21.12.08

14th December 2008 LAW 5-1

From Kamperland (The Banjaard) to Domburg. A day with mist, clouds and north easterly winds.
I met up with Frans Spronk and at 11.00 we let the winds help us. Nature has beautified the dike connecting Noord-Beveland with the peninsula Walcheren. We walked the dunes, the desolate beach and the dune forest near the village of Oostkapelle. A bit of sun would have made this a perfect hike. Fortunatly rain was not on the menu today and we had a lot to talk about.
We ended the walk with steaming hot coffee in one of the few restaurants which dare to open in wintertime.
Partially due to the weather I took no pictures.

Distance 16 km. Personal rating: ****

15.12.08

. Around nature reserve Braakman.


It was Bitterly cold when the wind blew the 2 degree Celsius air outside the Chrysler which I parked at the east side of the creek. I found the familiar red/white markings all around me. They looked to me as to prevent hikers from getting on forbidden land. The few sun rays which at noon had soon disappeared. We crossed the dike and followed the muddy path.

The dog and I appeared to be the only creatures daring to get out. After app. 1,5 km we were on the tarmac again and followed the dike which in 1952 made the Braakman creek a lonely widow. Staatsbosbeheer, the land owner is landscaping the area for some years now. But from what can be seen it looks promising.
We took a short cut through the forest at the western side of the lake. The pleasure was short. The remaining 4 km was tarmac again until we reached the car. It was good to be protected from the elements.



Trip rating: *** Distance: app. 12 km. Flat

22.4.08

Galles, 13th April 2008.

Galles is a town in Spain's Valencia province and from here a road leads via the Puento alto to Fuente de Jorcola which is the starting point of a 4 hour trek. My hat was hardly able to prevent the sun rays heating up my head spite of the firm cool breeze. The air temperature was ideal (app. 16 degrees) We followed the road in north-easterly direction after passing a desolate (free) camp site. Lots of birds were singing in the low bush. Only after we arrived at a plateau at 820 meter almond trees provided some shade. At the plateau a abandoned farm house and the yelling of a remote motorcycle were the only signs of human presence. We did not encounter anyone. The views north from the last leg were awesome. After a steep descent down from a waterhole we arrived, still in full sunshine and with great

satisfaction, at our Ford Ka at the Fuente. (no drinking water). As the (Spanish) guidebook said it was an easy trip with a steady rise to the plateau and a steep one down.



Personal rating: ***

Total distance: 14,5 km. Lowest point 490 m. Highest point 860 meters.