In Flanders Fields - historical hike Ypres (22 km) - max 20 pers

On November 11th in Belgium we remember the end of world war I where around 17 miljon people lost their lives. A few days before Armistice Day, we will explore Ypres and the surrounding Flanders Fields.

We start in the historic centre passing the Market Square, Cloth Hall, Menin Gate and Ypres Ramparts before heading into the countryside of the former Ypres Salient with its war cemeteries, memorials and traces of the Great War.

After the hike we will continue our good habit of taking a nice beer/ice cream/snack in a local pub in Ieper and will try to attend the moving Last Post ceremony at the Menin Gate at 20:00 before returning to Brussels.

Please don't forget to pay Maikel a drink :-)

We will walk at an average speed of 5km/h. We will walk both on paved and unpaved roads. I’ve never walked this road before so it’s possible there are some mistakes in the planning.

●●Meeting point
We meet at 08h40 in front of Starbucks in Brussels Central. The train (IC530 - Oostende) leaves from platform 2 at 08h56. We will arrive in Gent at 09h31 on platform 11 where we change train (IC707 – Kortrijk/Poperinge) who leaves at 09h37 from platfom 9. We arrive at our destination Ypres at 10h44 and start our hike.

●● Train tickets
- single ticket Brussels to Ieper (14\,90 € weekend/9\,00 € with train card+)
- single ticket Ieper to Brussels (14\,90 € weekend/9\,00 € with train card+)

●● Train to Brussels
There is a train to Brussels every hours at XX:15 (IC742 Antwerpen) from platform 1. It arrives in Gent-Sint-Pieters at X1:24 on Platform 4 where we change to train (IC2820 – Liège-Guillemins) that leves from platform 10 at X1:41
More info on: https://www.belgiantrain.be

LAST TRAIN = 21h15

●● Specifics
distance: ~ 22 km
elevation gain: ~ 92 m
net walking time (breaks are not included here): ~ 5h00
level: easy – open to evryone

In the unlikely case of too bad weather we may cancel a hike even few hours before the event. If this must happen we will of course update the Meetup website and send out an email to those registered. So it is important to have access to either the Meetup website and/or your emails.

●● What to bring
- comfortable hiking clothes – waterproof hiking shoes
- extra socks to change + compeed for blisters
- water (min 2l) and enough food for the breaks
- sun protection oil\, mosquito/tick repellent\, a hat and sunglasses OR a raincoat
(please consult the weather forecast on www.meteo.be)
- some cash money to pay Maikel a drink ;-)

●● Basic rules
Please RSVP only if you really intend to come. And if your plans change update your RSVP so other people still have the possibility to join. This is basic courtesy towards others. People who cancel at the last day (24h) or don’t show up for the hike will be blacklisted for future hikes. When you are on the waitinglist it means you should not come to the hike. When there is no +1 function it means you can't bring any guests. Everyone should register for him/her self.

●● Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability
By signing up for this event you agree to release the organizers from any responsibility and liability in all claims. As the participation is strictly voluntary and you freely choose to join it is the responsibility of individuals participating to ensure that they are fit enough and have adequate coverage to protect themselves. By joining this event you acknowledge and accept that the organisers cannot be held liable for any accident, injury, illness, loss, damage or other claim arising from participation in this activity.