As we did this walk on the 10th of December last year, my story is not as accurate as it should be, but the pix speak for themselves I'd say.
On a foggy, cold winter day, we decided to tackle the next part of our GR128 project. As you may remember, this started out as a walk from Cilia's front door (Mechelen) to mine (Sint-Truiden). We decided to walk from Leuven to Hoegaarden on this next stint. I remember the GR crossing and passing and the E40 motorway and railway line 36 between Liege and Brussels.
It was a tiring walk in difficult conditions and although our research had promised us beautiful sights and splendid landscapes... we bare noticed any, because of the mist and the wintery conditions.
We did however have a good laugh and had fun in the snow, which was knee deep at some points.
Showing posts with label Leuven. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Leuven. Show all posts
Friday, 26 August 2011
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
Mechelen => Sint-Truiden Walk III Provincial domain of Kessel-Lo to Norbertine Abbey near Korbeek-Lo on June 6th 2010
I'm way too late with this report. The walk took place on the sixth of June and we're the fifth of October today, so an entire summer has passed.
Still I remember we started the day in the provincial domain of Kessel-Lo. We being, Cilia and her husband Karel, their two sons Kasper and Simon, Cilia's dad Gabi, and of course myself. During the morning we took it easy in the domain and enjoyed the nice morning and let the kids play in the local playground. At noon we pick-nicked in a meadow next to the playground.
Once we had finished our meal, Gabi and Karel went to and parked one of the cars at our destination. While they were doing these, it started to rain: gently at first, but ever more and harder after that. The water was coming down so much, that we decided not to take the kids on this part after all. The cart they were sitting in was not water proof (enough). We feared that they would end up wet and cold in their transport and that they would likely catch a cold.
Karel agreed to go home with the kids and take care of the boys, while Cilia, Gabi and myself would walk part III of our little walking project. Thanks Karel! I know you really felt like trotting along with us on this part and I do hope the day will come soon where you can join us.
I don't remember the exact route we took. I would have to consult Cilia on that matter, since she is the one that prepared the whole routing and was in charge of maps. I do know that via some nice green places we ended up on the other side of the city of Leuven, without actually traversing the city center. A wide semi circle through the green hills that surround the city brought us to the Norbertine abbey near Korbeek-Lo. This would be the starting point for our next part of the track... from the abbey to the town of Hoegaarden.
Still I remember we started the day in the provincial domain of Kessel-Lo. We being, Cilia and her husband Karel, their two sons Kasper and Simon, Cilia's dad Gabi, and of course myself. During the morning we took it easy in the domain and enjoyed the nice morning and let the kids play in the local playground. At noon we pick-nicked in a meadow next to the playground.
Once we had finished our meal, Gabi and Karel went to and parked one of the cars at our destination. While they were doing these, it started to rain: gently at first, but ever more and harder after that. The water was coming down so much, that we decided not to take the kids on this part after all. The cart they were sitting in was not water proof (enough). We feared that they would end up wet and cold in their transport and that they would likely catch a cold.
Karel agreed to go home with the kids and take care of the boys, while Cilia, Gabi and myself would walk part III of our little walking project. Thanks Karel! I know you really felt like trotting along with us on this part and I do hope the day will come soon where you can join us.
I don't remember the exact route we took. I would have to consult Cilia on that matter, since she is the one that prepared the whole routing and was in charge of maps. I do know that via some nice green places we ended up on the other side of the city of Leuven, without actually traversing the city center. A wide semi circle through the green hills that surround the city brought us to the Norbertine abbey near Korbeek-Lo. This would be the starting point for our next part of the track... from the abbey to the town of Hoegaarden.
Tuesday, 13 April 2010
Mechelen => Sint-Truiden Walk 2.... completed!
Sunday the 11th saw us (Cilia, Gabi and myself) complete the second part of our walk from Mechelen to Sint-Truiden.
It was a bit hard to find a suitable day in our plannings and this one was the best solution we could come up with. As for me, it still was a tough undertaking. I was at the 6th in a series of 7 night shifts at work. This meant I only had got home at 0800 in the morning and slept till 1330, when i got up, because Gabi would come by to pick me up at 1430. It also implied that after the walk I would have to go work to do my last night shift of the series. To top all of this off, I also had to take my selor exam the day after at 0845 in the morning... quite a challenge.
Today's walk would take us from Haacht (where we left off last time) to Leuven. We were joined by Kristien (Cilia's colleague) this time. Liesbeth (her other colleague) canceled, due to a better offer that came through. We started out at 1600, since I had been sleeping all morning because of my night shifts.
Like last time Cilia had plotted the course in advance. Taking us over the GR from the place we left off at the end of walk nr 1 to Leuven. We started out from Haacht railway station and right away decided to turn into the fields avoiding the main roads, changing them for a little cross country stint, till we encountered the first red and white GR markers at a small bridge in the fields. we followed the GR from there. It took us right back to the railway line, which we followed till Wespelaar-Tildonk. There we followed the Dijkstraat for a while and turned right past the communal sports center. After the sports fields we pretty much walked across the open fields in the direction of Wakkerzeel. We walked past an old mill at the outskirts of this village. A place that had been nicely rebuild to make comfy modern apartments. Well it looked very much like a place shared by several people with a shared court yard and garden. Very nice place.
From there the landscape rose slightly, this was the Kwellenberg. This short easy climb took us back to the banks of the Dijle river. From here our road turned East again and we saw the hills that surround Leuven on the horizon. Cilia promised us we would have to climb them later on...
Somewhere along the course, when we stopped to eat something, I discovered that in hurrying and being only half awake when i was gathering my walking gear, I had completely forgotten about food and drink. Luckily for me the fellowship kept me alive and fed me and gave me something to drink.
We continued, meeting the railway line now and then, and crossed the E314 motorway. All off a sudden the hills seemed very near. We continued through a residential area, and past a lumber mill and there it was... the start of the climb. On a forest road we climbed up the hill. No gradual rise like the Kwellenberg, but quite a steep climb. All in our own stride we all reached what looked like the top. Kristien proved to be an excellent climber. Without any visible effort, she climbed the hill leaving all of us behind and welcoming us back at the top. Well, like i said, what we thought was the top. From there the path descended a short while and turned left along the flank of the hill. A couple of minutes later we were climbing again. This time it would take us all the way to the top of the hill. Once again we all tackled the climb in our own tempo and once again Kristien shot away from us. Just great the way she seems to climb effortlessly. I'm gonna have to train on a similar climbing technique i think. Will come in very helpful next year when i go to Scotland.
At the top of the Hill we walked along the path and began our gradual descend to the Norbertine abbey that was to be the end point of this day's walk. We arrived at the panorama point overviewing Leuven... very nice view. Only wish I had brought my camera. By the way we got off the hill and arrived at the entrance of the Provincial Domain of Kessel-Lo, it was slowly getting darker. And our timing came under pressure. It was already past 1900 and I had to start thinking about work. Cilia had to get home to Karel and the kids and Gabi and Kristien... well guess they still had the drive back to Limburg ahead. All these combined made us decide to take the bus to the railway station of Leuven. Too bad. I really would have liked to arrive at the abbey at nightfall, like a real Pilgrim. But alas... time left us no other option. Maybe we can start out from the monastery for the third part. That way I can feel like the Pilgrim departing from the monks on to new horizons :-)
Anyhow. The party split at the Leuven Station. My pedometer had counted 21104 steps, for 20 kilometres in three hours and 27 minutes. Not bad...
It had been another nice afternoon in splendid company. I must admit that I am really looking forward to part 3. It was also good to hear that Kristien seemed to have enjoyed the afternoon, since at the parting of the fellowship she said "see you for part 3". So our little party of three has now become a party of four...
A last short note on my new walking shoes. The withstood the walk really well as did my feet. No sore of black toes this time. A slight pressure on my front sole, but i think that can be resolved by other/better walking socks. All in all the my Lowas were fantastic, even without much testing or trial walks. Hurrah!!
It was a bit hard to find a suitable day in our plannings and this one was the best solution we could come up with. As for me, it still was a tough undertaking. I was at the 6th in a series of 7 night shifts at work. This meant I only had got home at 0800 in the morning and slept till 1330, when i got up, because Gabi would come by to pick me up at 1430. It also implied that after the walk I would have to go work to do my last night shift of the series. To top all of this off, I also had to take my selor exam the day after at 0845 in the morning... quite a challenge.
Today's walk would take us from Haacht (where we left off last time) to Leuven. We were joined by Kristien (Cilia's colleague) this time. Liesbeth (her other colleague) canceled, due to a better offer that came through. We started out at 1600, since I had been sleeping all morning because of my night shifts.
Like last time Cilia had plotted the course in advance. Taking us over the GR from the place we left off at the end of walk nr 1 to Leuven. We started out from Haacht railway station and right away decided to turn into the fields avoiding the main roads, changing them for a little cross country stint, till we encountered the first red and white GR markers at a small bridge in the fields. we followed the GR from there. It took us right back to the railway line, which we followed till Wespelaar-Tildonk. There we followed the Dijkstraat for a while and turned right past the communal sports center. After the sports fields we pretty much walked across the open fields in the direction of Wakkerzeel. We walked past an old mill at the outskirts of this village. A place that had been nicely rebuild to make comfy modern apartments. Well it looked very much like a place shared by several people with a shared court yard and garden. Very nice place.
From there the landscape rose slightly, this was the Kwellenberg. This short easy climb took us back to the banks of the Dijle river. From here our road turned East again and we saw the hills that surround Leuven on the horizon. Cilia promised us we would have to climb them later on...
Somewhere along the course, when we stopped to eat something, I discovered that in hurrying and being only half awake when i was gathering my walking gear, I had completely forgotten about food and drink. Luckily for me the fellowship kept me alive and fed me and gave me something to drink.
We continued, meeting the railway line now and then, and crossed the E314 motorway. All off a sudden the hills seemed very near. We continued through a residential area, and past a lumber mill and there it was... the start of the climb. On a forest road we climbed up the hill. No gradual rise like the Kwellenberg, but quite a steep climb. All in our own stride we all reached what looked like the top. Kristien proved to be an excellent climber. Without any visible effort, she climbed the hill leaving all of us behind and welcoming us back at the top. Well, like i said, what we thought was the top. From there the path descended a short while and turned left along the flank of the hill. A couple of minutes later we were climbing again. This time it would take us all the way to the top of the hill. Once again we all tackled the climb in our own tempo and once again Kristien shot away from us. Just great the way she seems to climb effortlessly. I'm gonna have to train on a similar climbing technique i think. Will come in very helpful next year when i go to Scotland.
At the top of the Hill we walked along the path and began our gradual descend to the Norbertine abbey that was to be the end point of this day's walk. We arrived at the panorama point overviewing Leuven... very nice view. Only wish I had brought my camera. By the way we got off the hill and arrived at the entrance of the Provincial Domain of Kessel-Lo, it was slowly getting darker. And our timing came under pressure. It was already past 1900 and I had to start thinking about work. Cilia had to get home to Karel and the kids and Gabi and Kristien... well guess they still had the drive back to Limburg ahead. All these combined made us decide to take the bus to the railway station of Leuven. Too bad. I really would have liked to arrive at the abbey at nightfall, like a real Pilgrim. But alas... time left us no other option. Maybe we can start out from the monastery for the third part. That way I can feel like the Pilgrim departing from the monks on to new horizons :-)
Anyhow. The party split at the Leuven Station. My pedometer had counted 21104 steps, for 20 kilometres in three hours and 27 minutes. Not bad...
It had been another nice afternoon in splendid company. I must admit that I am really looking forward to part 3. It was also good to hear that Kristien seemed to have enjoyed the afternoon, since at the parting of the fellowship she said "see you for part 3". So our little party of three has now become a party of four...
A last short note on my new walking shoes. The withstood the walk really well as did my feet. No sore of black toes this time. A slight pressure on my front sole, but i think that can be resolved by other/better walking socks. All in all the my Lowas were fantastic, even without much testing or trial walks. Hurrah!!
Wednesday, 7 April 2010
Mechelen => Sint-Truiden Walk 2 - Haacht to Leuven
Part two of our walk from Mechelen to Sint-Truiden is scheduled for the 11th of April. Hoping for fine walking conditions and a little less wind than we had on the first episode. This will also be the first test of my new walking shoes.... fingers crossed and hope that there will be no black toes this time.
Participants will be, Cilia and Gabi, but also Kristien and Liesbeth (two colleagues of Cilia) and myself of course..
More news will follow at the end of the week!
Participants will be, Cilia and Gabi, but also Kristien and Liesbeth (two colleagues of Cilia) and myself of course..
More news will follow at the end of the week!
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