Damn invisible creature Corona makes sure that we walk in Hoegaarden with the 'gang' instead of in the Alps.

Meeting at the Baroque Saint Gorgonius Church. Unfamiliar from a distance, as if we don't know each other. Zigzag through the gardens of Hoegaarden and then inside to the old railway and the Great Gete. Youth memories pounce me here from all sides. The ponds of the sugar factory, a marsh area where we had little adventures as a child.
But I'm walking with Hilde, Michael and others. We cross the street at Altenaken, in the direction of Rommersom. The old railway now cycle path and nature reserve. We find beautiful bushes of the cat thorn in bloom. An old medicinal herb that grout was also called herb. Creeping stalwort (Ononis repens L.) has in Switzerland the 'beautiful' nickname 'Zeichkraut' so bore. This name was given to it because it was fed to the cattle in the hope of promoting the “whine”. The meaning of our word barn herb is also related to this, because stables are an old word for waters. The root is diuretic (urine draining) and a root extract was used against kidney ailments. Also another ancient folk name orine herb refers to urine. This urination effect is already very old, because already known to Dioscorides 2000 years ago.


At the old railway tunnel at Rommersom we turn again towards Hoegaarden. The drawing in the tunnel shows that this sheltered place is still the rendezvous spot, which it was 50 years ago. But enough, we continue to walk to the historic water mill. Here we have a picnic. Remote, oddly cozy. The Alps are far away but my French apricots and the company still give a hint of mountains. Hoegaarden is nearby, just through the alley behind the monastery and the former girls' school. There's another strange, musty smelly, smelly ballote. Beautiful homeweeplant to close this walk.

#hoegaarden #walking #Corona #rommersom

Gang walk in Hoegaarden