Fleeing towards solitude and more snow in the east of Belgium
I try hard to see opportunities and the silver line in losing my job. Early January brought me time and snow and therefore opportunity to enjoy it in a way that was enjoyable for me.
The first week with the fresh snowfall I was at home, didn't need to drive through it and enjoyed some white stuff at home.
The children's agenda and ours was filled on the other hand over the weekend and in other years that would have made me curse out loud as I hate to miss the snow in the east of Belgium. Walking in the deeper snow, taking in the white landscapes and potentially sled with the boys from "our local field slope" are moments to take in and absorb and treasure but they don't come across each year. But we'd miss it this 2nd weekend of the year due to 3 birthday parties the boys would attend.
While the news editions showed the open ski hills in the east of Belgium, Jan and I relaxed at home, solely ensuring both boys got dropped off and picked up where needed. In a way we were also very relieved and happy to miss out on the traffic chaos that such announced snow and open ski hills always trigger in the east. The more tv attention to snow in the east of Belgium, the more we also avoid the popular area's. But it stings to miss out.
But this year I had an opportunity. Why would I need to go to the snow in the east of Belgium in the weekend together with all the tourists, if I had time on my hand on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday. So much time and still very fresh wounds to lick and need to digest emotions and in need of silence. And so I drove up on Monday afternoon just before the temperatures would rise above zero (and that 'just before' might have been a few hours to early).
While Leuven was already mild and green, I drove up east and quickly returned into partially white landscapes that beyond Luik turned fully white and thicker and thicker. Since I was totally on my own and not driving with a big fluffy cat in the car for a change, I decided to stop at the Signal the Botrange to already glance at the boglands in the snow. Without much thought I drove up the parking lot that was filled with a dozen big busses for school groups and a few cars. You could see that the previous weekend tons of cars had driven over the fresh snow, leaving a pressed slippery snow pack. While I got out and had to do my best to not slide out on the ice I noticed other cars being stuck and unable to leave. Damn!!!
I wobbled like a pinguin to the other side of the parking lot to glance at the landscape and catch some gorgeous pictures but I couldn't enjoy too much since I was afraid of the slippery conditions. 40 cm of snow.... so pretty unless you are stuck in it.
The first week with the fresh snowfall I was at home, didn't need to drive through it and enjoyed some white stuff at home.
The children's agenda and ours was filled on the other hand over the weekend and in other years that would have made me curse out loud as I hate to miss the snow in the east of Belgium. Walking in the deeper snow, taking in the white landscapes and potentially sled with the boys from "our local field slope" are moments to take in and absorb and treasure but they don't come across each year. But we'd miss it this 2nd weekend of the year due to 3 birthday parties the boys would attend.
While the news editions showed the open ski hills in the east of Belgium, Jan and I relaxed at home, solely ensuring both boys got dropped off and picked up where needed. In a way we were also very relieved and happy to miss out on the traffic chaos that such announced snow and open ski hills always trigger in the east. The more tv attention to snow in the east of Belgium, the more we also avoid the popular area's. But it stings to miss out.
But this year I had an opportunity. Why would I need to go to the snow in the east of Belgium in the weekend together with all the tourists, if I had time on my hand on Monday/Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday. So much time and still very fresh wounds to lick and need to digest emotions and in need of silence. And so I drove up on Monday afternoon just before the temperatures would rise above zero (and that 'just before' might have been a few hours to early).
While Leuven was already mild and green, I drove up east and quickly returned into partially white landscapes that beyond Luik turned fully white and thicker and thicker. Since I was totally on my own and not driving with a big fluffy cat in the car for a change, I decided to stop at the Signal the Botrange to already glance at the boglands in the snow. Without much thought I drove up the parking lot that was filled with a dozen big busses for school groups and a few cars. You could see that the previous weekend tons of cars had driven over the fresh snow, leaving a pressed slippery snow pack. While I got out and had to do my best to not slide out on the ice I noticed other cars being stuck and unable to leave. Damn!!!
I wobbled like a pinguin to the other side of the parking lot to glance at the landscape and catch some gorgeous pictures but I couldn't enjoy too much since I was afraid of the slippery conditions. 40 cm of snow.... so pretty unless you are stuck in it.
Fortunately, I never drive east in winter without proper winter tires. Unlike the BMW a bit further, I was able to leave without issues and I quickly continued "home".
However homecoming was also a tense push up the shared slippery driveway to strand in front of our neighbours house. In the coming hours I first had to plow myself room to park next to our home. A good workout, that replaced my plans for an extensive winter walk that afternoon.
After having moved multiple square meters snow, I tried to park next to our house and make room for another neighbour that had arrived and had pulled up behind me on the driveway slope. Well... that didn't go smooth at all. Now it was my car spinning all around in vein even when the neighbour helped me. I managed in the end, by first letting myself slide down a bit before pushing upwards again. Phew, I was home. And I had some food because I didn't plan to move that care anywhere anymore in the coming hours before thaw had settled in. My arrival was a little more stressful and slippery than anticipated, but this sure was the winter experience that the east of Belgium can give you.
However homecoming was also a tense push up the shared slippery driveway to strand in front of our neighbours house. In the coming hours I first had to plow myself room to park next to our home. A good workout, that replaced my plans for an extensive winter walk that afternoon.
After having moved multiple square meters snow, I tried to park next to our house and make room for another neighbour that had arrived and had pulled up behind me on the driveway slope. Well... that didn't go smooth at all. Now it was my car spinning all around in vein even when the neighbour helped me. I managed in the end, by first letting myself slide down a bit before pushing upwards again. Phew, I was home. And I had some food because I didn't plan to move that care anywhere anymore in the coming hours before thaw had settled in. My arrival was a little more stressful and slippery than anticipated, but this sure was the winter experience that the east of Belgium can give you.
But sitting inside on my own triggered too many thoughts, so I did a small walk around the village after all before giving my sore muscles a good rest.
The next day the weather had changed considerably. Temperatures were positive and the ice slope of our driveway had changed in a blubbery snow mud.
I took some fresh ice cold air and let the wind blow my thoughts along Robertville lake. It was still slippery to walk at a lot of spots. The challenge was to find unstepped snow rather than previous footsteps that had melted and frozen again.
The solitude and silent white landscape was a nice place to be breath in the silence.
I took some fresh ice cold air and let the wind blow my thoughts along Robertville lake. It was still slippery to walk at a lot of spots. The challenge was to find unstepped snow rather than previous footsteps that had melted and frozen again.
The solitude and silent white landscape was a nice place to be breath in the silence.
Robertville lake partially frozen and snowed over.
Oddly the road up to the village had a zone with loads of snow blown together. Whereas many street parts were melting and snowfree, here I all of a sudden found myself plowing through genuinely deep snow. Very strange. Holy, thank goodness I was wearing my good snow boots. What a work-out. I wanted more snow than the few cms in Leuven the week before? Well I got my deal! No complaints this year that I had missed out on the snow.
With tired & sore leg muscles I prepared to return back to green Leuven and my men after my 40 h of white solitude.
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