Sep 27
4x4 Adventure in the Flemish Ardennes
2004 at 04.35 am posted by Veerle
Since I began our visual journey of Belgium you’ve seen Knokke and Ghent. Time to move on to other nice places in my country. Yesterday our Toyota dealer (De Prins, Machelen Zulte) set up up a 4x4 event that explores the Flemish Ardennes. 60 Toyota jeeps joined the adventure. Our RAV 4 took us to gorgeous places that are otherwise off-limits. Not that we destroyed nature or so, all off road trips were on paths that are being used by farmers to reach their fields. My responsibilities as a co-pilot were to give directions from the road book. A challenge for me since I sometimes have trouble with left and right (I’m both left and right handed) :-) Between stages there where tests like driving on a course blindfolded.
Highlight of the day was driving on a off road terrain with the Toyota’s new Land Cruiser and the giant Land Cruiser 100. This was like Six Flags for adults ;-) Driving in such difficult conditions are not for those who have a need for speed since this is precision work. If you’re too eager chances are that you get stuck. Those Land Cruisers are the summon of 4x4 driving. Weather was marvelous and at the end of a great day we enjoyed a big free barbecue.
6served
1
Driving blindfolded? Ha! Seem liks most people in New York drive blindfolded all the time. :)
2
These are really great shots. Especially the first of the “flemmish ardennes” serie. These really feel.. “belgian” : )
Are you planning to visit and report about the “french” ardennes part too?
3
@Christophe: It’s on the list of places to show but can’t predict when it will happen. My camera is my travel partner from now on ;-)
4
4WD’s...that’s just what Europe and the rest of the world needs more of:
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/talks/bbing/stories/s881845.htm
I’m not having a go at you Veerle, judging from your website you look to be a nice sensible and kind person...but 4WD’s here in Australia and from what i’ve read in the USA are a real problem.
They consume more resources to build and run, they cost more to buy and service, they pollute and kill more...Great for car and oil companies, bad for everyone else.
I ride a (push) bike most places and have to deal with them on the roads...a lot of 4WD owners are arrogant pricks who don’t care about other road users simply because they are “bigger” than everyone else...read that article, I found the most interesting part was the marketing done by the 4wd makers themselves…
Yes, you’ve found my pet hate, sorry to unload! I really do like your site Veerle, the CSS info is great! Keep on dancing :)
5
nice shots, nice landscapes
6
Wow, beautiful pictures! That Toyota seems to take to the terrain like a German Panzer!