Tag: photography

Summer hike

My plan for the summer is to do a long hike at least once a week, and since today’s weather promised to be the best of this week, I set out for a nice long walk this morning. I chose the NS walk between Culemborg and Beesd station, with beautiful Dutch scenery.

It was weird to suddenly realize I was walking on the Mariënwaard estate, where almost exactly 15 years ago I broke my back. I think I’m fitter today than before that day, but it has taken me very long.

Two chapels

Today we visited a forest- and a field chapel. In the forest we found the chapel Dekke Tönnis – Fat Tony – for St Anthony. For fear of wildfires from candles the entrance was barred. Even more bars made the statue of the saint impossible to photograph. But it was a good place for a picknick!

After hiking through the beautiful forest we went to the Bruder Klaus Feldkapelle – Brother Klaus Field Chapel – a chapel built in 2007 in a very modern style. Parking is a kilometer from the chapel, so it’s a brief pilgrimage to get there. From the outside, the building looks a bit like a climbing wall. Inside, there is room for two people, it’s a really intimate space with big marbles in the walls that let the light in. It’s beautiful and has a very special feeling.

We were awed by the destruction in Bad Münstereifel, still visible after the floods two years ago, but driving through the Ahr valley, we saw that it was much worse there. It’s unimaginable what happened there. We ended the day with Flammkuchen in Bad Ahrweiler, where the marketplace was restored.

Roman temple

Did a beautiful hike today in the vicinity of Bad Münstereifel. A Roman sanctuary to the matrons – three goddesses – was very special to find. People had left some offerings, like Mexican coins and Dutch pre-Euro coins. They wanted to make a sacrifice but not one that’s actually worth something? What does that mean?

The town of Bad Münstereifel was badly damaged by the 2021 floods, now two years ago. The process of rebuilding is still ongoing, but it’s definitely worth a visit!

Klipspringers

Another favorite: the klipspringer. Mrs. Klipspringer – without the horns – is slightly larger than her husband, and, when we saw them, also decidedly more brave. She had already crossed the road in front of our car when he was still checking us out from a nearby boulder. He decided that we were not safe and darted away – and then she had to go back as well, of course.

Klipspringers feel safe on the rocks, so that’s where you will find them. If you look at their hooves, it’s like they are walking en pointe like a ballet dancer. They are unbelievably quick when they scamper up a rock to get to safety.

Secretary bird

Our favorite bird is the secretary bird. On our recent trip to Pilanesberg, seeing a secretary bird was no. 1 on our wishlist. Our second day in the park gave us a nice sneak preview: a secretary bird far, far away. The next day got better: first we saw a secretary bird flying. Then we saw one in a field but behind a lot of shrubbery. After lunch, we tried again, and we hit the jackpot. Two secretary birds, and we were able to follow them for a while. Walk walk, stamp stamp, munch, walk walk. Beautiful creature!

Back in the Netherlands

I’ve been back a while, but finally the weather gods and employment gods joined up to give me the opportunity to photograph a misty morning on a quiet work-at-home day. So happy! Much better than seeing the fog from the train!