Sabbatical Day 20 – Hellendoorn to Holten (15k)

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 bad, so we expect an easy day.

1. Even at 9:30am when we leave, it is quiet in town… Of course, it is a holiday Monday. As we walk through the sleepy town, I find myself feeling sleepy too (not physically tired, just sleepy). The whole day will feel this way, and we will do a lot less talking – just walking quietly. We walk alone for a while (only the Belted Galloway to keep us company), but soon the holiday hikers make the trails a busy place. It is harder to find our benches.
2. We come across the Twilhaar, a Jewish work camp during the war. The first Jews to arrive in 1942 were from Groningen. Eventually they were sent to Westerbork, being told they would be reunited with their families. They were… on route to the death camps. It was eerie to stand in this place.
3. The trails are variously wide and narrow, smooth and rough. The recent rains make for uneven ground and large puddles. At first, like Moses, I try to part them. Then I realize Jesus is greater than Moses, and I decide to walk on the water. That works better!
4. As we walk, we catch glimpses to the beautiful ‘geranium’ bushes in the middle of the woods (Val told me what they really are, I just can’t remember the name). NOTE: they’re rhododendrins 
5. We left the path to go to Canada for a visit. Not far from the trail we visit the Holten Canadian Solder Cemetery (which is officially Canadian territory), with an impressive Visitor Center. It is well maintained, with videos, artifacts, stories, etc. We are especially impressed with how many visitors of all ages are here – they have not forgotten! Most of the graves are of Canadian soldiers, with a few other Commonwealth soldiers too). But what struck us was how many (255) were of those who stayed after the war to help with clean up of land mines, and died as a  result. Very moving to be here, both as a Canadian, and as children of those who were liberated.
6. For some reason today seemed long (the detour to the cemetery did add time and distance). We happily see the sign for Holten, and enter a tourist filled town celebrating 2nd Pentecost Day. But no revelry for us, we head straight to our ‘home’ for tonight. We are welcomed by Joke (no joke), and settle in. A trip to the grocery store for dinner, and we are done for the day. We rest and read, with occasional outbursts of music and cheers from somewhere nearby. It has been a 20k day afterall, and we are done.