Hike5
We set off today just after 11:15 from the Eupen swimming pool for a long loop through the Eifel. The clocks went back last week, so we knew it would get dark early. Since it was barely 10 degrees, we had put on our thick cardigans. We walked past an old, truly Belgian factory and soon plunged into the woods. Along the way, we found quite a few mushrooms: we got the 'big four' complete with chanterelle, bay bolete, penny bun, and hedgehog mushroom. At the main road between Eupen and the High Fens, we had to watch out for the rushing traffic. Here we also saw the entrance to the Soor tunnel, built between 1951 and 1953 to divert water to the Gileppe reservoir, increasing the total catchment area to 59 square kilometres.
After that, we descended at a rapid pace into the valley of the Gileppe. At a branch of the lake, we saw the little river flowing below; it was pretty dry and grass was already growing on the bottom. As we walked along the forest path, we suddenly heard the beautiful sound of a flock of about fifty cranes flying overhead on their way to Spain. That is truly autumn at its best! Because we walked the route in reverse this time, the turn-offs looked just a bit different and we promptly took a wrong turn. Fortunately, we realised quickly and were able to turn back after a few hundred metres to get back on the right track.
Around ten to four, we sat down at the little restaurant by the dam for a delicious hot chocolate with whipped cream and a waffle with cherries. After that, we had to get moving quickly so as not to lose the light. Just as we stepped outside, it started to rain, so the jackets had to go on. We walked across the dam past the big lion. On a bin, we saw the red-and-white markings of the GR 5; we once walked that in the other direction towards Nice, and now here we were walking towards Eupen in a completely different season. For the last stretch, we had to power through in the pitch dark. Since the torch wasn't working, the light from the phone brought us safely back to the swimming pool. It was a beautiful hike and we had warmed up nicely!
