Leeuwergem

Egg hunt, egg painting and I got even 'traditionally' whipped by my men even though with a single twig. Highest time to learn them both some more about the Czech traditions!
However, no matter how well intentioned, it wasn't to make me younger!


After a lazy day spent at Oma's house and hours driving on the busy Dutch freeway, I was hoping for a dry Easter Monday.
On the other hand the rain shouldn't be any reason for staying at home.




Maarten will find the worst mud and deepest puddles even on a sunny day. I have to admit that today was almost impossible to find a path without any mud.
And it was deep!




After taking a shortcut through the fields, along the ruins of an 18th century windmill, we came across a path leading through the park of the Castle of Leeuwergem.
Entering this surprisingly neglected wooded area brought an unexpected adventure.


Muddy paths, ponds and streams with rusted and decayed bridges, ivy- covered walls, remnants of buildings and old sculpture bases made this place a bit mysterious.
Also the path we followed ended suddenly leading us into a marsh and a narrow stream that we had to cross.



Blackberry vines grew wildly all over this seemingly abandoned beech woods making walking difficult. It didn't take long and we stumbled upon a fire road. At last it seemed we had found our way out of this 'enchanted forest' yet another obstacle awaited us. We were standing in front of a barbed wire fence! It looked like it had been climbed over numerous times.
And so did we even with Maarten and his bicycle!
Shouldn't parents set a good example for their children?!

I believe Maarten didn't even notice there was something extraordinary or even illegal in our today's adventure.


Yet, he still wonders what was that in the murky pond that surfaced with a big splash. Was is an otter, a whale or the trout which swallowed Mister Jeremy Fisher the frog?