8 mile round trip ,Margaret 6600 Bastogne, Ligne 163 , bois de la paix, wood of Peace , Belguim,

R
Note from Dad This was a warm day at around 25 , humid , 8 miles aprox .

Start of the Church at Margaret 6600 Bastogne,

small commemorative plaque

most of the roads are called Margaret , so they put a sign up telling where to find the house numbers

off we go !

can you see the flock of birds – they were very noisy !

the electricity line was full of the birds !

we passed a lot of cows !

Evie and me have sun cream on already

Leo also has sun cream on but he does not like it being put on ,

Evie in the woods – this is peace woods

there is lots of woods around here,

a sign telling you about a path !

can you see the wind turbine?

we found a old trailer on the railway

This the railway line looking towards the memorial for 101st airborne divsion

an old bridge – I spent time here while we were having a picnic looking at lizards they were too fast to photograph, they were black in colour

look what hopped onto Leo’s push chair

a green grasshopper
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grasshopper
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=green+grasshopper&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=699&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=0C9hTpvUI8WEOqz01EU&sqi=2&ved=0CDoQsAQ

its on me !

off we go , we saw lots of people on bikes

Leo is sitting up most of the time in the pushchair

after such a long walk Leo is asleep with his sun hat on him !

Ths old station can you see the sunflower ?
next to it is the memorial to the 101st Airborne division we saw last time 
http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/ardennen/bas1.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division
http://www.101airborneww2.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastogne
http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=101+airborne+bastogne&hl=en&biw=1280&bih=699&prmd=ivns&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=uCVhTp2ZCIuhOrWQlJUE&sqi=2&ved=0CDsQsAQ
http://www.lonesentry.com/gi_stories_booklets/101stairborne/
http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/resources/csi/mitchell/mitchell.asp
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/42679138
http://chrishowells.co.uk/?page_id=341

we found a beetle in the grass

Evie held it too !

http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist_attractions_bastogne__bois_de_la_paix__wood_of_peace_/en/V/30243.html

http://www.visitbelgium.com/?page=mustbas

http://paysdebastogne.be/en/Discoveries/battle-of-the-bulge/hades_visite_fiche/the-wood-of-peace/e_1702

http://www.igougo.com/journal-j13706-Bastogne-Bastogne-And_a_Time_to_Remember.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge

Http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=877952&site_id=1#import

he 4,000 trees making up this wood were planted for the 50t

these are some of the solders names who came back

the beetle is still on me !

some of the trees that make up the woods

a rest – this was a long way – we now have just done 6 miles ,

we are running about – still

Evie on road from the peace woods back to Margaret  its about another 2 miles from here 😦

Ligne 164, Bastogne to Wiltz, Belgium to Luxembourg

we crossed from Belgium to Luxembourg , we went through 3 tunnels !

164 Railway was a railway that Bastogne Nord Kautenbach Luxembourg covenant through Benonchamps. The course consists of four tunnels on Luxembourg territory.

The section between North Bastogne  and Benonchamps opened on July 18, 1887, the division up to the border on September 22, 1887. The Luxembourg section was opened two times, section Wiltz – Kautenbach on June 1, 1888 and Section line – Wiltz on July 1, 1888. The operation of the equipment line was done with Luxembourg.

On October 8, 1950 rode the last train from North to Bastogne Benonchamps. On school grounds until 23 September 1967 is still two pairs train from Luxembourg to Bastogne Nord but these have never been mentioned in the timetable. In 1967 this section was closed. 

Benonchamps between Wiltz and the trains as usual by the book until September 23, 1967 although the section was closed in 1965.

Now the line is broken up Wiltz, since she’s still in use until Kautenbach and since 1991, this section also electrified. From North of Bastogne town is now a bike path built. The tunnels are still accessible and enlightened, but even during the summer it can seriously cold in and between the tunnels.

taken from 
http://fietssporen.webs.com/lijn164.htm


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg

http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/

http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/nutshell.html

http://ravel.wallonie.be/opencms/opencms/fr/parcours/Carte_gxnxrale.html?xt=prt

http://cartocit2.wallonie.be/VoiesLentes/flex/index.jsp#=null&BBOX=238439,3925618068-251827,33600436038-73885,56562081956-82021,5193927271

Old station building can you see the platform remains?

the start of our walk was this sign , a long way to go from Paris to Moscow !!!!!!!!!!!!!
our walk was based on
http://www.velo-ravel.be/fiches/bastogne.pdf

the old railway track is great !

we came across a old goods yard
note from dad : used for the old border

some old cottages !

the first tunnel

Leo is very happy !

hmm I wonder what this was for – we find out later by using GPS and seeing where we are !

The path turned from concrete to asphalt

can you see the lights ? so we can see our way !

the tunnel is cool,
note from Dad : in the PDF file in French is mentioned to be aware of the wind and temperature’s found in the tunnel

out the other side

this sign is in french and mum says – reduced light !

name of the tunnel -Tussen Tunnels there are three of them ! but we couldn’t go too far today !

another tunnel, Evie feels the cold wind !

can you see the ferns growing in the light ?

looking back at the tunnel !

me and Evie

Leo is looking at mum

racing into the next tunnel !

in the middle of the tunnel

into the next tunnel

going back !

Evie is looking for bugs and leaves !

Leo is  happy and awake 🙂

can you see the bug – Evie spotted it ,Its on a nettle so we could not pick it up !!

Dad climbed this !

These are old tool marks when they were making the tunnels

start of  stalactites
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stalagtite

Leo is still happy and awake

Old station building – this is in Luxembourg

This is a old station

we found a old mine tunnel ! -it had around 12 inches of water in it so we couldn’t go in it

another time with equipment !

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

can you see the tunnel ?

running down the hill from the mine

This is the border !

can you see the border ? I am in Luxembourg and Belgium, Evie is in Belgium,
the concrete paths are Belgium and the tarmac is Luxembourg . – its a long name !
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Luxembourg
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&sugexp=bvie&cp=4&gs_id=5c&xhr=t&q=luxembourg&pq=101+airborne+bastogne&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1280&bih=699&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x479545b9ca212147:0x64db60f602d392ef,Luxembourg&gl=uk&ei=QShhTqPNEYPpOYaO1TQ&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=4&sqi=2&ved=0CEsQ8gEwAw
http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/nutshell.html
http://www.luxembourg.co.uk/

Leo fell asleep

a gas main !

The sign warns of cars in German and French !

back to where we started !

It was great being able to stand between the two countries
I did this once before
http://jakeofwinterhill.blogspot.com/2011/04/belgium-in-middle-of-netherlands-baarle.html

Remembering Granddad who died ,28th August 2008,

We visited this church in Bastogne, so that we could say a prayer, light a candle and remember my Granddad.

Saint Peter’s church carries the markings of different eras. The first altar, the remarkable baptismal fonts made from chalk from the river Meuse and the massive tower are products of Roman art. The other parts of the building can be identified with the flourishing Gothic period. Saint Peter’s church is worthy of note for its admirable multicolored ceiling rafters, which is presumed to have been painted by a local artist in 1536.
The church was restored on many occasions, notably after the 1940-1945 war. Another point to note is that the building has a very beautiful “crown of light” (16th century) and an impressive pulpit, work of Jean-Georges Scholtus, born in Bastogne, who was the greatest sculptor of Luxembourg in the 18th century.

taken from
http://www.si-bastogne.be/index.php?lg=fpdb/sibasten&page1=b-visites.htm&page2=b-e-patrel.htm&rep=b-visites


http://www.panoramio.com/photo/41223820
http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist_attractions_bastogne__church_of_saint_pierre/en/V/17377.html
http://en.ardennes-etape.com/holiday-ardennes-Chapel-Church-Cathedral-172/L’Eglise-Saint-Pierre-de-Bastogne-1959.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Bastogne_JPG00.jpg
http://www.panoramio.com/photo/26840641
http://www.planetware.com/bastogne/saint-pierre-b-lux-stpir.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bastogne
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/2710939/bastogne_your_vacation_headquarter.html

this is a beautiful stained glass window

inside the church it is nice and peaceful

a statue of Mary holding baby Jesus

An elaborate pulpit designed by Georges Scholtus – see above

A shrine to Our Lady of Lourdes

We lit the candles here in the shrine for Granddad.

Leo is enjoying looking at the candles.

The ceiling is painted beautifully and is amazing this has survived almost 500 years!

This blog post was about remembering my Granddad who I miss very much, I loved his lovely smile and he was such a happy person.
William Nigel Minion  born 24/04/1944 born in Bolton
passed away peacefully at home on the  28th August 2008

Margaret 6600 Bastogne, bois de la paix, wood of Peace , Belguim,

This is the village we are staying in , its called  Magaret near Bastogne,

http://www.paysdebastogne.be/en/discoveries/battle-of-the-bulge/hades_visite_fiche/the-village-of-mageret-during-the-battle-of-the-ardennes/e_1750
http://www.bastogne.be/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panzer_Lehr_Division
http://www.final-round.com/resources/index.php?pageid=101
http://www.bastogne.be/commune/ville-villages/villages/mageret/

Team Cherry at Mageret
While the main force is under pressure in Longvilly forward elements of Team Cherry engage Mageret to reopen the road to Bastogne. But the road leading into the village is soon blocked by the wrecks of a destroyed Sherman tank and two half tracks (the Sherman was heading the column and shot down by a German PAK that had just been set up). At about 1500 a small patrol consisting of 18 infantrymen, two medium tanks and a 105mm. assault gun are sent out against the village, moving cross country north of the road. Although one of the Sherman tanks gets stuck in the bad terrain, draws fire and has to return to the column, the rest of the patrol is able to move on. They enter the northeast part of the village but although they can make out some German tanks and infantry they are in no strength to engage the enemy.

Another group of 40 men accompanied by a section of medium tanks is sent against the southern part of Mageret but as the tanks have difficulties with the rough terrain south of the road no real progress is made. The infantry consists of stragglers from Longvilly and is reluctant to move without the accompanying tanks.

The scattered remains of Team Cherry manage to conquer three houses at the northeastern edge of Mageret where they are stuck. Suffering more and more losses to the German attackers, they are finally (at 0030, 20th December) released to withdraw towards Bizory. Under the covering fire of the paratroopers they manage to make their way to Foy and finally to Bastogne.

taken from http://www.final-round.com/resources/index.php?pageid=101

Barn as part of the building , people lived on one side of the house

This is the front of the same house ,

This is a Sherman tank turret ,

the back of the turret

http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page135.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M4_Sherman
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lend-Lease_Sherman_tanks

the church had to be rebuilt after the battle

can you see the old tractors ?

old school building

one of  the buidings shows battle scars ?

looking at old bullet holes

this shows another old

This is where we are staying

http://www.a-gites.com/annonce-22805.html

It is full of wood and lots of interesting old objects

This is the view from my room !

Leo’s Cot

Leo was very tired after his trip !

we walked to the peace woods,

 

taken from
http://images.opt.be/images/elto/30243_30243boisdelapaix.gif

The Wood of Peace is laid out to recreate the UNICEF emblem: a mother and child, symbol of human tenderness. This design is only visible from the air

http://www.opt.be/informations/tourist_attractions_bastogne__bois_de_la_paix__wood_of_peace_/en/V/30243.html

http://www.visitbelgium.com/?page=mustbas

http://paysdebastogne.be/en/Discoveries/battle-of-the-bulge/hades_visite_fiche/the-wood-of-peace/e_1702

http://www.igougo.com/journal-j13706-Bastogne-Bastogne-And_a_Time_to_Remember.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Bulge

http://bbs.keyhole.com/ubb/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=877952&site_id=1#import

The 4,000 trees making up this wood were planted for the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge. They were dedicated to the American veterans who fought in the Ardennes, Belgian combatants and all the civilians and military who died in the winter of 1944-45. Every veteran who returned to Bastogne in 1994 chose a tree, which will always bear his name. The Wood of Peace is laid out to recreate the UNICEF emblem: a mother and child, symbol of human tenderness. This design is only visible from the air. The trees on the site are mostly service trees, birches, beech trees and oaks.

these are some of the people whose names are next to the trees

some of the divisions who are commemorated in this wood
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/101st_Airborne_Division
http://www.cgsc.edu/carl/resources/csi/mitchell/mitchell.asp

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/82nd_Airborne_Division

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Bastogne
http://users.skynet.be/jeeper/page135.html

http://www.youtube.com/get_player

some of the civilian groups involved

note from dad :apologies to people we missed but there are over 4000 trees and a lot of name plates,

Netherlands to Belgium , via Antwerp and Liege

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_route_E25

European route E 25 is a north-south European route from Hoek van Holland in the Netherlands to Palermo in Italy which includes ferry crossings from Genoa to Bastia (Corsica), from Bonifacio to Porto Torres (Sardinia) and from Cagliari to Palermo (Sicily).
It passes through the following cities: Hoek van Holland – Rotterdam – Utrecht – Eindhoven – Maastricht – Liège – Bastogne – Arlon – Luxembourg – Metz – Saint-Avold – Strasbourg – Mulhouse – Basel – Olten – Berne – Lausanne – Geneva – Mont Blanc Tunnel – Aosta – Ivrea – Vercelli – Alessandria – Genoa … Bastia – Porto Vecchio – Bonifacio … Porto Torres – Sassari – Cagliari … Palermo.

our route ! we used this from Liege to Bastogne,

we are into Belgium
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belgium
http://www.belgium.be/
http://maps.google.be/maps?hl=nl&q=belgium&gs_upl=1065335l1071691l3l1073375l7l7l0l1l1l0l726l3001l2-1.1.1.2.1l6l0&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1020&bih=662&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47c17d64edf39797:0x47ebf2b439e60ff2,Belgi%C3%AB&gl=be&ei=PV9dTreCLsudOvfVrd8C&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=5&ved=0CFAQ8gEwBA

in the middle of the motorway was a railway line !

cranes for unloading goods at Antwerp / Antwerpen

This is a oil pipeline

we are going to Liege ,
note from Dad  this is Luik in Flemish ! name changes are common where different languages are involved !
http://www.antwerpen.be/
http://maps.google.be/maps?pq=belgium&hl=nl&cp=3&gs_id=2s&xhr=t&q=antwerpen&gs_upl=&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1020&bih=626&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x47c3f68ebfc3887d:0x3eaf448482a88ab8,Antwerpen&gl=be&ei=YmBdTrmHBcOfOqLH5c4C&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=8&sqi=2&ved=0CFUQ8gEwBw
http://www.belgie-toerisme.be/contenus/luik/nl/404155.html#menu?cm_mmc=google-_-Villes+Wallonie+search-_-LIEGE-_-luik
http://www.liege.be/tourisme-nl
http://www.liege.be/

we passed a lot of wind turbines

The name changes to Liege in the French speaking part of Belgium

we will put a video of the road tunnel in Liege later, Dad says the Internet bandwidth wont allow it to be uploaded.

War Memorials and Tanks in Belgium

Mardassone war memorial at Bastogne.

Sherman tank at Bastogne.

SAS Belgian memorial at Hotton.

The German advance was stopped here, the River Meuse, Hotton.

Archillies tank destroyer in La Roche.

Sherman tank in La Roche.