Restablecer búsqueda
An Afternoon StrollAn Afternoon Stroll
SatelitalEditar ruta

An Afternoon Stroll

junio - septiembre 2023
A walk. Leer más
+2
  • 82huellas
  • 10países
  • 99días
  • 677fotos
  • 5videos
  • 1,7kkilómetros
  • 1,7kkilómetros
  • 22millas náuticas
Seguir Calendario Compartir Lista de deseos
Fecha ascendente
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    Día 23

    Mons

    1 de julio de 2023, Bélgica ⋅ ☁️ 16 °C

    Day 22:
    Distance: 32.43 km (713.62 km)
    Steps: 46,963 (1,024,400)
    Move time: 7h32 (164h17)
    Spend: £38.36 (£323.97)

    Peruwelz to Mons.

    Skies holding firm? Well, the universe clearly had other ideas. Ever since I used that phrase yesterday, I brought an inevitably soggy fate upon myself today as the rain sliced down throughout the night and continued to splatter throughout the day. When you are practically living outside, the weather can really dictate your life; there's little avoiding the fact that rain really just does make everything harder. It's all fun and games in flawless weather at the top of some pristine mountain somewhere, but when it's hurling down as you're navigating grey Belgian industrial estates, it's that which really makes you question what series of events even led you to this point in life. So I'll blame that for my lethargy. Sure as day turns to night though, I've made my way into Mons, the attractive capital of Hainaut, where after calculating the optimal price to calorie ratio of Belgian McDonalds, I took an evening meander to cool off the day.

    P.S. Oh, and the Belgians bloody love a well trimmed bush (and some good mural art too), what's up with that?    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    Día 24

    Charleroi

    2 de julio de 2023, Bélgica ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Day 23:
    Distance: 37.44 km (751.06 km)
    Steps: 52,718 (1,076,718)
    Move time: 7h52 (172h09)
    Spend: £21.06 (£345.03)

    Mons to Charleroi.

    The most Sunday of Sundays. And by that, I mean I went for a walk, I fell asleep on a bench, and I even wandered into a church service. Other than that, there wasn't too much Sunday about today really; unless, of course, you tend to walk obsessively next to the motorway on your days off. But sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do. And just as I thought I'd finally reached some characterful terrain with the emergence of distant hills as well, you know what they were? Slag heaps. And if that doesn't tell you everything you need to know about Belgium's 4th largest city, then I don't know what will. The approach to Charleroi was littered with the remnants of decades-old decaying industry: towering factories, capacious warehouses, and rust infested ghost towns. It was actually fascinating to observe though, even if I had no idea what it was that I was even looking at half the time. Tonight, another hostel; tomorrow, push on in the direction of Dinant.Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    11
    Día 25

    Dinant

    3 de julio de 2023, Bélgica ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    Day 24:
    Distance: 44.70 km (795.76 km)
    Steps: 62,131 (1,138,849)
    Move time: 9h19 (181h28)
    Spend: £7.52 (£352.55)

    Charleroi to Dinant.

    Diversity is the dish of life. So today's route was a revelation by comparison to the motorway melee of yesterday, taking me through still forests, long tunnels, chiming churchyards, crumbling castle ruins, and most startlingly of all, hills! At long last, the flats are over. I never thought I'd be so grateful to feel that familiar burning sensation rise up through my calves, which will surely be weapons-grade by the end of this adventure. It's honestly a joy though, and the kilometres come so much easier when you're able to just enjoy yourself and forget about clocking some certain distance for the day. And the glory to top it all off; an arrival in Dinant: a destination I've wanted to see for a while now, with its pretty buildings perched on the banks of the Meuse and undercliff to a fortified citadel. Only negative in all of this: finding somewhere to sleep. Could be a fun night.Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    Día 26

    Forrières

    4 de julio de 2023, Bélgica ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C

    Day 25:
    Distance: 38.49 km (834.25 km)
    Steps: 55,220 (1,194,069)
    Move time: 8h44 (190h17)
    Spend: £19.90 (£372.12)

    Dinant to Forrières.

    Today was mentally exhausting. After failing to find somewhere to sleep and being really too tired to even move, I ended up seeing through the penumhra of night all the way to morning in full consciousness, just sat on a bench in the centre of town. When I eventually did decide to set sail for the day, I only set my sights on Rochefort. And after an agonising arboreal Ardennes amble, I did finally find my way there, only to find that the campsite I'd intended on staying in had entirely closed down! Great. I really needed a campsite to recharge my power banks (and get some bloody sleep!), so I continued on to Forrières, where I've been rewarded with some comforts. Thank you, by the way, to the friendly Belgians who have offered me lifts the past couple of days. The look of sheer bewilderment on their faces when I have to turn them down despite walking on 70 kmh roads is quite amusing I have to admit.Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    4
    1
    Día 27

    Gives

    5 de julio de 2023, Bélgica ⋅ 🌧 16 °C

    Day 26:
    Distance: 34.15 km (868.40 km)
    Steps: 48,294 (1,242,363)
    Move time: 7h37 (197h54)
    Spend: £0.00 (£372.12)

    Forrières to Gives.

    After the reset of staying in a campsite last night, I started the day with renewed enthusiasm, and undampened by the waves of torrential rain, I've since ridden the undulating Ardennes as far as Gives. Today is also the first day with an ascending elevation change of over 1000m too, or at least my maps reckon so. And this might be stating the obvious, but wow, this forest is vast; I don't think I've seen tree cover quite like it before. Meanwhile, for my final night here, Belgium has treated me to something else I'd yet to experience: a legal wildcamping spot! (that isn't the swamps of Dartmoor.) At this quiet (and free!) bivouakzone, I've had the pleasure of meeting two of Belgium's friendliest photography students, Pieter-Jan and Stan, who I enjoyed a good chat with. And that's about all for today; the day of endless forest and of endless rain. Tomorrow on the other hand: Luxembourg, oh.. and results day.😬Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    Día 28

    Seess

    6 de julio de 2023, Luxemburgo ⋅ 🌙 15 °C

    Day 27:
    Distance: 35.07 km (903.47 km)
    Steps: 49,858 (1,292,221)
    Move time: 7h54 (205h48)
    Spend: £12.39 (£384.51)

    Gives to Seess.

    Well, what another day, huh? This might be a long one, and well, I wouldn't usually tell the world about this, but since it won't be read by all that many people, I finally got my university results today. And of course, how else than while compulsively refreshing my emails, pacing on some Belgian country road. I just wanted closure with it, really, to know that it was finally over. But when I opened them, I got results that I really ought to have been pleased with. And yet, for some reason, I just wasn't. I honestly just felt numb. It's kind of sad, really; four years of a life dedicated to something without even an inkling of satisfaction. It's something I actually really struggled with at university; the complete lack of payoff, the complete lack of recognition for your efforts, no matter how hard you try. Just some meaningless number at the end of it all. Hiking, on the other hand, and even this adventure (you knew it was coming, didn't you) have already given me some of the most fulfilling moments of my life. And you know I mean it when I say that, because I'm currently at the new lows of writing this from a bench at 3am after choosing to move from my camp spot for fear of the squabbling wild boar. No, I am already so grateful just to have had the opportunity to have given this a shot. And even to write about this and have the occasional person listen. I think that, in a world where social media continues to push us into vanities and to fit into the strange mess that is modern life, you should celebrate your differences. Live your passions, share them, and don't give a fuck what anyone thinks about you for it. The uncoolest people are some of the coolest people I know.

    Oh, and yeah, I probably should also say: Luxembourg! Country number 4 already; it's going so fast, I can't believe it. I also visited the Bastogne war museum today, some incredible history in these parts.    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    1
    Día 29

    Ettelbruck

    7 de julio de 2023, Luxemburgo ⋅ 🌙 21 °C

    Day 28:
    Distance: 34.03 km (937.50 km)
    Steps: 49,050 (1,341,261)
    Move time: 8h18 (214h06)
    Spend: £23.24 (£407.75)

    Seess to Ettelbruck.

    Short on food, shorter on water, shorter still on sleep. Luxembourg is a very fascinating landscape; if I had to use a single word to describe the Grand-Duchy I'd say 'polished.' The nature feels almost untouched; pristine pines forest the rolling, deep valleys occupied by shallow, gentle streams. Even the settlements, submerged in green and dispersed in space. Luxembourg, in spite of its ease in the eye, though, wasn't particularly aiding my situation, bringing me steep ascents and unrelenting heat, which brought my pace almost to a standstill. I dug deep though, and frankly, I'm absolutely exhausted. I can feel myself falling asleep even as I write this! But to fill you in, I was very keen to reach the Mullerthal area while in little Lux (a well known tourist region for its canyons and intrigue), but with how I've arranged ahead, I realised it just isn't possible to make it there, not in the condition I was in, nor the time conditions I am under. Instead, I've pivoted my trajectory towards Luxembourg City, and have chosen to stay in a campsite for two nights to allow me to shoot my way to the capital without hauling the huge pack tomorrow. Who knows, maybe I'll find some time to get my Mullerthal Miller time via a bus after all if I make good pace. But then again, maybe not. The only thing for definite right now is... sleep.Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    3
    Día 30

    Luxembourg City

    8 de julio de 2023, Luxemburgo ⋅ ☀️ 31 °C

    Day 29:
    Distance: 37.73 km (975.23 km)
    Steps: 53,264 (1,394,525)
    Move time: 8h27 (222h33)
    Spend: £30.29 (£438.04)

    🇱🇺 Ettelbruck to Luxembourg City. 🇱🇺

    I'm staring at the Luxembourg flag right now and it honestly just looks like toothpaste. Anyway, christ today was hot, peaking at 35°C! And that's pretty much thought of the day. My brain ceases to recall a single thing else, other than that bit where I went all day staring at train tracks (that don't look like toothpaste) and that other bit where I stopped at Lidl to gorge on frozen treats (some of which kinda looked like toothpaste.)

    ... yeahh I did just brush my teeth.    Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    2
    Día 31

    Schengen

    9 de julio de 2023, Luxemburgo ⋅ ☁️ 26 °C

    Day 30:
    Distance: 30.20 km (1,005.43 km)
    Steps: 42,853 (1,437,378)
    Move time: 6h53 (229h26)
    Spend: £28.70 (£466.74)

    🇱🇺 Luxembourg City of Schengen. 🇱🇺🇪🇺

    After waking up to find my power bank had been stolen, I started the day yesterday feeling a bit defeated. In fact, I even considered stealing someone else's power bank on charge near where mine was so innocently sat! After all, surely there's no way they could need it more than I did? But no, I couldn't do it. Instead, I made the sticky 32°C (despite it being overcast) trudge south-eastwards. And if that wasn't enough, a storm then ominously rolled in behind me, hurling winds with such ferocity that the droplets of rain stabbed like piercing needles into the back of my legs. I needed some time to collect my thoughts. So I found a cosy bus stop to shelter amid the frenzy of the elements, and I started to plan. I find that planning my journey ahead can really help my morale; to think of all the places I can choose to see always renews my excitement. It was probably that which saw me regain the will to get to the end of the day and my night in a hostel at Schengen, a village at the Luxembourg/Germany/France tripoint, and which is steeped in symbolism for what its name means for travel within the European Union.Leer más

    Ver traducción
  • ViajeroAn Afternoon Stroll
    41
    Día 32

    Saarlouis

    10 de julio de 2023, Alemania ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C

    Day 31:
    Distance: 41.48 km (1,046.91 km)
    Steps: 57,868 (1,495,246)
    Move time: 8h43 (238h09)
    Spend: £0.00 (£466.74)

    🇱🇺🇪🇺 Schengen to Saarlouis. 🇩🇪

    It was business as usual today as I found my zen while slapping my Merrell soles against the mostly smooth German tarmac, all the way to Saarlouis. It was also my first day fully immersed in the joys of the German language too; an early thought being that the very word 'Polizei' strikes fear into my heart like no other (hopefully just a side effect of watching Jason Bourne, and not a sign of things to come.) Anyhow, some might maintain that this trek is still tame; low-level and amongst civilisation. But to them, I'd say that those challenges aren't necessarily greater; they are simply different. Whilst I'm really looking forward to reaching the mountains, I can only hike what's in front of me, and the integrity of this trip is paramount to me. If I failed to place a single step between Bath and Istanbul (or wherever I may end up) with my own two feet, then personally I'd consider this adventure tainted, and well, a failure. Anyway, that was basically an array of random thoughts, but long story short: I'm still loving it! The difficulties in a day make for interesting moments to record and hopefully to read about, but ultimately, every day has its rewards, and to live simply is to live, well, happily:))Leer más

    Ver traducción