My travel was to the Hobos Nature Reserve, which I visited some time ago. The Hobos is a unique small-scale landscape located in Overpelt, with an area of 142 hectares. Since 2023, it has been part of the National Park Bosland.

It was a new place for me, which I discovered through the Google app on my mobile, despite my initial lack of knowledge. I took the opportunity to discover something new. Despite the wet conditions of the previous week, the forest was not too damp. Even the morning sun shone brightly through the green leaves. This is the moment to capture the first images of the day.

After hiking only a short distance of around 100 meters, we were amazed by the beauty of the chestnut trees. A garden filled with beautiful, mature trees, including wild chestnuts scattered throughout the ground. As you can see in the images above, the tree trunk had something fascinating that I had never witnessed before.
The historical significance of this place is palpable.

According to information from Wikipedia, the Lindelse Heide was originally a moorland that underwent reclamation during the late Middle Ages. The still numerous wooded banks are important witnesses of this old reclamation.

When examining the small forest, we observed an abandoned building in the rear. The appearance of the location resembled that of an aged farm.

Details about the building:

An important element in the development of the landscape is the Hobos farm, which was first mentioned in 1524. In the second half of the 18th century, it housed a gin distillery. The Hobos still contains the authentic home of drossaard Jan Clercx, the exterminator of the notorious Bokkenrijders gangs. In 2000, the Hobos area was designated as a protected area by the then Flemish minister, Sauwens. In 2012, the Flemish government purchased the area and incorporated it into Bosland.

I always have a sense of how things were in the past, imagining the The building appears to be in perfect condition, and I observed people producing gin during my visit. This brought a smile to my face.

During my stroll, I came across a special tree in the middle of the grass fields. However, I did not feel positive energy at that location, and my desire was to venture deeper into the forest to discover more. Some pictures of this moment.

The conditions on this side of the forest were more muddy, making it It was not an ideal situation to venture deep into the woods or risk damaging my camera equipment. Instead, I took the opportunity to observe and study specific areas of the forest.  Currently, mushrooms have the potential to produce remarkable results. Every season has its own unique beauty. I appreciate the vibrant green hues alongside the mushrooms.

I did not plan anything for this walk. I navigated through the forest based on my intuition and emotions, despite being unfamiliar with the area.
It is important not to be at the mercy of fate, but instead to take an active role in the creation of one’s own future. Just follow the natural process, there is no need to stress.

Life can be straightforward. Simply live it.