Zichem to Diest (22km)

The weather forecast for Sunday has improved so I propose a hike from Zichem to Diest (~22km, 200m elevation), in the far north-eastern corner of Flemish-Brabant. We will see marshland, forest, the abbey of Averbode and lots of autumn colours. We will probably finish with an (optional) drink in Diest before we head back home.

Please note that summer time ends at 2am on Sunday morning, so you can enjoy an extra hour in bed before the hike.

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.
The weather forecast looks OK but there could be showers, so bring a rain coat. The path may be muddy in places.
You can find the GPX track here: https://mapy.com/s/pehasojohe

Meeting point and train
We meet at 08h45 in front of the Starbucks in Brussels Central.
The train IC 507 (Welkenraedt) leaves from platform 3 at 09:01 (you can also join this train at Brussel Zuid 8:56, Brussel Noord 9:07).
It arrives at 9:25 in Leuven.
We will change on to the IC 2608 (Hasselt) from platform 8 at 9:42, arriving at 10:08 in Zichem
Train tickets
- Single Brussels to Zichem € 8.30 or € 5.00 with Train+ discount card
- Single Diest to Brussels € 8.90 or € 5,30 with Train+ discount card
You probably want to buy the Train+ card for introductory price of € 3 (1 month) or € 24 (12 months).
Train back to Brussels
There are trains from Diest to Brussels every hour at xx:44, changing in Leuven and taking 1h11; and also at xx:57, changing in Antwerpen-Berchem taking 1h31.
Specifics
Distance: ~ 22 km
Elevation gain: ~ 200 m
Net walking time: ~ 5h
Level: Fairly 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.