Midzomeravond Wandeling #el02

Midzomeravond

#EventLog 2

Hellow, fellow Wanderers ✋ This one felt... strange for some reason. And honestly, it took me quite a while to figure out how to put it into words for you guys. Before we get into it, I hope you're enjoying the new layout and vibe of the blog! If you have any suggestions, things you miss in my logs, or something you'd like to know... just ask! But for now... Let's get into Event Log #2! 🥾

Mega wandel marathon #el01

MegaWandelMarathon

#EventLog01

Hellow, fellow Wanderers ✋ I hope everybody is doing well and enjoying the new ideas for the blog and the new layout! If you have any ideas, suggestions, or think something is still missing, please let me know. 💚 Today will be a short but exciting post, because... I FINALLY DID IT! 🎉

New Beginnings

Hellow fellow wanderers ✋ Today is finally the day. I’m putting into words what I’ve been hinting at for a couple of posts now. Please bear with me because this might feel a little all over the place, but honestly, so is life right now! 😂 First off, I want to apologize for the quietness around here lately.   Balancing a full-time job with hiking hasn't been easy. Finding new, exciting spots can be tough when it feels like you've seen it all locally, and let’s be real, I'm not always in the mood or physically up for a 3+ hour drive just for a walk. But I really am trying my best to stay out there! 🚗💨 But work isn't the only hurdle that's been slowing my momentum.  There’s a lot more going on behind the scenes, both challenging and exciting. Let’s dive in!

The suprising one #tl035

St. Jansberg TravelLog 35

🎙podcast | 📱komoot

A Surprise I Didn’t See Coming 🌿✨ Hello, fellow Wanderers! ✋ I know I’ve been saying for a couple of blogs now that I’ll explain why things have been a bit slow lately and I promise that update will come. I’m just struggling to find the right words. So until then… I’ve got a good one for you. Because OMG. Have you ever had one of those days where you’re like, “Let’s just go, get through it,” and it ends up surprising you in all the best ways? That was this trip for me. That whole morning, I was stuck in that in-between feeling—wanting to go somewhere, but also wanting to do nothing at all. A lot of the trips I’ve saved are quite far away, and I just wasn’t up for that long of a drive. So, Komoot saved me again 😆 and off I went.

Montferland #tl034

Montferland  TravelLog034

Montferland: A Humbling Reminder 🌲✨ Hello, fellow Wanderers! ✋ Today was… humbling. 😅 It actually took me hours to decide where to go.  Lately, nothing has felt particularly inspiring. And please don’t take that the wrong way — it’s not about the places. It’s about my mental state. Sometimes the spark just isn’t there, even when the world around you is beautiful. After a lot of hesitation, I finally chose Montferland. It looked diverse and promising on the app, and luckily it wasn’t too far to drive. And honestly? I’m glad I went.

Reichswald: Sunset walk #tl033

SunSet walk TravelLog033

A Gentle Golden Hour Wander 🌅🌲 Hellow, fellow Wanderers! ✋ Welcome back to another blog post. You know how it goes… it’s Sunday, you’re slowly sipping your coffee, enjoying a moment of calm, and before you know it, an hour has passed and the urge to go outside hits. To move, to wander, to hike. That said, as I’ll explain in another post today, I wasn’t feeling my best. So this time, I deliberately chose something easy and serene—nothing too challenging for my body. And what better moment to head out than the end of the afternoon, when the light softens and golden hour paints everything in warm tones? 🌅

New Adventure; the beginning #tl32

GR05 - the beginning  #TravelLog 32 - GR05 NL to BE

The First Steps of a Long Journey: GR5 (E2) 🌊🥾 Hello, fellow Wanderers! ✋ After venturing outside the Netherlands for my last few hikes, I decided this time to stay a little closer to home. While searching for a new adventure, I came across a long-distance trail called the GR5, also known as the E2 European walking route. The idea behind this trail is simple but ambitious: walk from the North Sea all the way to the Mediterranean Sea. 🌍 In total, the GR5 stretches for roughly 1,600 kilometers, winding its way through the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France. Quite the journey! Now, I’ll be honest—as always, I wasn’t overly excited about the Dutch section of the trail. Especially after hiking in Germany and neighboring countries, the landscapes here can feel a bit… underwhelming in comparison. Still, if I’m going to attempt such a legendary route, it only feels right to start at the very beginning. Starting Where It All Begins 🌊 So, off to the start we went. Officially, the GR5 begins in the small coastal town of Hoek van Holland, but I decided to add an extra 2.5 kilometers. After all, if the goal is to hike from sea to sea, then we start at the sea. And what a phenomenal start it was. Standing on the beach, listening to the waves, I felt small and insignificant in the best possible way. The vastness of the sea always calms me—it grounds me. Honestly, I would love for every hike to begin this way. After taking my time at the beach, it was time to head inland and truly begin this new journey. And if I’m being honest… this part didn’t impress me much. The weather certainly didn’t help; heavy fog limited the views and made everything feel a bit muted. The trail does its best to guide you through parks and green spaces, but overall, it’s not a section I feel eager to repeat. Practical Realities 🚶‍♀️🚆 Another challenge with this part of the trail is the limited public transportation. For now, that means I can only walk about 10 kilometers before needing to turn back and return to my starting point. Hopefully, later sections will offer better options, allowing me to hike 15–20 kilometer stretches and use public transport to get back to my car. Time will tell. Despite the modest start, I’m genuinely excited about what this trail might bring in the future. This was only the first step of a very long journey—and every journey has to start somewhere. Until next time—happy wandering! 👋✨

Quick Stats: 🏳 🇵 hoek van Holland 📅01-10-2025 🗒 16.8 km ⏲4u49m 👣27026 steps ᨒ 33 m ⛿ 4.0 km/u ♡ 130 bpm technical 👟_ _ _ _ (1/5) experience 🎒_ _ _ _ (1/5)

-

Müllerthal Trail #tl031

Müllerthal Trail TravelLog 031

A Trail Worth the Courage 🌿🪨 Hello, fellow Wanderers! ✋ I was so excited for this trip. I had researched it beforehand, and the photos looked absolutely stunning. Ever since a food representative once told me about this trail, it had been sitting on my wish list. After driving to Reichswald, gaining more confidence driving in Germany, and putting in some serious gym training, I finally found the courage to take on this longer journey. And wow… it did not disappoint. Finding parking took me a moment—only to discover there’s a massive parking lot right on the trail 😅. Even better (and honestly not unimportant): the hike starts next to a public restroom 🙌. A small detail, but a very welcome one! A Magical Start 🌉✨ The beginning of the trail is absolutely amazing. A charming wooden bridge carries you over a river and straight into the adventure. Almost immediately, you’re greeted by towering rock walls, thickly overgrown with plants. It feels mysterious, quiet, and slightly otherworldly. There’s some elevation early on, mostly via rocky and natural staircases that wind between these massive stones. Walking there made me feel incredibly small—yet at the same time powerful and adventurous. The trail is diverse, playful, and full of character, and I was completely in my element. Forest Miles and a Hidden Treasure 💧💙 After that magical start, the trail settles into a long stretch of forest. Pleasant, but for several kilometers it wasn’t particularly spectacular. And then—just when I wasn’t expecting it—it happened. A small, almost hidden wooden staircase leads downward. Take it. I nearly walked past it, but going down those steps turned out to be the best decision of the entire hike. OMG. Overgrown rocks drip water into the clearest blue pool I have ever seen. It was breathtaking. Even now, months later as I’m writing this, I can honestly say I would drive the entire way again just for that spot. Absolute magic.  A Beautiful Bridge… and the Crowds 😅 As the trail slowly turns back toward the end, I came across another beautiful location: an old, round stone bridge. Its reflection in the water makes it look like a perfect circle—truly stunning. Unfortunately, it was very busy. There were so many people that taking photos was nearly impossible, and that frustration made me pick up my pace and keep moving. Final Thoughts 🌲 ➕ Diverse trail ➕ Beautiful scenery ➕ Easy parking & restroom access ➖ Very crowded in places ➖ Not many rest spots along the way If you’ve ever been to Müllerthal, I’d love to hear about your experience! Until next time—happy wandering! 👋✨

Quick Stats: 🏳  Möllerdall 7681 Müllerthal Waldbillig 📅22-09-2025 🗒 12.44 km ⏲4u13m 👣19556 steps ᨒ 304 m ⛿ 4.2 km/u ♡ 154 bpm technical 👟👟👟 (3/5) experience 🎒🎒🎒 (3/5)