Heezerven

After the long hike of yesterday, today we wanted to walk a short distance so we picked a cache of about 4 Km, the cache GCZY5K-Heezerven.

At the start of the cache the bears could run free for a while, later on they had to be kept on the leash. So here you can see them running free.

Although the temperature tells us differently it is actually autumn, and we could spot some beautiful mushrooms already.

With all the information found along the trip we calculated the end location and we found the ammo box at 15:20.

Then some time left for visiting a couple of the week-caches in this area, the first cache GC1EYNF-Week 32: het bruggetje over de Rielloop, near a small bridge.

The box we discovered at 16:00.


Then the next was the cache GC1A9HK-Week 12: de Donck is meer dan een theater, a small container found at 16:35.

Then some caches inside a small village, the first cache GC1CM5M-Week 22: het kleine kerkje van Someren where we found a nano at 16:45.

And last but not least the cache GC1H67Z-Week 42: op verzoek – de Lambertuskerk that we logged at 16:50.

WWW 5: de Schat van Rohan

The cache we did today (GCW7QN-WWW 5: de Schat van Rohan) was already on our wish list for a long time, but the distance was holding us back.

Today was the day, after the hikes we did in France in the mountains we thought that hiking a long distance (>20 Km) on relatively flat area wouldn't be a problem.

It is autumn but looking at the weather you wouldn't say that it is. So we brought enough to drink with us. But then we ran into a lake with nice fresh water.

Although the next lake was almost dried out completely.

What great views we experienced during this long hike.

We encountered an ancient place where they kept the ice in the winter, in times that freezers didn't exist yet, this is on the premises of a castle that we passed by.

And here we are progressing towards the end of the walk. But still a long way to go.

And again we ran into a lake with lovely fresh water for the boys to enjoy themselves.

At one point we had to wait a while for a sheep herd to pass.

The shepherd and his border collies drove the sheep passed us and we could continue with our trip.

We could log the cache at 18:45.

We passed by the location of the earth-cache GC1DZA0-'t Rond Venneke, so we took the opportunity to make the needed pictures and gather the information at the spot.
We needed to take a picture with the small lake in the back.

And one with the tree on the back.

At the end we walked 22 Km and did this in 6 hours.
Time to go home and sit with our feet up.

WWW 1: de Lieropse Heide

The cache plans for today was to bring a visit to the "Lieropse Heide" a marsh area not to far from home.

In this area we cached before but then we couldn't search for the cache GC1DJ72-Week 27: vogeltje gezien, cachje gelogd because to many bikers were there. It is hidden at a shack at a protected lake area, where a lot of bird-watchers come to view the birds at the lake. Today only one watcher that entered the shack just before our arrival so we could search for the canister safely.

We logged it at 14:30 and the dogs got some water. They didn't like the fact that they weren't allowed to enter the lake themselves.

Then we continued with the multi-cache GCQ122-WWW 1: de Lieropse Heide also in this area.

The weather was hot, almost too hot. But with the water we brought with us we managed to go on.

At the stash location we first couldn't find the box, but when we read the hint we discovered that one of the bears was laying on top of the cache. So the find was there and we could log at 16:10.

France-Pierre Percée

The last stop in France was in the Pierre Percée area. We relaxed a couple of days, groomed the dogs and played in the river that we camped by.
Today is was time to drive home again, but not before finding a couple of caches near the lake, the first GC1DR58-Le Barrage de Pierre Percée

First we weren't sure whether we were allowed to enter the dam, but then we noticed a walk route sign and an entry point.

Arrived at the other site we discovered the cache box and logged it at 10:55.

It was a little bit foggy at first so therefor the sight from the cache site on the Dam was like this.

The second and last cache in France during this short holiday
GCYHBC-Le Secret De La Pierre Percée
It brought us to ruins of an ancient castle.

It was located on cliffs nearby the lake.

Although the fog disappeared it was a still a little bit cloudy, but nevertheless the view was very nice.

We were the only ones visiting the ruins at that moment.

We found the stash and logged it at 11:25

Time to start the journey home.

France: Xonrupt-Lac du Longemer

On Sunday we continued with our tour around the Vosges mountains and our destination was Xonrupt to camp at the Lac du Longemer.
Outside the camping site a hike started that lead to a beautiful panorama view where also the cache GC1CFAR-VIEUX CHEVAUX was hidden.

It was quite a hike upwards, we had to conquer different type of terrain, and paths with loosely rocks. Not easy to walk on.

But we managed to reach the top.

And after we had to wait for other hikers to leave we could search the cache-box.
We wrote our entry in the logbook at 15:45.

Here you can see me write the log.

What a beautiful sight from up here.

The hike downwards was also though considering the steepness.

At one point I even fell on my bottom and ruined the GPS. A big scratch is now present on the screen oops....

The loose rocks were hard to climb up but even worse to climb downwards.

But we managed to reach the bottom of the hill again, to rest at the camping site that was very close by.
On Monday we made a hike around the lake. It was a hike of about 7 Km, but we didn't need to climb a lot so that was welcoming after the hike of yesterday.

We passed by the cache GC1QQB4-Le brochet de Charlemagne where we searched for a while because the hint (rocks) wasn't very helpful with all the rocks over there.

But we were able to found it at 13:00.

Then we passed by the start of the short multi-cache GC1RR45-L'ermite Bilon, the first way-point was at a lovely chapel.

At one point the bears could swim in the lake, which they always enjoy doing.

And we found the stash at 14:00.