A walk around Mullem

Since I moved to Leuven about 20 years ago, my old friendships in East-Flanders where I grew up and studied suffered.  It's hard to meet up regularly so we truly hardly see each other.  One of my university friends invited us over for a walk and a dinner in an attempt to mix several of her friend groups/ connections and get them together.  Since I've not seen her in ages, I said yes. 

I met up with some of her friends I didn't know yet and we went out for a lovely walk in and around of Mullem (Oudenaarde). Even though I grew up in the area , I had never been in Mullem. What a cute pitoresque little village that is! Very very nice.  The village buildings are all painted in yellow (to mark their link to the Castle Ast and the nobility who owned it??) and the village square looks as if time stood still. 

My friend had found a walk which she shortened a bit on my behalf. She and her friends are very active walkers...while I consider myself as a regular walker, I really don't do their distances and pace so I felt a bit embarrassed they had to adjust and tail down for me. But I appreciate it, so it was still an enjoyable experience for me. 

In Wannegem the tranquility was gone a bit when we shared the road with a nearby rally going on. The valley slopes gave us the "joy" of the incredibly noisy cars pulling up at speed. Ugh, how can people enjoy this at all? I thought it was aweful. 

The mill of Wannegem

With extensive views on my hometowns of Deinze and Gent, we returned via Huisem back to our starting point. 

Extensive views at Gent (and Deinze, not on the picture)

We passed the Huisekoutermolen that got destroyed by a big storm in July. 

Kasteel den Ast

We treated ourselves to a nice drink in the local pub after the walk, after which we returned to my friend's house where more friends joined for dinner.  A very nice gathering!