W.E. Bowman

On Saturday June 28th the team members had their second get-together in the Ardennes, this time at Hotton, not far from Marche. Eight of twelve members turned up. Four were absent for various reasons: Jordaan, the invisible Geert Stoffelen, Frank ( training for the Marathon in his parents' garden ) and Yannic (no news from him ).

The rocks at Hotton were chosen as meeting place because we had expected to meet people from WTV there, but they were too busy covering the Ypres Rally. Too bad for them...

At 10:15 we gathered all the necessary gear and courage to proceed to the rocks. Hedwig, our Chief Rockclimbing, found a small path leading to the top of the rocks. This magnificently simplified the climbing of the rocks of the Renissart massif. We could now concentrate completely on the real problem: rappeling down the rockface. Indeed, did some famous mountaineer not tell that the problem is not getting on top of the mountain, but of getting back down safely...

Everybody was fitted with helmets, climbing harness, slings, figure-of-eight descender and carabiners. For the beginners Hedwig gave a short course on the technicalities of descending a rock face. A double rope was thrown in the deep, not before it had been tied safely behind the trunk of a cooperative tree.

Hedwig had not yet finished his talk when Christel already disappeared into the void... Nothing was heared from her anymore. That is, not until Omer also gathered all his courage and ventured down the abyss, somewhat slowed by a recalcitrant Prussik rope. He rediscovered Christel alive and well near the bank of the Ourthe river.

As a safety precaution Herlinde had taken up position at the foot of the rockface to talk down people overtaken by nausea. This was the case for Kris who admitted to be afraid of heights, but not when he was looking up.

Some spectacular pictures were taken (eat your heart out WTV...). After this highly succesful descent some team-members got very enthusiastic and even wanted to ascend the rocks. But this was postponed to a later time.

After a quick lunch, the second part of the day could begin: a small hike in the countryside. Omer ( Chief Ardennes ), as ever showing his extensive navigation skills, lead the party first to the wrong side of the Ourthe and subsequently into a pathless undergrowth, before he, with some help from Herman, finally discovered the path again.

Despite this small detour we had time to visit the statue of the 'Vierge de Werpin' (the Virgin of Werpin), where, (as a preparation for the puya ceremony at Himlung basecamp) Herman lighted a candle and Christel changed her T-shirt. It is at present unknown which of these two actions did generate the most good Karma...

We proceeded to the anonymous village of Amonines, where no pub was found. Fortunately, a railway strike was on today. This allowed us to use the small railroad to Erezee as a pathway. In the tiny hamlet of Blier we finally discovered a cafe and had a drink or two. The local mosquitos also fancied our beers.

From Blier we followed the GR path back to Hotton. We seemed to walk faster and faster. Some thought this was because Kris wanted to be in Werchter as early as possible. At 18:30 we were back at the car park in Hotton, were Kris left us, speeding for Werchter...

Dinner was taken in a local restaurant just over the Ourthe in the center of Hotton. Sponsoring and other matters where discussed. Some people will possibly go to Chamonix during the weekend of August 15th. Hedwig also proposed to do indoor-climbing at the Klimax in Breendonk.

We will meet again beginning of August (possibly Sun. August 3)