Testelt to Aarschot (21km)

A late posting but for those who are still free on Monday let's go for a hike from Testelt to Aarschot (~21km, 160m elevation). We will return to the wetlands in the north-east of Vlaams-Brabant, not too far from Brussels, and explore an area we didn't visit for some time. At the end, we will hopefully find somewhere for an (optional) drink in Aarschot before taking the train back to Brussels.

The weather forecast is sunny and 14C, but prepared for a shower just in case. The path may be muddy and slippery in places so wear good shoes, preferably walking boots.
We will walk at an average speed of 5km/h. This is quite fast. We will walk both on paved and unpaved roads. I’ve never walked this route before, so it’s possible there are some mistakes in the planning.

You can find the GPX track here: https://mapy.com/s/relasemepa (I may still update the route a bit)

Meeting point and train
We will meet outside Starbucks in Brussels Central station at 09:00.
The train T18022 (Bierges-Walibi & Ottignies) leaves from platform 3 at 9:12 (you can also join this train at Brussels Zuid at 9:07 or Brussels Noord at 9:18).
We arrive in Leuven at 9:35 change on to the IC 2608 (Aarschot & Genk), leaving from platform 8 at 9:43. It arrives in Aarschot at 10:06.

Train tickets
- Single Brussels to Testelt, € 8 or € 4.80 with Train+
- Single Aarschot to Brussels, € 6.90 or € 4.20 with Train+
You probably want to buy the Train+ card for the price of € 6 (1 month) or € 48 (12 months). It can be bought in the SNCB/NMBS app or at ticket machines.

Train back to Brussels
There are connections at xx:14 and xx:36 from Aarchot to Brussels, changing in Leuven and taking ~42 minutes to Central station.

Specifics
Distance: ~21 km
Elevation gain: ~160 m
Net walking time: ~5h
Level: Easy

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

What to bring
- lunch - we will not stop at a cafe/restaurant for lunch
- 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, a head and sunglasses OR a raincoat
(please consult the weather forecast on www.meteo.be)
- mosquito/tick repellent
- some money for drinks/snacks/etc

Basic rules
The number of participants is limited, so make sure that you RSVP only if you really intend to come. If your plans change, update your RSVP asap. This is basic courtesy towards others. Last day cancellations, no-shows and Internet warriors are not appreciated.
Only people whose name appears on the main list may come to the hike.

Acknowledgement of member responsibility and release of liability
You are responsible for yourself and should be fit enough if you choose to take part. As participation in this event 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 signing up for this event, you agree to release the organisers from any responsibility and liability.