Fallen tree walk in the east of Belgium

Mid august a devastating fire caught the high Fenns that had been dried out after months of draught.  On the 5th day of the fire Belgium finally switched to whimsical weather with regular showers. On August 18th, those first showers reached the east of Belgium but with an incredible force of wind (which wasn't helping the fire fighting at all). 

One short storm had locally an incredibly force of wind. We watched our own tree in the garden shaking with great force.  A few towns further a local tornado has ravaged a house. 

The next day I motivated the boys to join me on a local walk. We took a trail that most of the time is known to be incredibly muddy but after this dry summer, even with the few heavy showers of the recent years, it was still as dry as it can be.  Shocking.  

The non-muddy stretch

Halfway our path was blocked by fallen trees.  The big storm of the night before had killed quite a few trees in the area and now we also had the challenge to squeeze and climb ourselves through the branches. For a moment I feared we'd not be able to do it or that from that point on we'd find ourself in a huge obstacle race.  But we managed alright. 

A bit further we were back in grassy lands  and then we cut through to walk the last stretch along Lake Robertville.  Further down the lake we could spot the local farmers filling their watertanks on one side and the Civil Protection services pumping up, all to support the fire fighting a few kilometers further.  

The Civil Protection services having set-up water pumping services on one side of the lake to fight the fire.