Grobbendonk

12 May 2015:  One of the challenges of hiking the GR5 through this area (if one does not have camping gear) is to find accommodations on or near the trail.  About half of the places where we have stayed so far have been located a considerable distance off the trail.  Of course, the place where one stays may be well worth the detour.  That was the case, for example, of Valerie & Marc's B&B in Loenhout.  It was a great place to stay (and we look forward to staying with them again some day), but we had to walk about 5 km off the GR5 to get to their place yesterday, and we walked more than 8 km this morning from Loenhout (mostly on paved roads) to connect again with the GR5.

Once we were back on the GR5 today, we enjoyed a pleasant walk through a forest on firm sandy paths.  But the GR5 then followed roads into Grobbendonk (love that name!), and we had to depart again from the GR5 to reach the "Loft aan het Water", a hotel where we are spending the night.  This place is in a distant industrial zone.  We shortened the walk by taking a couple of buses from the center of Grobbendonk, but unfortunately, we got off the second bus two stops before the one closest to this hotel. 

The "Loft aan het Water" is a rather unusual place, especially considering its location in an industrial zone on a very heavily traveled road.  It's tucked away behind showrooms and warehouses (but with a delightful view over the Albert Canal).  The hotel's furniture and accessories are very modern; mood music plays in the room, with background lighting that can be adjusted to one's preference of colors.  One can also arrange for a massage here...  The place strives to create a mood of sensual pleasure that clashes with the industrial setting (although the view from the terrace of the Albert Canal is pleasant).  Mary and I are surely the first GR5 hikers to stay here – and perhaps the first married couple, too!

Here are some of today's highlights:

This house on our route has the family tree, dating back to 1831, painted on the outside wall:

We (especially Mary, having grown up in a rural world) have been interested in these piles of compressed feed that are maintained by the farmers:

Typical scene of farmland in this area:

Hiking along a road, with approaching cyclist:

Mary, with her experienced, expert eye, has been very impressed by the fine form of the performance horses that we saw in this area. 

Between the smell of lilacs and the sight of beautiful horses, Mary was teary-eyed with nostalgia. 

Mary was impressed by this horse exercise machine:

A big, beautiful horse ranch:

We re-joined the GR5 at this spot for lunch:

We enjoyed taking off our boots during the lunch break:

Finally, a dirt path in a forest!

Laundry day:

We have been mildly amazed by the cultivated hedges that many people have in their front gardens.  Here's an example:

Pause for a beer (Belgian specialties, of course) before the final walk to our hotel: 

The Loft aan het Water:

The Loft aan het Water (blue period):

Our terrace:

Barge on the Albert Canal seen from our terrace:

Picnic dinner in our room: