Limburg Node-to-Node

Day Two

:: Friday, May 20 ::

 Berg aan de Maas, Netherlands to

south of Genk, Belgium -- Hotel Zuid

about 53 kilometers

With heavy rain predicted around noon, we started earlier, biking along the Netherlands side of the Meuse (Maas) River.  We enjoyed villages and one especially nice church in Geulle. We got passed in both directions by groups of fast road cyclists doing morning workouts. 

The small bike-pedestrian ferry returned us to the Belgium side of the Maas. 

The route led us through the pretty town of Old Rekem 

before it headed into into the woods on the meandering paved bike paths of Hoge Kempen National Park.

These paths curve and wander; the ride is so quiet, meditative and peaceful. At node 550 we biked over the 234 meter uniquely-designed wooden bridge, completed in 2020, which connects to the heath-covered moors section of the park. 

The downpour came just moments after we arrived at a restaurant in Zutendahl. 

When the rain stopped about 2 hours later, we ended our slow lunch and headed out. 

After one more shower and seeking refuge briefly under trees, 

we arrived at Hotel Zuid south of Genk and squeezed our bikes in among many others in the bike storage shed. The accommodations in this popular biking area are well equipped with secure places for bikes overnight.

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Nodes for Day Two: 

Netherlands 21-23-45-17-52 

Belgium 53-58-140-63-61-550-252-251-534-29

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Link to Limburg Day 3