Oh, the GPS – that modern-day oracle wrapped in a dashboard device, often as confounding as it is helpful. Let me tell you about the time this digital Delphi decided I was in need of a history lesson and rerouted my weary, end-of-day commute through the storied plains of Waterloo.
Now, one does not simply drive through Waterloo without a tip of the hat to its lion, that stoic beast perched atop a mound like a feline overlord surveying its kingdom of tourist and history buffs alike. This majestic mound, or Butte du Lion, as they call it, is no ant hill. It’s the kind of geographical hiccup that makes you wonder if a playful giant didn’t just plop it down for a laugh.
So a few weeks ago, when the GPS chirped “rerouting,” I had half a mind to chirp back with some choice words. But the siren call of the detour proved irresistible, and before I knew it, I was back at Waterloo, not to wage war but to wage wonder with my trusty DJI Mini 3 Pro.
The drone, unlike the soldiers of yore, took to the skies with grace, buzzing like a bee with a penchant for panoramic views. As it soared, the irony wasn’t lost on me that I was flying a device over a battlefield that once saw quite different sorts of flights – the arc of cannonballs and the leap of men charging into history.
The Lion of Waterloo stood proud, unfazed by the technological mosquito I had unleashed. From the lens of my drone, the lion seemed to say, “I have seen empires rise and fall, young drone-flyer. Your fancy gadgetry does not impress me.” I could only nod in humble agreement.
This lion, mind you, isn’t just any lion. It’s a monument to a battle that shuffled the deck of European history like a croupier with an attitude. Erected on a man-made hill, it’s 226 steps to the top. That’s right, 226. I counted. Every. Single. One. And at the summit, the view is – how shall I put it? – fit for an emperor.
The drone, my aerial scout, captured the lion in all its sunset glory, basking in the golden hour as if it too needed a good Instagram post to end the day. From high above, the surrounding fields were a patchwork quilt of greens and browns, stitched together with the threads of history.
Each photo was a testament to the fact that sometimes the best detours in life aren’t the ones you plan. They’re the ones your GPS throws at you on a Wednesday because it has a sense of humor and, possibly, a secret agenda to make you a history buff.
So, in a way, I owe my GPS a thank-you. It took me off the beaten track, quite literally, and brought me face-to-face with a lion, a drone, and a slice of history, all in one unexpected adventure. Who knew that a wrong turn could feel so right?
To the travelers out there, take the detour sometimes. Pull over. Send your drones into the great blue yonder. There’s a whole world of lions and battlefields waiting for you. Just make sure your drone’s battery is charged, lest your aerial exploits be cut short, leaving you with nothing but the age-old excuse: “The GPS made me do it.”
Shot with DJI Mini 3 Pro drone, edit with LR Mobile and Skylum Luminar AI.
All photos are taken by me. If you want to know more, head to https://beheydt.be/en/photography or https://shor.by/BjB for more info.
Check out https://shor.by/BBphoto to see all the gear I’m using
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