{"id":15929,"date":"2024-03-30T09:22:00","date_gmt":"2024-03-30T09:22:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/?p=15929"},"modified":"2024-03-29T13:24:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-29T13:24:32","slug":"rerouted-by-fate-my-drone-dance-with-waterloos-lion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/rerouted-by-fate-my-drone-dance-with-waterloos-lion\/","title":{"rendered":"Rerouted by Fate: My Drone Dance with Waterloo&#8217;s Lion"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Oh, the GPS \u2013 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;s the kind of geographical hiccup that makes you wonder if a playful giant didn&#8217;t just plop it down for a laugh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>So a few weeks ago, when the GPS chirped &#8220;rerouting,&#8221; 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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-7.webp\" alt=\"DJI_0222-HDR.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15937\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-7.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-7-980x551.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-7-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>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&#8217;t lost on me that I was flying a device over a battlefield that once saw quite different sorts of flights \u2013 the arc of cannonballs and the leap of men charging into history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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, &#8220;I have seen empires rise and fall, young drone-flyer. Your fancy gadgetry does not impress me.&#8221; I could only nod in humble agreement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-6.webp\" alt=\"DJI_0246-HDR.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15935\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-6.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-6-980x551.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-6-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8.webp\" alt=\"DJI_0271-HDR.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15940\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8-980x551.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This lion, mind you, isn&#8217;t just any lion. It&#8217;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&#8217;s 226 steps to the top. That&#8217;s right, 226. I counted. Every. Single. One. And at the summit, the view is \u2013 how shall I put it? \u2013 fit for an emperor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8.webp\" alt=\"DJI_0291-HDR.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15939\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8-980x551.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-8-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Each photo was a testament to the fact that sometimes the best detours in life aren&#8217;t the ones you plan. They&#8217;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.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>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?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-9.webp\" alt=\"DJI_0309-HDR.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15942\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-9.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-9-980x551.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-9-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>To the travelers out there, take the detour sometimes. Pull over. Send your drones into the great blue yonder. There&#8217;s a whole world of lions and battlefields waiting for you. Just make sure your drone&#8217;s battery is charged, lest your aerial exploits be cut short, leaving you with nothing but the age-old excuse: &#8220;The GPS made me do it.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-10.webp\" alt=\"DJI_0297-HDR.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-15944\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-10.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-10-980x551.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-10-480x270.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Shot with DJI Mini 3 Pro drone, edit with LR Mobile and&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/jo.my\/lmnar\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Skylum Luminar AI<\/a>.<br>All photos are taken by me. If you want to know more, head to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/photography\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/photography<\/a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/shor.by\/BjB\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/shor.by\/BjB<\/a>&nbsp;for more info.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/shor.by\/BBphoto\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/shor.by\/BBphoto<\/a>&nbsp;to see all the gear I\u2019m using<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Feel free to follow me on Instagram too!&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/instagram.com\/bjornbeheydt\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/instagram.com\/bjornbeheydt<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Join me in my steps on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/coin.onelink.me\/ePJg\/ivccmz5l\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Coin<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/sweatco.in\/i\/bjorn848994\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Sweat<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/stepn.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Step\u2019n<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/actifit.io\/signup?referrer=borniet\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Actifit<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>########################################################################<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Check out my NFT series as well, on OpenSea:<br><a href=\"https:\/\/opensea.io\/collection\/pirate-kitty\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><br><\/a><br>Or on Hive&#8217;s own NFT Showroom:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image\"><a href=\"https:\/\/nftshowroom.com\/borniet\/gallery\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1280\" height=\"629\" src=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-5.webp\" alt=\"Screenshot 2022-12-22 at 10.21.40.png\" class=\"wp-image-15933\" srcset=\"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-5.webp 1280w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-5-980x482.webp 980w, https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/image-5-480x236.webp 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) and (max-width: 980px) 980px, (min-width: 981px) 1280px, 100vw\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15930,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1710,944],"tags":[1711,1165,1170,1177],"class_list":["post-15929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-drones","category-photography-en","tag-drones","tag-instagram","tag-photography","tag-stock-photography"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/03\/DJI_0281-HDR.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbkKxJ-48V","jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=15929"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15929\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15946,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/15929\/revisions\/15946"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=15929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=15929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/beheydt.be\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=15929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}