A walk through Heverleebos

The boys didn't feel like going to the east of Belgium for 24 hours while Jan was still abroad. Lately they complain about the long drive and they want to ensure we are there long enough to make it worthwile. I understand the feeling but I also want to spend enough time in the east. And my stay is often my destress moment out in the nature that I long for.


So mid October I made a deal: sure we don't need to go to the east of Belgium but if we don't drive there, you'll join me for a walk in the gorgeous forests we have south of Leuven.  After all we have a natonal park Brabantse Wouden starting within 2 kms of our house and we hardly spend time there.  


I drove to the Heverlee graveyard at the edge of the forest to avoid the popular small parking lots near the trailheads that usually are very full in autumn.  Via the edge of the military domain and business zone we entered Heverlee bos in the Jacht area. 

We zigzagged in the dog off leash area, tried to identify trees (Kabouter now also has the app obsidentify for school so we had to use it lots!) and mushrooms. 

We crossed under the highway E40 and arrived via the big majestic beech alleys that didn't turn in their autumn colours yet to the Arboretum.  Here was more diversity in trees and also some sculptures but also a lot of Pokémon to catch, since our interest after our hike was already significantly reduced. 

Digital natives. 

Back at the cemeteries we saw the preparations for the UCI gravel tour coming by the next day. 

I indulged the beauty of autumn around the graveyards, which I tried to capture but it didn't work out like I wanted.  The Heverlee War cemetery is beautiful in all seasons, but these selected trees that align the graveyard are truly gorgeous in this time of the year. 

 Well that was a morning well spent.