A weather forecast of clear skies made Simone and I defy the minus 6 degrees and an early wake up. We took bus line 21 from Zottegem to reach the starting point at the border with Wallony. A few hundred meters of tar road separated us from the woods with its once muddy but now solid frozen paths. A real strain on the ankles, as I experienced a few km further on.
In the forest was silence and apparently it was too cold for a bird’s morning song.
The tall beech stood proud keeping a fair distant from each other. Only the frost on the smaller ones branches made the stems of the elders look less severe The deer kept quiet tool and for several hours we did not see any humans. Breathtaking views on this cold but windless morning were our reward. The clothes we choose for this cold day kept up perfectly warm and at the same time I did not sweat too much. (a bad thing at these low temperature)
After leaving the forest we cam across few houses some residents waving at us from their diner table sipping a cup of coffee.
The path was sometimes badly marked but the beauty of the countryside made up for that. 
Eventually we got to Geraardsbergen and joined the shopping crowd and had a lovely crepe and Oxo to enjoy that fantastic satisfying feel in your body after a well spend day.
Distance: 22 km on mainly non surfaced roads. Total way up: 261 m. Highest point 140 m (start) down to 20 m at Geraardsbergen.
Duration:
Personal rating: ****
