Around the boglands of Sourbrodt

After the big success of our walk in the Fagne de Polleur the day before, the children were easily enthusiastic to go out for another venture.  We went out for a walk in an area we know well but in a slightly different loop. Since this winter the town of Waimes and Malmédy have redone all their signed walks.  We often combine some of the woods of Troupa with the nearby boglands of Nesselo but now the walk looped around those boglands starting from the former train station of Sourbrodt where we tend to bike on the Ravel. 

Jan hadn't told the children we were up for a walk 2 to 3 times as long as the one the previous day. 

Leaving the village roads

We left Sourbrodt along the Ravel (and the railbikes) but quickly turned off on some field road that took us into the direction of Troupa. It was still chilly in the morning. 

Discovery - Curiosity

We all enjoyed searching for hidden treasures along the road: mushrooms but also worms in the water or preying birds or ...

Crossing the rivers

Rather quickly we crossed first the Petit Roer and then the Roer river itself, which has its source on the Fagne Walonne near the Botrange and finds its way along the railbike/ Ravel towards Germany (eg Monchau ) to end in Roermond.  The water is still pitch black from the peat water. 

Crossing woods and boglands

From then on we were in the wide open nature of boglands and some woods we know well. And we arrived back at the Roer on the other side of the fields where the children often play. 

Nesselo crossing

The Roer 

Returning to Sourbrodt via the aviation wreck

South of the parking we usually take, we turned back into the fields towards the WWII aviation wreck. There it was time to feed the children some sugar and give them some rest. Then they could continue with renewed energy. 

 The last 1,5 km followed village roads but all in all we had done a 8 km nice walk before lunch. Good start of the day.  Now we could chill at home without guilt.