Limburg, Sleeping on water
May 17th 2021
In this pretty land furrowed by the Maas, the birds, kings of the local fauna, are thousands along the water, covering the fields and flying above the head. The Maasland is a region in Belgium located just at the Dutch border. On three points a ferry leisurely carries drivers and cyclists from one bank of the river to the other. I discover the pleasure of the electric bike which is available for rent everywhere here around. There is so many ground to discover and we want to make the most of our time. Kilometers of cycle path cover the banks, cross shadowy little bridges and run along alleys of tall poplars. Our sportive day will end with a unique moment at the sunset. On a pretty lake by Dilsen, SUPclub Maasvallei’s instructor’s, Giliam, is waiting to teach us stand up paddling. The peaceful movement of the paddle plunging into the water to move the board forward doesn’t break the tranquility of the lake at this late hour. The daughter of Giliam performs a yoga session on her board. Under the golden light of the sunset the picture breathes harmony.
Our accommodation for the night is beautifully unusual. 15 minutes of kayaking brings us to a charming cabin/raft nestled in a small aquatic cove fringed with reeds and reachable only via the river. A second cove hides another raft a little farther ahead and we will not see our neighbors. On the way to the cabin and all around, the number of great crested grebes, moorhens and swan nests are uncountable. To secure the kayak to the raft, to prepare for the night and sit down on the little wooden terrace as the day dies gives the impression of being in a cocoon. Geese land on the surface of the water in a heavy move of their wings, frogs sing their love songs and stars light up above our heads one by one. And what about the fragrance of still water in the evening, the sensation of humidity rising at dusk ? Waking up on the raft is not less a unique experience. At 7 am, the tint of the sky is pink and Galloway cows splash about, knee deep into the water, to tear off a few tufts of reed.
The second day in Limburg is filled with strolls in the woods, by the water and through wild fields where I meet again some black fluffy Galloway cows and pretty Konik horses and their foals grazing gently here and there. During my first visit to Limburg, I had discovered the Borgloon region at a time when the many orchards of the region where in bloom. There too you can discover the bright landscape with a bike endlessly. A true paradise for cyclists, this region is also attractive for nature lovers as well as art lovers ! A structured church made of steel lath looking almost like a striking illusion stands in a field, a contemporary labyrinth with a rusty texture and many more geometrical forms blend in the landscape as you cycle on the paths. Of Limburg I knew only the open-air museum Bokrijk but many more attractions and activities are waiting for us in Limburg the time of a weekend or for a few days of Belgian vacation.
