Post #13

The Battle of the Bulge: 10/07/25

Today was the day I’ve been eagerly anticipating ever since watching Band of Brothers. We visited Bastogne in the Ardennes, and I was deeply moved by what we experienced. The tributes and museums here are exceptionally well-crafted, offering a profound perspective on the events that unfolded during the Battle of the Bulge.

I couldn’t have felt more proud or more emotional thinking about the bravery of our soldiers who held back the German forces. The highlight of the day was visiting the foxholes at Bois Jacques, which remain remarkably well preserved. Standing there felt like stepping back in time, especially with the interactive visual app we used on our phones to enhance the experience.

All in all, it was an unforgettable day filled with opportunities to see, learn, and reflect. Let us never forget the immense cost of our freedom.

Places Visited:

Bastogne War Museum

Mardasson Memorial

Bois Jacques Foxholes

Bastogne War Rooms

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

Our Last Castle: 10/08/25

After a delightful day exploring Bastogne, we set off on a leisurely drive through the picturesque Ardennes. Along the way, we visited Esch-sur-Sûre, a village crowned by a castle perched high above. We made our way up to the castle where we wandered through the ruins of bygone eras. 

From the top, we soaked in breathtaking views of the village below, with the Sûre River lazily winding through it like a silvery ribbon. On our descent, we couldn’t resist popping into a local pastry shop—oh, the sweet, buttery bliss! Let’s just say it was here that I realized I will be dreading the sugar withdrawals when we return to the States.

The Ardennes trees were in full fall splendor, painting the landscape in vibrant hues of red, orange, and gold—a dazzling show that made every mile a joy. We pitched our camp just outside the quaint village of Rodt, where we discovered the ultimate traveler’s jackpot: a beer museum with a cozy dinner spot and free camping in their parking lot. Talk about a win-win! It was a great way to spend the night.

Luxembourg

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

The Coal of the Day: 10/09/25

Today, the weather teased us with occasional bursts of sunshine. We set off on another adventure, wondering what our pal Wim had up his sleeve. It began with another stunner of a drive through the countryside with a view of nature’s fireworks!

Of course, no road trip is complete without a coffee stop. We swung by a cozy café for our caffeine fix and pastries. In a rare moment of restraint and the reality of our return home, we decided to ease off the sugar and stick to just coffee. But no worries we had some croissants stashed away in our van!

Our main outing took us to a defunct coal mine in Genk, a town that once hummed as the heart of coal country. Mining here went bust years ago, leaving the buildings shuttered like forgotten relics. But the old mine structures have been reborn as a vibrant hub hosting art schools, businesses, and even party events.

We toured one of the preserved buildings, a massive beast that once housed the equipment powering the mine’s elevators and life-support systems for the workers below. Sounds like a boring day, right? Wrong! A short documentary brought the place to life, and we thoroughly enjoyed soaking up the history of the place.

Later, we parked our trusty van in a forest campground just a short drive away. There, I discovered the joys of pétanque, a game I’m now the reigning champion of, thank you very much! Before and after dinner, we dove into some card games. Poor Wim had a bad night and we exchanged some words in our native tongues (see video). I’m gonna miss that old “speeder binken, dortlopen” and his boyish charm.

It was our final night camping in the van, and now we’re headed back to Ede to pack up before finishing our journey in Amsterdam. Full disclosure: we’re both in desperate need of clean clothes. Send help (and laundry detergent)!

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

Hobbit Horror: 10/10/25

We woke up raring to go, ready to hit the road like  a horse to the barn. Barely five minutes into the drive, Wim swerved to the side of the road, and I’m thinking, “What now?” Lo and behold, he’d spotted a pastry shop and asked if we wanted to indulge one last time. The man’s got a heart of gold, but our pastry tanks were already overflowing—sadly, we passed on the flaky, sweet temptations!

We made it back to the house in a few hours, basking in glorious sunshine. Sarah and I were desperate for showers and fresh clothes, but our plans hit a snag: the car needed a wash, and our clean clothes were, well, nonexistent. In a moment of sheer practicality, I stripped down and threw on my bathing suit, ready to tackle the car-washing mission.

Wim, however, wasn’t having it. He went into the house and returned with a pair of his shorts,

He handed them to me with a big smile on his face and we both knew what was coming next. I put them on and stood there for a moment as all three of them burst into laughter. At that moment one of them commented on how I looked like a Hobbit. You may be surprised if I divulged who it was who slung the Hobbit comment (Sarah) but I'll admit it was funny.

The rest of the day tumbled along like a set of dominoes. We powered through the car wash, zipped to the grocery store, swung by the hardware store, filled up at the gas station, returned the car, and capped it all off with a hearty dinner. By evening, we were sprawled around the table, playing a card game called Llama, giggling like kids until bedtime. What a way to end a fully packed day.

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

A Fond Farewell: 10/11/25

Our final day was a whirlwind of packing gear and prepping our trusty bikes for the long flight home. But first, we had a mission: snag some extra luggage for the journey. Off we went to a second-hand store in Ede, where we bought a spacious suitcase—perfect for cramming in all our stuff. Naturally, we celebrated this small victory with a pit stop at a cozy coffee shop.

An enormous second hand store!

I am really going to miss all of the whipped cream that I have been enjoying.

Determined to keep the day simple, we strolled through a few more stores in Ede, enjoying the local shops. Later, we grabbed a pizza to bring back to the house. Our last night was pure magic, filled with lively card games and laughter that echoed through the room. Wim and Lydia, our phenomenal hosts, made every moment sparkle. Here’s hoping we can roll out the red carpet for them in the U.S. someday soon!

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah

The Wrath of Rod: 10/12/25

We were waffling—nay, agonizing—over whether to pedal the final 60 miles of our journey or hop a train like sensible folks avoiding a frostbite fiasco. Why the indecision, you ask? One word: WEATHER. The forecast had been serving up misery, and we’re not exactly fans of freezing our pedals off.

Just when we’d nearly surrendered to the idea of a train, the skies cleared, and we thought, “Let’s do this!” Truth be told, a comment from my next-door neighbor, Rod, on our last blog post lit a fire under us or should I say me. He jokingly called me a “Quitter” if I didn’t finish the ride. Rod, your comment was the spark I needed—thanks for the stoke!

We bid a fond farewell to our friends Wim and Lydia and hit the road around 9:00 AM. Sliding back onto the bike after nine days of camper-van life;

it felt great to get back on the bike. As we rolled out of Ede, we spotted Wim and Lydia’s neighbor, Adele, who we’d met the day before, waving to us from the side of the bike trail. She’d spotted us while driving and pulled over just to say goodbye. Talk about a heartwarming pit stop!

We pedaled on, passing bakery after bakery, all closed because it was Sunday. Hungry but undeterred, we stopped for an early lunch in Utrecht at a burger joint run by a chatty owner from Azerbaijan. He engaged us with stories, and as we left, he wanted to snap a photo of us for their social media. We’re basically burger celebrities now—watch out, world!

The ride was a feast for the eyes, with stunning scenery and picture-perfect moments around every bend. Fall is definitely in the air and the colors are amazing. We enjoyed watching the leaves fall from the trees as we rode along.

By 3:00 PM, we made it to our hotel near Amsterdam’s airport, where Craig met me in the parking lot. After two weeks of taking different paths, seeing him felt like a mini-reunion. Moments later, Wim and Lydia pulled up in their van with our bike boxes and a suitcase stuffed with gear. Wim, bless him, helped me lug our bike up four flights of stairs while Sarah and Lydia wrangled the boxes and gear into the elevator. Talk about teamwork!

To celebrate, we invited Wim and Lydia for coffee at the McDonald’s next to the hotel. On the way, we swung by to pick up Susie. Over coffee we chatted until Wim and Lydia dashed off to an evening of playing Bridge.

Back in our room, we disassembled our bike and packed it up, a bittersweet ritual that marks the end of another great adventure. These trips always wrap up too soon, but we have such great memories to hold onto. We’re spending the next two days exploring Amsterdam, and we’ll share the highlights in our final post from the airport.

Rode 59 miles

Keep on rolling,

Scott and Sarah