Vehnbahnn first overnighter

I’ve just completed my first bikepacking trip on a brand-new bike. I opted to stay in hotels instead of camping, as camping felt a bit too much for me. My route took me from the train station in Liège to Aachen, then along the Vennbahn, with an overnight stay in Monschau, followed by Trois-Ponts and finally Vielsalm.

What did I learn? I should have planned for two nights. It wasn't until the second day that I reached a blissful, meditative state of cycling, eating, resting, and repeating. Riding 100 km a day was manageable for me, though it was quite challenging uphill with the loaded bags. It was a tough ride with 1300 meters of elevation gain. Fortunately, I had great weather.

The Vennbahn is definitely worth recommending; there are many cyclists out on the route. However, navigating through cities posed some challenges. I underestimated this, as it's not ideal to leave your bike unattended while eating indoors. On the positive side, there were plenty of bike-friendly bars along the Vennbahn and in the small towns and villages where I could get a meal.

I’m already looking forward to planning my next adventure!