Tag Archives: map

2023 outdoors statistics

If you don’t want to simply read the text and see the captivating pictures, they’re right there for you to explore. Choose between my monthly selection of pictures or the daily ones, which are mostly untitled.

It’s mind-blowing that I haven’t contributed a single post to this illustrious platform in the past two whole years! But fear not, my dear audience, for I shall grace you with some information about my fascinating outdoor escapades in the magnificent year of 2023. Get ready to be floored by the brilliance of it all.

Oh boy, what a year it was! I mean, talk about numbers and achievements galore! Get this, I logged a mind-boggling 200,000 km on total rides Strava. Yeah, that’s right, TWO HUNDRED THOUSAND! And hold on tight, because I also conquered a jaw-dropping 2 million meters of elevation gain. I practically climbed Mount Everest twice! But wait, there’s more, I made my 100th-century ride during the highly anticipated summer season. 

Oh, and let’s not forget about my thrilling adventure in the world of PostGIS queries. Because, you know, who doesn’t love a good old data hunt?  Turns out, I uncovered a hidden gem of a village in Luxembourg called Dorscheid. How dare it elude my travel radar for so long! And wait for it… I also discovered a mythical section known as Scheerbach. It’s so elusive that its area measures a whopping 11,228 square meters.

All in all, I can proudly say that I’ve conquered the world of numbers and geographical mysteries.

Figures for 2023 provided by Veloviewer:

VeloViewer infographic for 2023

Another year of mediocre cycling accomplishments. Who needs to beat their total distance, max ride distance, max ride elevation, or number of centuries when they can proudly announce that they’ve surpassed their record of elevation gain in the groundbreaking year of 2023? Also,  I managed to avoid getting even a single flat tire while I was out riding, but I replaced three wheels! 

Below, you will find the picture of the activity map near Luxembourg for 2023. 

2023 activity map near Luxembourg

According to wandrer.earth, I got 3201.83 new unique kilometres, and the Squadrats progress is shown below.

Squadrats yard (equivalent to VeloViewer's tiles)
Squadrats yardinho (like VeloViewer's tiles, but 64 times more dense)

PostGIS query to display visited municipalities during 2023

I’ve had the absolute pleasure of gracing all the Luxembourg communes with my presence countless times. And hey, let’s not forget the excitement of venturing across the border to explore all the juicy municipalities on the other side. Well, except for dear old Mont Saint-Martin.

The absolute highlight was on the scorching day of July 11, when the heat was hardly bearable, with scorching heat and suffocating humidity! And of course, to balance things out, we had the pleasure of experiencing the bone-chilling cold on August 31, with a freezing shower that almost turned me into an ice sculpture! I couldn’t help but shiver in pure ecstasy aaaall the way back home.

Oh, just a tiny little thing I managed to accomplish… I mean, it’s not like it’s a big deal or anything, but I casually hopped on my bike one day and conquered all the highest peaks in each of the Benelux countries. Who needs a car or a helicopter when you can pedal your way to the top?

Oh, how I had grand plans to conquer the world with my VeloViewer cluster! But alas, I failed miserably to even reach Saarbrucken, let alone Sarreguemines. As for expanding my biggest square to encompass all of Luxembourg, well, I managed to tick off a few tiny corners, so that’s something, right?

Now, as I ponder the upcoming year, I must confess I haven’t bothered solidifying any goals just yet. I mean, who needs goals when there are countless ideas just waiting to sprout like beautiful flowers in the warm embrace of longer days?

End of May statistics

VeloViewer wheel for May 2019

And some missing pictures from the end of May while transforming commutes to work into a daily adventure.

What are you looking at?
What are you looking at? (May 27, 2019)

Hill near Hivange
Hill near Hivange (May 27, 2019)

Farm
Farm (May 27, 2019)

Luxembourg Airport
Luxembourg Airport (May 27, 2019)

Track in Bertrange
Track in Bertrange (May 28, 2019)

Fight club
Fight club (May 28, 2019)

Forest track in Mamer
Forest track in Mamer (May 28, 2019)

Path in Windhof
Path in Windhof (May 28, 2019)

Path in Windhof
Path in Windhof (May 28, 2019)

Track near Capellen
Track near Capellen (May 28, 2019)

Track between Mamer and Kehlen
Track between Mamer and Kehlen (May 28, 2019)

Track near Kehlen
Track near Kehlen (May 28, 2019)

Firemen in training
Firemen in training (May 28, 2019)

Forest near Mamer
Forest near Mamer (May 28, 2019)

Sentiers des passeurs (Troisvierges)

https://www.strava.com/activities/2357012749

GPS track also available for download on GPSies.

Description in English or French.

Cycling directions in Troisvierges
Cycling directions in Troisvierges (May 10, 2019)

Inner tube vending machine
Inner tube vending machine (May 10, 2019)

Vennbahn information board in Troisvierges
Vennbahn information board in Troisvierges (May 10, 2019)

Vennbahn and sentier des passeurs
Vennbahn and sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Insect hotel
Insect hotel (May 10, 2019)

Short climb
Short climb (May 10, 2019)

Hiking routes
Hiking routes (May 10, 2019)

Sentier des passeurs information board
Sentier des passeurs information board (May 10, 2019)

Sentier des passeurs logo
Sentier des passeurs logo (May 10, 2019)

Spring
Spring (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Bondieuserie
Bondieuserie (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Sentier des passeurs information board
Sentier des passeurs information board (May 10, 2019)

Sentier des passeurs information board
Sentier des passeurs information board (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019): Moss on the branches

Sentier des passeurs information board
Sentier des passeurs information board (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs (bathroom?)
Hike sentier des passeurs (bathroom?) (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Sentier des passeurs information board
Sentier des passeurs information board (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

At the border
At the border (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Hike sentier des passeurs
Hike sentier des passeurs (May 10, 2019)

Sheep
Sheep (May 10, 2019)

Bike ride to wiltz

Simplified itinerary from Luxembourg City:
– follow PC 1 and PC 13 to Garnich,
– follow PC 12 to Hagen and Steinfort, stay and follow PC 12 (EuroVelo 5) to PC 17 in Noerdange,
– follow PC 17 to Koetchette (EuroVelo 5), and jump on PC 18 to Martelange,
– continue following EuroVelo 5 signs until cycling directions are provided to Bastogne; note that many parts are unpaved between Martelange and Bastogne,
– continue on the cycleways to Wiltz

Note that my map doesn’t follow this way to Steinfort as I stopped in my office.

 

Traditional photo point on PC 12 near Eischen
Traditional photo point on PC 12 near Eischen (February 27, 2019)

Hovelange tunnel
Hovelange tunnel (February 27, 2019)

Niederpallen train
Niederpallen train (February 27, 2019)

Cranes migration
Cranes migration (February 27, 2019)

Cranes are flying North
Cranes are flying North (February 27, 2019)

Difficult part (500m altitude?)
Difficult part (500m altitude?) (February 27, 2019)

Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières
Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières (February 27, 2019)

Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières
Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières (February 27, 2019)

Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières
Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières (February 27, 2019)

Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières
Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières (February 27, 2019)

Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières
Piste cyclacle des Ardoisières (February 27, 2019)

All roads lead to Rome
All roads lead to Rome (February 27, 2019)

Welcome to Belgium sign
Welcome to Belgium sign (February 27, 2019)

Slow please!
Slow please! (February 27, 2019)

Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v
Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v (February 27, 2019)

Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v
Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v (February 27, 2019)

Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v
Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v (February 27, 2019)

Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v
Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v (February 27, 2019)

Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v
Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v (February 27, 2019)

Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v
Eurovelo 5 between Martelange and Bastogne following the Sûre v (February 27, 2019)

Bastogne-Sud station
Bastogne-Sud station (February 27, 2019)

Watch for motorised traffic!
Watch for motorised traffic! (February 27, 2019)

One of the tunnels on PC 20
One of the tunnels on PC 20 (February 27, 2019)

Another tunnel on PC 20
Another tunnel on PC 20 (February 27, 2019)

The end of the tunnel
The end of the tunnel (February 27, 2019)

Ride at your own risk
Ride at your own risk (February 27, 2019)

New month, new challenge

In May days are getting longer. That’s great! I can spend more time outside (since I don’t completely trust my eyesight I’d rather stay close to home at night).

I renew my 1,000 km goal for this month but would like to reach 10,000 km until the end of 2014. This one is going to be tough! I’ve done 3,339 km this year so far; more than 6,600 km remaining – that’s about 27 km every day.

Yesterday I was lazy and it was Labour Day, but I have a good excuse: thunderstorms. Actually, I was getting ready to do 50 km ride when I could hear the thunder; and then I was invited to join some friends for dinner in a great portugese restaurant called Atlantico.

Since I have postponed my cycling tour to today, I’ve extended it a bit, but the slope uphill was tough; cycling against the wind didn’t help.

Despite its difficulty, it was a nice and idyllic ride.

wpid-20140502_142808_hdr.jpg wpid-20140502_143001_hdr.jpg wpid-20140502_154754_hdr.jpg wpid-20140502_161946_hdr.jpg wpid-20140502_163952_hdr.jpg wpid-20140502_164936_hdr.jpg wpid-20140502_170559_hdr.jpg

It seems some sections will look different in the future as they are building a road which is going to be a primary road close to the cycling route…
wpid-20140502_171422_hdr.jpg
PS: still fine without chocolate, candies nor coke 🙂

Yes! 1002 km!!

I was having some doubts about the weather and work, but I’ve made it! I’m so happy 🙂 Finally, I have cycled 1,002 km this month and 1,205 km of total activities; not bad 🙂 🙂

I cycled back from work via the CR 105 road (also known as Vallée des Sept Chateaux – Valley of the Seven Castles). This route is amazing and I’m wondering why they don’t create a cycling route there; the car traffic is almost inexistent; I’ve been overtaken by only one car (plus a racing bike) along this road. In addition, the landscape is amazing and the way almost flat.

Since it’s a lovely route, let me share it on the map; I’ll try to share some pictures in the future (which should be read: if I do not forget about it, maybe one day, I’ll sort my photos and upload some).

Cycling day

Randomly left home with the idea of going South. However I had no destination in mind until I thought about exploring a bit the Land of the Red Rocks (Terres Rouges).

At some point, the cycling route PC 8 stops and I’ve continued my way on hiking routes, which were tough but it was worth the effort.

Maybe I’ll manage to cycle 1,000 km this month 🙂

 

 

🙂

 

 

 

OpenStreetMap survey map

I always take pictures of areas I walk or cycle, which is very helpful for upating OpenStreetMap. Here’s a summary of the current surveys in the forest.

The most concentrated area is probably near Bambësch, a forest located North of Luxembourg City which is almost on my way to work and is worth a detour from spring to autumn a few times a week:

I still have hundred of ways to visit, fix or update in the eastern part of the forest; which will make my detours longer soon.

The good thing is that each time I go out, I have fewer waypoints to check; last year for each waypoint checked, I added five new points. Sometime I forget to remove points from my waypoint list which make me revisit area already visited :). Also, I added some ways and points tagged with fixme or weird values to my to visit-list.

Over the last year, I’ve been walking and cycling thousands of kilometers; I should check my GPS logs to get the real figure.

This last picture shows area I’ve been exploring near Luxembourg City.

And finally, my OSM Heat Map