Belgium - Ardennes - Set 2

April 27-May 1: We joined the Timmermans clan in La Boverie where five cabins had been rented for one week. Some of the family had already been there for a few days. We arrived just in time for dinner.

Four out of six of Case's siblings were there: Janet, Sita, Judith & Matthijs. Some of their children and grandchildren were also there.

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April 28 - Hiked Barrage de Nisramont Loop with Judith and her family.

Stats: 15.7 km / 603m gain / 11:00am - 4:45pm

No this is not a snake. It's a worm.

Stitchwort Drooping Catchfly

Pyramid Bugle

Judith with her two daughters, Suzanne & Marieke, my two daughters + Stein, our nephew.

Marsh Marigold

Yellow Archangel

In the evenings my daughters would wander over to Janet's cabin and socialize while I stayed horizontal in our cabin (my spine) with Tom who was fast asleep.

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April 29 - We visited the quaint village of Durbuy.

It's hard to believe that this castle is privately owned.

Notice the Blue Heron patiently waiting in the tall grass.

Yum! A true Belgium waffle!

In the afternoon the clan went canoeing 8 km down river while I babysat Tom so Jeanette could go.

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April 30 - We visited the nearby Castle in La Roche de Ardenne

First we checked out this Saint Nicolas Cathedral.

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Le Chateau Feodal in La Roche-en-Ardenne

It was very kind of the young man when he helped Jeanette get Tom and the stroller up the steep slope. After talking to them we learned he was the father of five sons while Jeanette has four.

These ruins date back to the 14th century when the town was surrounded by a wall and towers.

At the highest point in the castle ruins.

Hmmm. Which one? We all gave each other a bite. Well, except for Chelsey.

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In the afternoon we did another hike: The Escapardenne Eislek Trail: 4.6 km from 3:30-6:45pm.

Wild Garlic

Germander Speedwell Wintercress

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May 1 - We drove back to Meerkerk which is in the Netherlands Set 1 blog.

A tight squeeze. Its a good thing I swapped my big suitcase for Willem's brother's little black one on the bottom. Or was it? I didn't want to risk getting my passport wet while hiking so I had tucked it under my clothes in the bottom of the suitcase. Once back in Meerkerk, I transferred everything back to my big suitcase. Or did I? When we got to the airport I realized I didn't have my passport! But I had my Nexus and used it to check in our luggage, check our items through security and then I got stopped at the final booth we had to walk through to scan our passports. Renee & Chelsey had already gone through. I was rather rudely told they don't take Nexus and I had to go back. I could feel my blood pressure starting to rise.

I talked to a man who was controlling the lines of people. He took me to a booth where two officials listened to my story. I said I was quite sure it was still in that black suitcase but not 100% sure. They solemnly said they would not let me on the plane with my Nexus. I was starting to feel frantic. I told them Nexus was the top of the line in regards to security and personal ID, having to get your retinas and fingerprints photographed. When the man told me I'd have to go to the Dutch embassy and they weren't open till Monday (it was Saturday), I broke down crying, saying how I'd lost my husband just a few months ago and couldn't handle this right now. That's when my phone rang.

Renee had called Willem and said we needed the passport immediately. Yes, Henri found the black passport in the black suitcase. He jumped on his motorcycle and raced to Schipol (in the Netherlands you're allowed to weave in & out of traffic with a motorcycle). He made it in record time. That and the fact that the flight got delayed for 45 minutes, saved me from not boarding the plane with my daughters. Phew. Thank you Lord.

We did a quick stop at the nearby church.