Category: sabbatical 2024

Sunday, May 26, 2024 Today was the big 25k day. We pushed ourselves, with our focus on getting there. The walk was good, through forests, up and down bigger hills, into Germany for a short time, and along the Rijn (Rhine) River for a long stretch until we reached the ferry. Thankfully the ferry was…

Saturday, May 25, 2024 We bid farewell to the van Baardewijk’s in Zelhem, and begin our next stage on the Pieterpad, the doable 17k walk from Zelhem to Braamt. In the back of our mind is the big walk from Braamt to Millington aan de Rijn, which is a 25k walk – the longest of…

Friday, May 24, 2024 Today is a day to rest and spend time with Tom’s parents. They live in a community a few kilometers from the German border, in the Achterhoeks, the back corner of the Netherlands. We are not walking the Pieterpad today, but we still do some walking, to keep our feet and…

Thursday, May 23, 2024 After an exceptional breakfast at our BnB, we head out at 9am. Today Tom’s parents will walk towards us for the last 5k, and then we will finish the path with them, and spend the next two nights with them in Winterswijk. It is another shorter day of only 17k walking.

Wednesday, May 22, 2024 Today is the shortest walk of all. We feel relaxed getting started, and wonder if we might even arrive by noon, even before family in Canada is out of bed. In the back of our minds we are nervously anticipating longer days ahead, especially the 24k and 25k days. But we will…

Tuesday, May 21, 2024 Today we anticipate an easy day, only 15k to Laren. Before we leave we sit with Gehard and Joke, who run this BnB in their 80s. They proudly show us pictures and plaques honouring their devotion to the care and promotion of the cemetery and remembrance of the Canadian soldiers. He’s been…

Monday, May 20, 2024 Today is one week since we started. We are feeling better and stronger than we have in the last few days. We took our time this morning because it is only a 15k walk today (and to let our laundry dry). We are anticipating more hills, but we haven’t found them…

Sunday, May 19, 2024 Today we have a 21k walk to Hellendoorn. This rhythm is becoming normal to us by now. We’ve developed a routine for each stage of the day. One change to our previous pattern is not going to church. There is thankfully no guilt for this; rather there is a release. Besides…

Saturday, May 18, 2024 Today is a 21k hike. Another beautiful day! Not sure how long I will be able to write this. After our BnB breakfast we head out at 8:30 and walk for most of the day through forest trails. This trail follows a vast network of trails along the Vecht river. It…

Friday, May 17, 2024 Today was another beautiful day. It started out humid after the rain last night, but it became more comfortable through the day. Fewer kms today, which is nice to think about. It always takes a few moments to get our stiff and achy muscles and feet going in the morning… But…