RTL Today – 12,500 km from Luxembourg: He will cross Europe in a Peugeot 201, leaving this Monday
Steven Weinberg is one of those “made in Luxembourg” adventurers who make you dream! His new project begins on Monday: a journey of 12,500 km on 5 European rivers at the wheel of the “Charmante”, a gleaming Peugeot 201 from 1930.
“My first engine was a 49cc Peugeot BB Griffon moped, with which I rode from 1960 to 1963. My first ‘big trip’ was from La Turbie to Aix-en-Provence (200 km)” says Steven Weinberg on his website.
What roads we travelled ever since ! Born in the Netherlands and living in Senningen in Luxembourg, this fond of beautiful mechanics is above all a specialist in marine biology (many students from the European School of Luxembourg remember his classes between 1982 and 2010). Passions that pushed him to multiply the adventures in the four parts of the world.
Let us mention, for the automobile component, a Paris Gobi of 16,000 km with an old Renault 4CV from 1959 in 2007, a world Tour 33,500 km with the same “Petite” in 2010-2011, a tour of the mini-states Europe in “Mini” in 2014-2015, and a tour de France in 2016, for his 70th birthday, with “La Petite” and in the company of his wife.
“THE CHARMING”
And it is not stored bikes as they say, far from it. As proof, his new project which revolves around his latest acquisition: a Peugeot 201 from 1930, called “La Charmante”, of which he says all his love here.
A delicate nickname for a journey that promises to be rougher: from the Rhine to the Elbe via the Rhône, the Loire and the Danube, “La Charmante” and her crew are going to offer themselves a large format odyssey, reports the Automobile Club Luxembourg (ACL), which supports the project.
An excursion that has been affected by the covid crisis and a multitude of challenges to overcome, but this time for sure: “we will (if all goes well) make a trip/report on 5 European rivers flowing into 4 different seas. A journey of 12,500 km to follow from May 2, 2022” date of his departure from Luxembourg.
“IT SUCKS RIGHT NOW”
In addition to the usual adventures and other mechanical surprises that should punctuate his journey, there remains the thorny question of the war in Ukraine. “The 4th river will be the Danube, but we are not sure with the current political situation, to be able to go to the mouth. I wanted to go to Odessa (in Ukraine), which I know a little… it sucks right now“He grimaces, without being discouraged. His own way, certainly, of renewing ties between these neighboring countries which are tearing each other apart…
Here is the map of his trip:
So let’s wish him good luck! And if ever “The Charming””quirks along the way that I can’t solve, I hope the ACL will come to our rescue!” he smiled.