April 27, 2026

 Monday. Left around 10:15. Blacksmith. Cool under a thin cloud cover, with light winds out of the northeast. A national holiday, so around the towns and their festivities. Berenkuil to the crossing before Zeist. Bos en Duin and around Den Dolder to the trail along the train tracks. Very quiet everywhere. Across the tracks and into the woods (more quiet), then Wieksloterweg and the concrete trail back to the main train tracks running toward Amersfoort. Before Amersfoort left into the woods, coming out at the Korte Duinen. Lots of logs piled up; it's not nature, it's a managed landscape. More people there. Right toward Amersfoort, then left toward the Hilhorstweg. Thick grass and some wildflowers alongside, together with the suddenly wide views. Tempting there just to go and go. Instead a left and across the Eng. Then left toward Wieksloterweg to avoid a fair on the Julianalaan. Wieksloterweg, Embranchementsweg, Maartensdijk (nothing), and the trail through the fields with the Dom up ahead. Along the last section of the trail, the willows have been cut down all the way to the ground. They'll probably be back before summer's end.