’9” N 6°6’25” E
Prepping for mountains
July 7, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ 🌙 13 °C
This year I will be heading south. My default country to go to has been Norway, but since tourism has discovered Scandinavia it has become busy and on my last time there, I was a bit overwelmed by campervans. So south it is and Alps are on the menu. I like to believe the climbs are higher but more gentle. We will see. At least the gear is up for it. Hopefully I am too.Read more
TravelerYou will meet campervans ia am afraid. Maar tof plan. WNneer vertrek je?
7/7/24ReplyTranslate
HugmybikeNiet op de gravelpaden, vermoed ik 😊. Ik ga zondag.
7/9/24ReplyTranslate
Veel plezier! Aan de fiets zal het niet liggen 😊 Ik ben erg blij met de mijne. [Jan van der Meij]
7/13/24ReplyTranslate
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 1
Sunday, July 14, 2024 at 10:45 AM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 8 m
Netherlands Zijkanaal Deventer-Raalte 52.253495, 6.19430352°15’13” N 6°11’39” E
It begins
July 14, 2024 in the Netherlands ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
Today it begins. First a 4hour trainride to the south of the Netherlands and then we start with some hills in the Ardennes. Weather seems ok south am looking forward to get going.
I already found something I forgot. A bel. I guess I’ll have to shout at people then…Read more
TravelerPling! Pling!
7/14/24Reply
Valt wel op ✨ [M]
7/15/24ReplyTranslate
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 1–2
July 14, 2024 at 7:19 PM - July 15, 2024
1 night
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 442 m
Belgium Montenau 50.348488, 6.1200750°20’55” N 6°7’12” E
Not really anything special
Jul 14–15, 2024 in Belgium ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Starting the trip with a 4 hour trainride (plus some delays) I started to ride in Maastricht around 14:30. A bit late to start the day, but also I felt like I already had a journey behind me and didn’t really feel like cycling.
Anyhow. I got on the way and started riding towards Belgium. I didn’t really notice the bordercrossing. The houses just suddenly weren’t “te koop”, but “a vendre”.

Before I bore you, I’ll be short: okay scenery, nothing special. 80km with 1000m of vert. Most uphills were quite gentle.
The only interesting thing was the usual first-day-doubts and mind-games I played with myself.
Made it to the campsite. Tents up, having a beer. Then sleep.Read more
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Monday, July 15, 2024 at 9:15 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 453 m
Belgium Born 50.335625, 6.11783350°20’8” N 6°7’4” E
1
Crossing borders
July 15, 2024 in Belgium ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Today I started just north of St Vith in Belgium and followed the “Vennradweg”. It is an old railway line turned into a cycling path. Very nice.
After that it got a bit more hilly and finally I ended up in the Our valley. Which I rode down all the way to Echternach. In the mean time I have been crossing borders multiple times not really knowing wich country I was in.Read more
Leuke foto! [Hermien]
7/15/24ReplyTranslate
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Monday, July 15, 2024 at 10:51 AM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 319 m
Luxembourg Lieler 50.115689, 6.12813350°6’56” N 6°7’41” E
1
Follow the shortest route
July 15, 2024 in Luxembourg ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
Sometimes avoiding hills and following the river doesn’t mean it’s a smooth path. Even though my routeplanner was for cycling.
A hiker with a dog lane from the other way and told me: “It’s a bad idea cycling here”. I responded “so far so good”, but obviously he came the way I was about to go and he was quite right. Nevernind. Some bad ideas have rendered great results in the past.Read more
Traveler🫣
7/15/24Reply
TravelerWell you looked forward to adventure and at least this doesnt look boring…
7/15/24Reply
Ziet er wel heel mooi uit! [Hermien]
7/15/24ReplyTranslate
TravelerOops!
7/15/24Reply
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Monday, July 15, 2024 at 3:57 PM
☁️ 27 °C
Altitude: 125 m
Luxembourg Wollefsmillen 49.713542, 6.50424749°42’49” N 6°30’15” E
Hot and fast day
July 15, 2024 in Luxembourg ⋅ ☁️ 27 °C
After Echternach pretty much all the road was sort of flat following first the river Our, then Mosel, then Saar and at diner time started looking for a campsite and got a weather warning… it was 30°C all day, so thunderstorms are coming. Found a hotel in Mettlach with I bicycle garage. And more importantly: a shower.Read more
3 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 11:47 AM
⛅ 20 °C
Altitude: 200 m
Germany Saarbrücken 49.234997, 6.99449°14’6” N 6°59’38” E
3rd day beginnings
July 16, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ⛅ 20 °C
As a kind of a rule the 3rd day of a bike tour usually is where things start to hurt and doubts creep in.
Starting on a cloudy day with wet roads and lots of broken branches reminded me that opting for a hotel was a good idea.

Anyway so far the road along the river Saar sounded much more romantic than it turned out to be. Lot of industrial crap, the Germans wanted to push to the edge of the country.

However, life is good is Saarbrücken… apparently.Read more
0 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 1:40 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 228 m
France Wittring 49.04187, 7.13390849°2’31” N 7°8’2” E
3rd day endings
July 16, 2024 in France ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
Well, after the incredibly filthy and way to expensive coffee in Saarbrücken I moved on and somehow found some nice French scenery. Stay away from the bikepaths along rivers and canals though. Yes there hardly is any elevation, but also it is quite boring.
The french countryside is pretty nice and you go through some towns. Wich is nice.
I ended up going quite far today thanks to the boring canals and despite the lovely hills. I ended up back in Germany again because after a long ride a beer is just better than whine.Read more
Traveler🍻
7/16/24Reply
TravelerProost!
7/17/24Reply
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 8:22 PM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 141 m
Germany Kehl 48.56152, 7.8087648°33’41” N 7°48’32” E
Route info
July 16, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
For people who want to check the exact route:
Here is a link to a Komoot collection. I think I made it available te view for everyone: https://www.komoot.com/nl-nl/collection/2918858…
TravelerLooks like day 2 and 3 are missing in Komoot
7/17/24Reply
Hugmybike@Jan: dank je. Opgelost.
7/18/24ReplyTranslate
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Tuesday, July 16, 2024 at 10:05 PM
🌙 21 °C
Altitude: 150 m
Germany Kehl 48.562003, 7.80695548°33’43” N 7°48’25” E
1
Rhein by night
July 16, 2024 in Germany ⋅ 🌙 21 °C
Just before going to bed (or mat), I wanted to check out the Rhein is still there.
TravelerWauw wat mooi!
7/17/24ReplyTranslate
Traveler Very nice!
7/17/24Reply
Prachtig [Thomas]
7/19/24Reply
TravelerMooi plaatje👍
7/20/24ReplyTranslate
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 10:03 AM
☀️ 21 °C
Altitude: 157 m
Germany Ottenheim 48.386508, 7.75715548°23’11” N 7°45’26” E
New day, new river
July 17, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
With the mixed success of following rivers (especially the Saar was disappointing) I try my luck today following the Rhein upstream. I stay on the German side for now, because it makes ordering coffee easier, due to the language barrier of the French.Read more
3 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at 1:27 PM
☀️ 26 °C
Altitude: 233 m
Germany Schliengen 47.75002, 7.55402247°45’0” N 7°33’14” E
Wishing for head wind
July 17, 2024 in Germany ⋅ ☀️ 26 °C
Today was hot! Very hot. A bit too much for me eventually. I mainly followed the river Rhein on mostly gravel tracks with some Fords along the way. Most of them were dry, but one of them actually was quite wet. I almost got it wrong, but fortunately found the right path through.
All day with a slight tailwind. Temperature rose to around 30°C and I actually was wishing for a headwind. One small climb up into a town almost cooked me. Fortunately Ice cream was at hand.
However the heat got to me a bit. Not wanting to push my limits (just explore them 😉) I called it a day early. Campsites around here are few and far between and mostly quite expensive. So hotel for me tonight. Also an opportunity to wash my kit 👍🏼.Read more
TravelerI can read you are getting in the flow ;-)
7/18/24Reply
3 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 11:21 AM
☁️ 23 °C
Altitude: 345 m
Switzerland Lausen 47.472931, 7.75981447°28’23” N 7°45’35” E
Leaving Europe
July 18, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C
Following the last bit of the river Rhein it started to look a bit more like a young river. A bit wilder, a bit faster and no place for the floating elderly homes I saw on the river between Straatsburg and Breisach.
The last 8km before Basel were quite industrial so not very inspiring.
Then I entered Switzerland. No checked on the border fortunately. And a really nice bike path along the northern bank of the Rhein. Crossing into Germany again and then over a hydro power dam back to Switzerland. Now it is towards the mountains. Nothing spectacular today yet. Just one small climb. Let’s see how I get on in this heat.Read more
Weer een andere omgeving [M]
7/19/24ReplyTranslate
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 3:57 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 441 m
Switzerland Bramberg - St. Karli 47.053561, 8.2979747°3’13” N 8°17’53” E
Luzern (bring on the tourists)
July 18, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Yes. Me too. The most famous wooden bridge has now officially been crossed (by me)
3 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 4:15 PM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: 455 m
Switzerland Hirschmatt - Kleinstadt 47.045491, 8.30358447°2’44” N 8°18’13” E
Some scenery
July 18, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
Not too bad… some gravel, some climbing, some scenery. A wooden bridge in Olten… all good so far 👍🏼
And my first glimps of real mountains (behind the lake on the final photo)
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 4:58 PM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 439 m
Switzerland Lopper 46.973453, 8.3285746°58’24” N 8°19’43” E
Familiar route, unfamiliar roads
July 18, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
I know this route and all the towns along the way from driving through Switzerland to get to Italy. The last time I was here in the middle of the night just counting down kilometers and looking forward to the next charging stop. It was a different kind of adventure (Zwolle to Rome in one go). This is a different adventure at a different pace, with different goals. Yes, I’ve noticed Lake Luzern and the mountains many times before, but I don’t think I ever saw it. Let alone dip my toes in the lake.

Right now I like this adventure. And actually: today is the first day I really enjoyed all the way (despite a blistered bum even). Switzerland: bring it on.Read more
TravelerKusje op 💋
7/20/24Reply
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 9:13 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 472 m
Switzerland Sarnersee 46.863117, 8.22323346°51’47” N 8°13’24” E
Good morning lakes and mountains
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
I just love the view of water and mountains in the morning.
TravelerThat are the vistas! Enjoy!
7/19/24Reply
Prachtig❣️ [Hermien]
7/21/24ReplyTranslate
TravelerErg mooi
7/21/24Reply
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 12:47 PM
⛅ 19 °C
Altitude: 1,144 m
Switzerland Hobalm 46.704922, 8.17691746°42’18” N 8°10’37” E
Grosse Scheidegg
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Pretty tough climb, but a real beauty. Quiet road, fantastic views, but steep pretty much all the way.
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 2:37 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 722 m
Switzerland Lungernsee 46.807705, 8.15938946°48’28” N 8°9’34” E
1
Brutal beauty (part 1)
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
It is too much to photograph really, but here is an impression of the first part with the Brünnigpass.
Beautiful but steep climbs.
Traveler Mooi weer in de bergen 🙏
7/19/24ReplyTranslate
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 2:42 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 1,960 m
Switzerland Grosse Scheidegg 46.655875, 8.10216646°39’21” N 8°6’8” E
Halfway up
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
This is too much to photograph. Around every corner there’s a postcard.
Traveler😛
7/21/24Reply
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 2:47 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 1,960 m
Switzerland Grosse Scheidegg 46.655812, 8.10216946°39’21” N 8°6’8” E
Uphill soundtrack
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
This is what it sounds like
2 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 6:43 PM
☁️ 24 °C
Altitude: 861 m
Switzerland Aeschi b. Spiez 46.658414, 7.6967146°39’30” N 7°41’48” E
Downhill thrills, finishing uphil
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C
Coming down from Grosse Scheidegg into Grindelwald was nice and fast. Grindelwald is a tourist mekka I was glad to get through quickly. The last time I was there must have been at least 15 years ago and it was cute then. Now not so much. I skipped the traffic jam out of town weaving between traffic like an Italian. Got a few horn sounds. I guess for encouragement.

I had found a camping in Interlaken, but once there I didn’t fancy it. Drove on to one uphill from the Thunsee a bit, but it was full. Uphill a bit more and found one.
I am done.Read more
Waarschijnlijk 1995 met mij? Toen we meteen maar van Kleine Scheidegg naar Grindelwald afdaalden, ongetraind. Het duurde lang voor de pijn dragelijk werd. [Hermien]
7/23/24ReplyTranslate
HugmybikeDie weet ik nog, maar dat is Kleine Scheidegg. Grosse Scheidegg is richting Wetterhorn. Aan de andere kant van Grindelwald.
7/23/24ReplyTranslate
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Friday, July 19, 2024 at 7:58 PM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 897 m
Switzerland Aeschi b. Spiez 46.653587, 7.69986346°39’13” N 7°41’60” E
Promt for ai: delete camper vans
July 19, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
It is getting a bit windy and there is some thunder around. Forecast promises not where I am at.
I can still se the sun, so all will be fine, I guess
TravelerDelete them from foto or planet?
7/20/24Reply
HugmybikeIf AI would be able to delete them from the planet, my worries would be much bigger 😊. Just the photo will do.
7/20/24Reply
1 like
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 8:45 AM
☀️ 20 °C
Altitude: 840 m
Switzerland Aeschi b. Spiez 46.655752, 7.69246446°39’21” N 7°41’33” E
Good morning
July 20, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 20 °C
Come on… starting the day with a downhill and views like this…
3 likes
Road to the alps Hugmybike
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Saturday, July 20, 2024 at 10:29 AM
☀️ 23 °C
Altitude: 846 m
Switzerland Oberwil 46.651, 7.43137246°39’4” N 7°25’53” E
The road
July 20, 2024 in Switzerland ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
Today I am taking it relatively easy. I think I built a nice route with nice and quiet roads. A lot of up and down though and I discovered the following: the smaller the road, the steeper the climb.
Anyway. First big(ish) hill done, 2 more to go. But nothing like yesterday. That’s what taking it easy implies, right?Read more
TravelerPrachtig
7/24/24Reply
3 likes