Thursday, May 16, 2024
The days are starting to blur. I’m thankful for the pictures that help remind me. Today we walked 21k – a shorter walk! After a delicious Dutch breakfast (1 hard-boiled egg, various breads, hagelslag [chocolate sprinkles], meat and cheese, strong coffee), we move our stiff bodies out of town and onto the path. Today we anticipate something different from forests and fields. Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 16 – Sleen to Coevorden (21k)’ »

Wednesday, May 15, 2024
On the road at 8:30am. Today is a longer walk (23k, the longest will be 24k). We are nervous. Our packs are heavy, our muscles stiff, and the blisters on our feet remind us that they are there. It will be another beautiful, and exceptionally warm, day. There is nothing along the way but forest and fields. The adventure continues… Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 15 – Schoonloo to Sleen (23k)’ »

Tuesday, May 14, 2024
On the road at 9am. Today’s route is shorter (15k) because our room was further along the route. But with these packs a shorter route is preferred. Yesterday was harder than we expected. We feel our bodies. I woke up with a sense of ‘this is too much, we can’t do this’. But we really have no choice no. The next two days are through areas with no grocery stores, and we have not arranged breakfasts or bag lunches (too expensive). Which means we buy groceries… and add them to the packs. Mine is nearing 35lbs, and I feel it in my legs. Today will be a test! Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 14 – Rolde to Schoonloo (15k)’ »

Monday, May 13, 2024
And the journey begins. With our packs fully loaded, and weighing more than we anticipated, we took our first steps out the door… from Zuidlaren to Rolde. Officially our route is 17k, but we will be walking further to Anderen where we are staying. Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 13 – Zuidlaren to Anderen (Rolde) (20k)’ »

Sunday, May 12, 2024

1. We slept deep and long last night (one of us slept for 12 hours).
2. We walked to a nearby church to listen to the organ and the singing. We were in the balcony/organ loft with the organist. My mom told me that as a young boy my Uncle counted the organ pipes in that church during a boring sermon. We didn’t stay for the sermon since we couldn’t understand it, so I didn’t have to count the pipes.
3. We found a trail nearby Zuidlaren through marshy bird lands and walked 10k.
4. Our friends from Veendam picked us up for dinner. As we arrived we saw the Canadian flag flying in our honour. Funny thing, we saw it and didn’t even notice it, it seemed so normal. We managed to communicate with our mixed Dutch and English vocabulary. They have also offered to be there for us anytime, should we have the need along the Pieterpad. Nice to know!
5. Bed early, tomorrow we begin the great Pieterpad adventure!

Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 12’ »

September 6, 2022 — Starting the Pieterpad
(You can see the route at www.pieterpad.nl)

1. Valerie and I began our walk back in 2022. We started in Pieterburen and made our way to Winsum, a short 12k walk. We didn’t realize it but there is a 10k loop to the North Sea; too bad, now we can’t really say we did the whole walk. One day!
2. The road sign at the start of the route shows distances to the many different places named after Peter: is that our Peterborough in Ontario?
3. I can’t remember too many details, except that it was a sunny day and we walked through farm fields, small towns, and on cute bridges over canals).
4. I do remember how nice it is to have people set up chairs on the route, here there was a guest book. We understand that in some places they serve drinks and baked goods from a Euro. We appreciate the gift of hospitality.

Continue reading ‘Pieterpad: Pieterburen to Winsum’ »

Saturday, May 11, 2024

1. Thank the Lord, we were able to sleep on the flight. My leg muscles were cramping up, and we both had middle seats… but someone was willing to switch and Valerie and I could sit together.
2. Because of the baggage counter issues in Toronto, we were concerned about our luggage arriving, and it was the last bags to appear, but they did arrive!
3. We took the train from Schiphol to Assen (once we figured it out), and our friends Erik & Liesbeth met us there to drive us to our BnB in Zuidlaren. Thankfully they didn’t stay – that sounds rude, but we are so jet-lagged we cannot think of speak clearly. We will join them for dinner tomorrow.
4. BnB Het Groene Hart is a little cottage in a garden -filled back yard. Simple but beautiful, and quiet.
5. Walked into town to get some groceries for dinner, and to find the Pieterpad, and discovered a Cheese story. How sad we cannot buy any, we have to carry what we buy!
6. After dinner (Dutch Meatball, Potatoes and Beans with salad) we had another second short walk. We enjoyed a Dutch pastry for dessert, and then Valerie called it a night. I won’t be much longer.
7. Feeling very relaxed!!!

Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 11’ »

Friday, May 10, 2024
We are at the airport waiting to board. Here is a quick summary of our day.

1. Last night when we checked in we discovered we are not sitting beside each other. One row apart. Praying that the person next to us is willing to switch. UPDATE: WE WERE ABLE TO SWITCH AND SIT TOGETHER!
2. Today we heard that our first BnB (where we were staying for 2 nights) had to cancel because of water damage. Thankfully we were able to find alternatives. A few anxious moments.
3. The final weight of my bag is 30lbs and Valerie’s is 20lbs.
4. Thankful to have Nathan take us to the airport. We enjoyed a deep philosophical discussion of determinism and free will. It made Valerie smile.

Time to board. Tomorrow in Amsterdam! Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 10’ »

Thursday, May 9, 2024
This was a day of last minute details and preparation. And now the packing begins, and by packing I mean unpacking. We can only take what fits into our backpacks, and whatever we take we have to walk with every day. A little this and a little that doesn’t seem like much, but how quickly it adds a pound to the weight. How much do we really need? This makes me think of Jesus’s words to his disciples, “Take nothing for the journey — no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt.” (Luke 9:3) Talk about travelling light. The lesson here is about trust. Maybe I also need to trust that the Lord will provide what we need along the way? Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 9’ »

Wednesday, May 8, 2024
Thank God for a sabbatical from highway driving!We spent more time driving than we like. We first drove to Mississauga, then to Hamilton, then back to Cambridge. There were good reasons for this, but what we both remarked was how nice it will be only walking. We start the Pieterpad this coming Monday. I find walking so much more relaxing than driving. Walking for us began in the Fall of 2019 as training for an Israel trip. We continued through COVID (the trip was postponed), and I believe our daily walking was part of what kept us calm and sane. I recall a doctor once saying ‘a daily walk’ was better than ‘a daily pill’. Sometimes pills are necessary, but my sense is walking – when possible – is always necessary, and good for the soul! Continue reading ‘Sabbatical Day 8’ »