Author: Norm

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…