"The key to immortality is first living a life worth remembering.” 
― Bruce Lee

We are now moving west across Europe at a snails pace. Slowly creeping toward the UK and leaving the continent. It has as I said before been an epic adventure, surpassing all expectations, and forever imprinting some very memorable moments in my life. On reflection I would do it all again, taking in new unexplored areas, but keeping with the same goal, ´Enjoying life´.

With our van and faithful two wheeled steeds, we made a couple of stops in Germany before our stay here in Belgium.
With the weather less on our side than we would like, the drive was slowed somewhat by a huge thunderstorm that pelted us with massive hailstones, again. We had to pull over with all the other drivers as it was literally impossible to see more than two or three metres ahead. Crazy stuff, but still a tad exciting.

In Brilion we stayed at a relatively new campsite, with great views and access to nearby trails. It was forest trails, lacking much of the single track we now crave. Something we have gotten use to as it´s what most of Europe has to offer outside of the bike parks.

Moving on to Winterberg, the town of no-less than 28 ski lifts, we discovered a mountain bike park, as well as numerous marked XC trails, enough to keep you busy for a few days or more. 28 Ski lifts, I mean that´s in excess of what most popular ski resort have, but for some reason, they have 28. Go figure.

Despite the lack of elevation we were use to in the Alps, the trail riding still makes for hard days on the bikes, leaving the legs weary. Again there are lots of unmarked trails you can follow, or more the tire tracks left in mud being your guide. Always venture beyond the map, and your comfort zone, it pays off.

Winterberg was nice, a small town less like the tourist spots we have been to in the past. But in fairness, we have avoided most of the tourist places for that very reason.

Moving on as is the norm, we entered Belgium and the first stop was Malmedy. Discovering it has it´s own bike park we set out to find some rides. Winding down our trip before hitting trail centre central, the UK, we are just here to relax and recount the awesome places we left along the way. But much to our surprise what we discovered was some of the best variety of trails we had ridden in weeks. A mix of proper single track, smooth narrow forest tracks, rocky fire roads, and enough good climbs to warrant fresh legs and a good Belgium beer, of which there are many. Yip, it has it all, and why we hadn´t heard of it before now, I really don´t know. A well kept secret, well worth sharing. It deserves a two thumbs up, and the time to ride and discover. Dropping into the LBS, Sports & Nature, for some repair work and spares, I asked the manager about the unmarked trails, for earlier that day we seen a group of newbies out getting tuition in an area setup for such events. Speaking little or no English, he pointed me to the TV screen on the wall and changed the channel to play a movie that was made about the trails. Only a short movie it could easily have been shot in some of the more famous places for XC trails, but no, this was Belgium. Boardwalks, flowing single track, berms and rock gardens, I left the store keen as beans to get out on my newly fitted rear shock to see for myself what it was really like.

I can tell you, we were not disappointed. Moving on a little to the town of St Vith, flatten during WWII, newly rebuilt, we again found some great trails. Even here at the campsite there is a bike park, albeit a small one, but has numerous marked trails leading off in all directions, and a skills area. From the town there are some trails that lead to here, but overall distance is short, until you get further out of town. One trail takes you right to the German border, before cutting back. 

Maybe it´s just the excitement of finding what you don´t expect, or the fact that we are trying to hold on staying in Europe that little bit longer, but armed with a GPS in case you we lost, and the willingness to explore the forest and surrounding farmlands, using only the tire tracks in dry mud as your guide, there truly is heaps to keep you exploring. It´s not a mountainous place by no means, rather flat, nor will you need the latest in full suspension technology, just a well spec´d hard tail, but I can promise this, you will be leaving Belgium wondering if there is not some hidden trail you missed, or fire road you should have taken that leads to a winding flow of single track. Coffee is good to, and luckily it seems we have been treated to some unusually high temperatures, as we discovered. ´36 degrees´ the GPS read as we slogged along near the end of a 36k ride. Nice.. Oh, and don´t forget to keep an eye out along the trails for lots of wild strawberries and blueberries, lots to be had.

Next stop, Luxembourg, but not for the biking, it´s just slowing the tempo back across Europe, and giving the legs a rest before hitting the Welsh and Scottish trails, maybe a few of the good English ones as well.