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When I arrive in Houffalize, it is half past two alreay and I need a cup of coffee so
I park the bike on a small square in the center and go to a nice terrace in the shadow.
Unfortunately they just serve drinks and no sandwiches so I settle for a cappuccino and
will have to find something to eat later.
Coffeebreak in Houffalize
From Houffalize, the city of Clervaux in Luxembourg is signposted so after a short ride I
cross the border to Luxembourg. The only way to tell the difference is the even better road
surface and the yellow signposts instead of the blue signposts as used in Belgium.
From Clervaux I drive to Diekirch and the road is getting more familiar. I've been here
before on previous trips. Just before four o'clock I fill my tank with cheap gas. The price
of gas is low in Luxembourg compared to the Dutch prices. The gas station is in Horscheid,
halfway between Clervaux and Diekirch and, thanks to the many Dutch tourist going to
Luxembourg, the owner of the gas station even speaks a little Dutch.
While at the gas station, I buy a can of CocaCola and some sweets.
I have driven 333 km since I left home.
From Diekich I take the beautifull road to Echternach, following the twists of the Sauer, the
river that marks the border between Germany and Luxembourg.
Along this way I see a sign "Platte du jour 250". 250 Lux Franc is about 6 Euro so that is a
nice price for the dish of the day so I decide to stop for a late lunch. I park the bike and
wait on the terrace for a waiter to take my order but after a long time, no one shows up so
I'm afraid I'll have to be hungry for a while.
It's almost a quarter past four when I see a nice shaded parking along the road so I park the bike
to stretch my legs and have a Cola and some sweets. It's a nice spot with a stone wateringplace and
a brick wall to sit on while drinking and eating. Across the street I can see the Sauer flow.
After this break I continue to Echternach and at a quarter to five I park the Sportster next to
some German bikers on the townsquare in Echternach.
I am definitly ready for some food so I order a big hotdog with cheese and a cup of coffee on a
terrace on the townsquare. Relaxed, sitting in the shadow of a parasol I enjoy my hotdog and
observe the tourist walking on the square. Tomorrow when the Ascension day vacation starts it will
be a lot more crowded but it is not so crowded now, with mostly elderly retired people walking around.
The town square of Echternach
I take a short walk to enjoy the nice weather and the beautifull city of Echternach. Then I
return to the Sportster. A German Harley Road King rider just parked his bike next to the Sportster
so we chat a while about bikes and riding in Luxembourg before I get on the bike and ride on.
Fortunately I'm quite familiar with the roads in this part of Luxembourg so without the map I
drive from Echternach to Larochette, my all-time favourite bike road, twisting through the beautifull
Mullerthal.
(They call this part of Luxembourg "small Switzerland")
My first experience with this road was in 1975, on a Benelli T50 moped and after that I have been
here on several bikes. It feels great to ride this twisting road again.
In Larochette I drive past the band-stand on the marketplace and turn left, taking the uphill road
to the old castle. I drive on to the gate of the castle but because it is getting (to) late I don't
go in but take the road to Cruchten.
At the gate of the castle of Larochette
If you have the time, the castle of Larochette is absolutely worth a visit. It is a very big castle
complex with some buildings nicely restored.
When I came here for the first time, about 30 years ago,
it only was a ruin in the forest with plants growing all over the stones of the walls.
Every time I visit the castle since then, a little more is restored.
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