I sit here with my nose pressed against the window like an indoor cat wanting to go outside. The COVID-19 lockdown is making me stir-crazy, and binge-watching mindless shows on Netflix has lost its lustre. I feel as if I need to get out. But my backyard is the size of a postage stamp, so I head online. I long to go to Belgium. The country’s culture and cities intrigue me. A quick online search and I stumble upon a link to cycling through water in Limburg.
Many cities in Belgium have bicycle-only roads. But Limburg has taken the passion for cycling a step further. In Bokrijk – between cycle route junctions 91 and 243 – cyclists can peddle though the ponds of the De Wijers landscape.
Cycling through water in Limburg
This scenic path is 10 feet wide and about 650 feet long, and is flanked on both sides by water. No need for a rain suit though. It allows cyclists to ride through the pond on a built path without getting wet. In some places, it’s possible to touch the water. In another area, cyclists ride with the surface of the water at path level on each side.
Cycling through a forest in Bosland
If cycling through water isn’t appealing, you can cycle through trees in the Bosland forest in Hechtel – Eksel.
Located in the largest forested area in Flanders, the path is about half a mile long. Part of the path is elevated, gradually rising to a height of 30 feet. Steel pillars are located at varying intervals of the structure, spaced three, six, and 10 feet apart, and are designed to resemble trees, blending with their surroundings.
The COVID-19 quarantine has closed this cycling destination to cyclists for now. However, you can take a virtual tour of the site here: www.visitlimburg.be/en/virtual-bike-rides-through-limburg.
For more information on these or any other cycling routes, please contact http://www.visitlimburg.be.
Photos courtesy of visitlimburg.be
