On Tuesday, October 12th, Cilia and myself tackled the second part of our walk along the GR571. We started out at Aywaille, where we left off at the end of the first part.
From the railway station, we crossed the bridge and immediately started to climb towards a nature reserve called "la Heid des Gattes". We passed a veiwing point overlooking the town and its bridge. Over here there was also a small remembrance plaque for the allied soldiers and the resistance people that liberated Aywaille at the end of WWII. From there we climbed towards the top of the ridge where we entered the reserve.
From the top of the ridge the GR slowly descends towards Sougne.Along the way passing another viewpoint in Falize, with a spectacular view over the Ambleve valley. A little bit below the viewpoint we passed and old gun emplacement defending the valley.Finally you arrive in the village of Sougne at the bank of the river. Here the path follows the riverbank and passes underneath a large overpass that lets the E25 motorway cross the valley, without all the traffic having to descend into the valley itself.
From sougne, the route continues towards the Ninglinspo area. We stopped there and had our lunch, before continuing along the river towards the Chefna valley. The Ninglinspo stream has a beatiful valley, with its own walk as well, but we chose the less well-known and certainly less touristic Chefna valley. Marching past the river at les fonds de Quarreux, you see huge rocks lying in the water. A local legend tells of a miller that owned a mill. He wanted a bigger mill and made a pact with the devil. In exchange for his soul the devil would build him in bigger mill in just one night. The miller's wife, concerned for her husband's soul, hid inside the mill wearing a medal of Notre-Dame de Dieupart, preventing the wings of the mill from turning. The devil, outraged by his failure, destroyed the mill and rocks landed in the nearby Ambleve river.
After les fonds de Quarreux, the GR turns left across the motorway, climbing out of the Chefna valley. Al slow gradual ascent through the forest along the fast-flowing Chefna. Once on top of the hill a borders the moors. In this part of the walk all signs of civilisation ar far away. Nothing but nature and green as far as the eye reaches, only disturbed by the obligatory cross that was erected by a lost traveler who miraculously found his way back out of the moorland and erected a cross to thank his god for saving him.
Once out of the moors, a road descends the hill flank all the way to Stoumont.
Once here I changed my shoes at the bus stop, where we took the bus to Coo a gew minutes later. Timing had really been immaculate.Once arrived in Coo we had 40 minutes left before the train arrived. We went to see the little waterfall and had a hot chocolate in a tea-room near by. After that we took the train home, proud to have finished the second part of our GR571 walk.
Pictures of this walk can be viewed here.
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
Countryside walk in Heks (08/10/2010)
On Friday the 8th of October 2010, Cilia Gabi and myself had originally planned a walk in the Ardennes. Because Gabi was recovering from a back injury, we decided to take no risk and changed our destination to a more easy going walk. The hilly Ardennes would have to wait till a next occasion.
We decided to do the noose in and around the village of Heks in beautiful Haspengouw. It was a nice and sunny day autumn day. Along the walk we encountered everything that makes this lovely region worth the while: beautiful landscapes, shadowy hollow roads, the typical large manor farms, the orchards on the smooth rises,... all the reasons that keep me from moving anywhere else... this is home!
We decided to do the noose in and around the village of Heks in beautiful Haspengouw. It was a nice and sunny day autumn day. Along the walk we encountered everything that makes this lovely region worth the while: beautiful landscapes, shadowy hollow roads, the typical large manor farms, the orchards on the smooth rises,... all the reasons that keep me from moving anywhere else... this is home!
Lazy...
In spite of lots of time at home due to my shoulder injury, I have been way to lazy to update my walking blog. Why? I don't know... just because I guess.
With the start of this new year one of my resolutions was to keep my two blogs updated. So here I go... I will post links to the pictures of the walks of which I didn't write a small review...
This way they are at least mentioned on the blog even if the details are missing...
With the start of this new year one of my resolutions was to keep my two blogs updated. So here I go... I will post links to the pictures of the walks of which I didn't write a small review...
This way they are at least mentioned on the blog even if the details are missing...
Tuesday, 5 October 2010
GR571, Vallees des legendes - Ardennes rivers (01/10/2010)
Cilia found a brilliant website called trekkings.be. On that site we found the report of a walk along the GR571. This is a 166km (103 mile) walk through the valleys of 3 Ardennes rivers: the Ambleve, the Salm and the Lienne. It is called vallees de legendes/valleys of legends, because this vast and beautiful part of the Ardennes is full of saga and legends.
Both of us had time available on Friday the 1st of October, so we decided to tackle the first part (from Comblain-au-Pont to Remouchamps) of the walk. We would meet up in the new Liege-Guillemins railway station and travel from there to the start of the walk together.
Things were of to a bad start as Cilia's train got delayed and we lost one hour in Liege. Finally we set out from there to Rivage. Once there we walked towards the Pont de Scay, a bridge over the Ourthe river in Comblain-au-pont and the starting point of today's walk. The trekking site had promised us a challenging climb after only a couple of hundred meters. This seemed to be an understatement. Mudslides and people climbing the hillside with ropes instead of following the path had turned this climb into a mess. A steep climb over muddy and rocky surface, very difficult to find steady foothold. Especially hazardous (and maybe irresponsible) with an injured right arm. Still, we made it up to a cave, where Cilia took a brief rest, before we tackled the rest of our climb. While Cilia sat down, I decided to scout the cave a little bit further and found a path behind the cave. A clear path unaffected by mudslides, that gradually climbed to the top of the ridge. This was a relief for the both of us. This was the walk to the top as we had envisioned it from the beginning. Once topside we had to cross what seems to be the top of the climb, had we taken the difficult muddy climb. A 25cm wide muddy ledge over the mudslide. We conquered that last part of the danger are were in the clear for a carefree walk now.
The climb had taken is through a wood called "les tartines". From the edge of this wood, we took a walk through the beautiful Ardennes countryside towards the village of Oneux. Splendid autumn colours, birds of prey in the air and breathtaking views towards our starting point.... we were happy already.
We passed through Oneux and continued on the Grand Fawe plateau towards another village called Hoyemont. The plateau is situated at an altitude of about 300m. when descending the plateau on the other side, we stopped at le Puits Hayard. This is a old water pit next to the road. We sat down on the edge of the pit underneath the trees and had our lunch here. As we feared at the start in Rivage, it became clear to us at this point that we would not reach our intended destination. The hour we lost because of the delayed train resulted in setting Aywaille as new destination for today.
After lunch we continued our march down towards the valley floor, only to start climbing the next ridge. After the path took us over the top, we came across the wooden cross of Cwimont, from where you have a lovely view into the Ambleve valley and on the town of Aywaille. We passed the hamlet of Septroux in our descend and then found that the GR was closed at this part for the hunting season. Not willing to take the risk, we mate a detour along a busy main road towards the bridge over the Ambleve at Martinrive. After crossing the river, we crossed the railway bridge as well and started our last climb of the day towards the ruins of a 9th century castle. The castle was destroyed in the 16th century. The being a walk of legends and stories, it won't surprise you that this castle has a ghost story connected to it. A woman called Blanche de Montfort supposedly killed her lover and his wife in the chateau, only to throw herself from the castle walls into the valley after her act of despair. It is said that on the eve of All Saints day, you can see her ghost wandering through the ruins. Luckily for us, we didn't see any ghosts.
Because we had a train to catch, we only took a quick snapshot at the ruins and had no time to look at the splendid view from the foot of what remains of the main tower. From there you have an excellent view over again the Ambleve valley and the town of Aywaille. From the ruins our path went down towards the N30 motor way, which took us into Aywaille itself. Aywaille is a smaal town, but has supermarket, bus- and railwaystation and most other stuff you may need. A good resupply point.
Like I said earlier on, for us this was the end of today's walk. We arrived in the railway station 10 minutes before our train arrived and took the train back to Liege from there.
Seems like Aywaille will see us again soon, to start the second part of our adventure along the GR571...
Pictures of this walk right here...
Both of us had time available on Friday the 1st of October, so we decided to tackle the first part (from Comblain-au-Pont to Remouchamps) of the walk. We would meet up in the new Liege-Guillemins railway station and travel from there to the start of the walk together.
Things were of to a bad start as Cilia's train got delayed and we lost one hour in Liege. Finally we set out from there to Rivage. Once there we walked towards the Pont de Scay, a bridge over the Ourthe river in Comblain-au-pont and the starting point of today's walk. The trekking site had promised us a challenging climb after only a couple of hundred meters. This seemed to be an understatement. Mudslides and people climbing the hillside with ropes instead of following the path had turned this climb into a mess. A steep climb over muddy and rocky surface, very difficult to find steady foothold. Especially hazardous (and maybe irresponsible) with an injured right arm. Still, we made it up to a cave, where Cilia took a brief rest, before we tackled the rest of our climb. While Cilia sat down, I decided to scout the cave a little bit further and found a path behind the cave. A clear path unaffected by mudslides, that gradually climbed to the top of the ridge. This was a relief for the both of us. This was the walk to the top as we had envisioned it from the beginning. Once topside we had to cross what seems to be the top of the climb, had we taken the difficult muddy climb. A 25cm wide muddy ledge over the mudslide. We conquered that last part of the danger are were in the clear for a carefree walk now.
The climb had taken is through a wood called "les tartines". From the edge of this wood, we took a walk through the beautiful Ardennes countryside towards the village of Oneux. Splendid autumn colours, birds of prey in the air and breathtaking views towards our starting point.... we were happy already.
We passed through Oneux and continued on the Grand Fawe plateau towards another village called Hoyemont. The plateau is situated at an altitude of about 300m. when descending the plateau on the other side, we stopped at le Puits Hayard. This is a old water pit next to the road. We sat down on the edge of the pit underneath the trees and had our lunch here. As we feared at the start in Rivage, it became clear to us at this point that we would not reach our intended destination. The hour we lost because of the delayed train resulted in setting Aywaille as new destination for today.
After lunch we continued our march down towards the valley floor, only to start climbing the next ridge. After the path took us over the top, we came across the wooden cross of Cwimont, from where you have a lovely view into the Ambleve valley and on the town of Aywaille. We passed the hamlet of Septroux in our descend and then found that the GR was closed at this part for the hunting season. Not willing to take the risk, we mate a detour along a busy main road towards the bridge over the Ambleve at Martinrive. After crossing the river, we crossed the railway bridge as well and started our last climb of the day towards the ruins of a 9th century castle. The castle was destroyed in the 16th century. The being a walk of legends and stories, it won't surprise you that this castle has a ghost story connected to it. A woman called Blanche de Montfort supposedly killed her lover and his wife in the chateau, only to throw herself from the castle walls into the valley after her act of despair. It is said that on the eve of All Saints day, you can see her ghost wandering through the ruins. Luckily for us, we didn't see any ghosts.
Because we had a train to catch, we only took a quick snapshot at the ruins and had no time to look at the splendid view from the foot of what remains of the main tower. From there you have an excellent view over again the Ambleve valley and the town of Aywaille. From the ruins our path went down towards the N30 motor way, which took us into Aywaille itself. Aywaille is a smaal town, but has supermarket, bus- and railwaystation and most other stuff you may need. A good resupply point.
Like I said earlier on, for us this was the end of today's walk. We arrived in the railway station 10 minutes before our train arrived and took the train back to Liege from there.
Seems like Aywaille will see us again soon, to start the second part of our adventure along the GR571...
Pictures of this walk right here...
Severe injury right shoulder and upper arm on the 11th of September 2010
On the 11th of last month I took a heavy fall in my brother's garage. While moving furniture out of the house, to store it in the garage while renovations were being made to the living room in his house, I fell into a grease pit in the garage.
It was quite a serious fall and I dislocated my right shoulder.
Meanwhile the shoulder is back in the joint since three weeks, but further examination at the hospital today showed serious muscle damage.
To fix this I will need surgery. After that a long recovery period will begin. Four to six months training with a physio to get my shoulder joint and upper arm back to it old self.
Fingers crossed for a good outcome.
It was quite a serious fall and I dislocated my right shoulder.
Meanwhile the shoulder is back in the joint since three weeks, but further examination at the hospital today showed serious muscle damage.
To fix this I will need surgery. After that a long recovery period will begin. Four to six months training with a physio to get my shoulder joint and upper arm back to it old self.
Fingers crossed for a good outcome.
Start to run = Epic fail :-(
My start to run project ended in failure.
During the early days of August I got an injury on my left hip. I still don't know why, but after several minutes into the STR-lesson of that day, it really started to hurt.
I took it easy for a while.... even interrupted my STR and that was the mistake i made. I should have kept up and continued. I never picked up the program again and so the dream ended.
I have promised myself that I will have another go next year. I want to do this and i want to participate in dwars door Hasselt.
During the early days of August I got an injury on my left hip. I still don't know why, but after several minutes into the STR-lesson of that day, it really started to hurt.
I took it easy for a while.... even interrupted my STR and that was the mistake i made. I should have kept up and continued. I never picked up the program again and so the dream ended.
I have promised myself that I will have another go next year. I want to do this and i want to participate in dwars door Hasselt.
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.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)