How a Dutch countryside hike nearly ruined my friendship
Last Monday, my friend Tom and I set out to conquer a stretch of the Dutch Mountain Trail, from Teuven to Gulpen. We started these hikes during the pandemic, thinking they'd keep us sane. Now, they're a ritual—complete with a YouTube channel where we pretend to be experts. But this time, things took a turn.
The countryside was breathtaking—rolling green hills, wildflowers bursting with color, and sleepy cows watching us like we were the most exciting thing they'd seen all week. The air was thick with the scent of fresh grass and distant breweries. But beneath the postcard-perfect scenery, tension simmered.
Tom, always the planner, insisted we stick to the official trail. I, on the other hand, wanted to take a detour through a local village rumored to have the best apple pie in the region. We argued—loudly—right in front of a group of bemused Belgian hikers. They pretended not to notice, but I caught their smirks. The path forked: Tom stormed ahead, I veered off.
My detour was a disaster. The so-called 'charming shortcut' was a muddy mess, and I ended up knee-deep in a cow pasture, face-to-face with a very unimpressed bull. Meanwhile, Tom texted me photos of his scenic, stress-free route—complete with a cold beer at the finish line. By the time I limped into Gulpen, covered in mud and pride wounded, Tom was already halfway through his second pint.
We barely spoke on the train ride home. Our YouTube followers loved the drama, though—apparently, nothing draws views like a friendship on the rocks. Maybe that's the real secret of travel: it's not just about the views, but the stories (and arguments) you bring back.
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