Distance	Elapsed Time	Moving Time	Average Speed	Max Speed	Elevation Gain	Calories Burned
207 km	09:51 hours	08:26 hours	24.56 km/h	40.46 km/h	243 m	3,428 kcal

🌲🙏🌧️Weert – Scherpenheuvel – Aarschot

28 July 2023

On the last Friday of July in the murkiest of weathers I descended to Belgium again to sight three highlights in the Hageland. Since I became a bit of a fair weather rider over the last two years I was rooting for the rain to stay away for most of the day—franatically checking the weather radar the days before. A few spotty showers were predicted, and that was good enough.
The roads from Weert to Diest looked mysterious under dark skies with drizzle. I passed Kleine Brogel air base and the extensive woods in the Vallei van de Zwarte Beek. My rim brakes were hampered by the water and grime from the roads so I dropped my tempo. The province of Vlaams Limburg historically was dominated by the mining economy. These days many houses look sombre and most roads are run-down. At one point in Koersel road works prevented my passing and I had to find a diversion. My Wahoo refused to activate its rerouting function. The spotty showers that were predicted had long since turned into constant precipitation.

What a change when I reached the Albert Canal. The sky opened up and the sun shone on the brand new white bridge of Beringen. There even was some nice asphalt to ride on, though not for long. I paused for a banana in Paal and looked at the peculiar twisted steel column on the Sint-Jan-de-Doper church square. Indeed a work of art that is aptly named ‘Aardstaal’ (earth steel) and refers to the region’s past.

When I entered Diest streets were still wet. With ease I scaled the steep roads up to the Allerheiligenweg cobble climb that leads to the Citadel. Yet the cobbles themselves were so skiddy that my back wheel slipped. It seemed wiser to hike. The rain came down heavily on the stretch to Scherpenheuvel: a long straight road that leads over the top of a hill, where I got a glimpse of the rolling landscape.

Under the trees next to the Scherpenheuvel Basilica I found shelter for the rain. The tower bell rang 1 o’clock. I was not progressing as fast and would likely shorten my route later on. After enjoying the town for a bit I pushed on to Aarschot where I paused next to the river Demer. My route would next take me north through Herentals (known for Wout van Aert) and Turnhout, back to the Netherlands. What an intense yet superb encounter with the Hageland this had been! I hope to return in better weather.

On the Kempen-Hageland bike path I was able to make up some time. Herentals had a surprise in store for me. The city centre was blocked from motorised traffic. From loudspeakers on lampposts a lady announcer was interviewing little girls who allegedly were participating in a run. I was expecting to see a square filled with young children, or cross the race parcours, but my route was avoiding the Grote Markt were all this was happening. What an utterly surreal experience. Why didn’t I make an audio recording?

From Turnhout onwards a long straight cycle path took me to Baarle, and another one after that to Tilburg. Just before Waalwijk I stopped to see what my options where. Taking a train from Zaltbommel seemed like a good one. This would take some 40km out of my route and get me home to recover.
I pressed on, passing Waalwijk, Elshout and crossing the bridge over the Bergsche Maas near Heusden. The Bergsche Maasdijk was spectacular in the changing light with dark clouds on the horizon.
As I reached Zaltbommel station just before my train departure the check-in poles were out of order. While I was pondering how to solve this I should just have gone for the train. Because when I did, I was only seconds too late. Darn! I jumped back on the bike and continued to Geldermalsen where I caught the next stop train to Utrecht. One happy cat with another perspective-changing experience under his top tube. 😺