My mind has the same color as all the shades of dark gray clouds under which we have been trapped for months.
And just when I'm considering trading in my motorcycle for a fishing boat, the sun finally appears!
I knock the months of accumulated dust out of my motorcycle clothing, sweep the cobwebs from my helmet and carefully push the start button of my KTM. Lavishly like a young dog, the motorbike is joyfully alive, and he is already frolicking to be allowed to play outside.
I find a nice playground near home. A route that runs from the southernmost tip of Luxembourg to the very north of this small country.
I'm start in France, in the village of Sierck les Bains. Stuck against the mountainside above the Moselle, this village consists of a collection of narrow, steep streets that crisscross between houses. It feels like I'm already somewhere in the south of France. (or is that due to those first rays of sunshine?)
Once I have crossed the Moselle, I find myself in Luxembourg and climb the narrow asphalt ribbon between the vineyards around the village of Schengen, which is best known for the Schengen treaty: the agreements between various European countries (1985) that allowed free movement of people between different countries within the European Union.
But I am not going to leave this country today and will remain within the borders of small but beautiful Luxembourg. I continue to follow the Moselle via secondary roads to Wellenstein. From here the route winds through the fields. Small village centers follow each other, but represent little more than a few farms.
At Flaxweiler I drive under the A1 motorway towards Grevenmacher to dive into an industrial park. I almost turn through a hole in the wire onto a small gravel road. A little fact: just before you leave the industrial park you pass the headquarters of Gilles Tooling on your left (who make beautiful aftermarket gear for the sporty motorcyclist).
The landscape changes a bit from here. Where you previously only drove over field roads and vast rolling plains, more forests are now in your sights. The landscape becomes a bit rougher.
I am therefore approaching the region around Echternach, known as Little Switzerland. In this relatively small area, you will find a beautiful area with irregularly shaped rocks and beautiful hiking trails. It is a tourist region with the advantage that you will find plenty of accommodation and restaurants. It is here that I end this first half day of motorcycling. The winter sun drops like a stone together with the temperature, so it's time to find a warm down blanket.
It's winter, and a weekday, so it's extremely quiet everywhere. I spend my evening in peace and quiet in a half-filled hotel. The next morning, during breakfast, I have a talk with the man who provides breakfast. He is also a motorcyclist; it immediately forms a bond, and we quickly start talking about our shared passion. He points out that it froze quite a bit last night and I should not hit the road before 9am. Ice spots are certainly still to be expected in places where there is no sun.
When I start my motorcycle, a while later, I first must scrape a large layer of ice off my saddle and dashboard. That will be a fresh start!
With an extra sweater and the heated grips on 'hot' I start part 2 of my route. Steering carefully over the beautiful roads and under a radiant winter sun, I thoroughly enjoy it. It can't get more beautiful than this! The roads are deserted, and the low sun creates a magical atmosphere.
It is wonderful to discover the very small asphalt roads. I have been to Luxembourg dozens of times, but I am surprised by the number of wonderfully small and deserted roads that pass under my wheels. These are the perfect roads for my KTM990!
I find myself opening the throttle for a while when I turn onto the perfect roads again. This is characteristic of Luxembourg. Roads with a perfect layer of asphalt that meander between the fields and forests. Despite the chilly weather, I can't resist putting on the gas and ride out the last bit of winter stiffness. At Vianden Castle I must make the obligatory stop to enjoy the view. It's quite a tourist attraction, but it remains an impressive old castle!
Once I have passed the center of the town, the R322 takes me past the Vianden reservoir. Here too, the road invites you for a good spin. However, keep one eye on the possible speed controls that are regularly held here, and the other eye on the narrow road that you must turn onto somewhere halfway through this climb. It is an unsightly road that runs along the valley. Narrow, winding, climbing and descending and with a view over the valley to your left. The road flirts with the German border and along the banks of the Our.
Here the route loops back south on the CR352 to Bandenbourg and then follows the CR353 and R320A back north. This loop is worth the detour. From Kautenbach I end up on a super beautiful winding road. A few hairpin bends follow each other to remove the last remnants of dust from the side of my tires.
However, a few unpaved areas quickly cause dust and sand to form again on those tires. It's only a few 100 meters each time and not challenging at all, they just complete the idea of “small adventure roads close to home”.
With a smile on my (cold) face I drive towards Bouvange-Clervaux and Boxhorn so that I can follow the last short stretch of winding roads to the end of the route.
The border triangle Belgium/Luxembourg/Germany marks the end of this beautiful motorcycle ride.
A route to fully enjoy with any type of motorcycle, but tailor-made for the adventure motorcycle in your garage! If possible, drive this route in spring or autumn and you have the roads to yourself. Go and explore!
Words & Photography: Peter De Jongh
