Well, we're back home!
When Martin and me were in Nunspeet, Stijn was there also early. So we did start early. We've walked around Vierhouten, visited the Verscholen Dorp ('disguised village'), a place in the woods where Jews and other people were hiding for the nazi's in WW2. We walked at a fair speed, which we would later regret. After something more than 15 km, we made camp. After seeing Martin lying in his hammock, I became a bit jealous
.
The next day we went to Elspeet for supplies. We came through some heathland with old gardens from long past days. The first blisters were formed when we walked to the supermarked. There got Martin a call that he had to return to home for work. We ate something and I bought the bivvybag I borrowed. Nice peace of kit! Then we said goodby to Martin as he walked back to Nunspeet. Stijn and I walked to the forests of the crown. Quite unknown in the Netherlands, there were some nice hills. We saw a good amount of deer, and not so many boars as I expected. Our camp was in a nice 'big' (Dutch standards) beech part. When we went for an evening walk at nightfall, we'd meet another pair of guys who thought it was also nice to spent a night in the woods. Another more then 15 km with our footsteps on it.
Sunday, we really felt our blisters. But we came through some places that don't felt Dutch: slopes with beautiful green grass and farms in the middle of the forest. The day was quite hard, so we had dinner and relaxed in a small village. After that another hour of walking and problems with finding a place to sleep: trapped on a road with fences on both sides. No campfire, but Stijn's burner brought forth some hot chocolate before crawling into our sleeping bags. We had walked more than at the beginning was planned, this day was 23 more km closer to our goal.
Monday started cold. Our bodies felt the day before. This day it was really stumbling to Arnhem. Sunday, Stijn had the plan to catch a bus at the edge of Arnhem, but he didn't. We walked through Arnhem straight to a sidewalk cafe for a beer. At 13:30 we could let our feet rest there.
We walked more than 70 km in 4 small days. Not very much maybe, but neither of us had many experience with hiking. Thereby, my normal hikingshoes were damaged so I had to walk on new sandals. Stijn also learned a lesson to buy a good pair of shoes
It was a nice experience and I have learned a lot. Even with a lot of blisters, I could say it was successful.
Now I have the plan to walk it in 1 day.
When Martin and me were in Nunspeet, Stijn was there also early. So we did start early. We've walked around Vierhouten, visited the Verscholen Dorp ('disguised village'), a place in the woods where Jews and other people were hiding for the nazi's in WW2. We walked at a fair speed, which we would later regret. After something more than 15 km, we made camp. After seeing Martin lying in his hammock, I became a bit jealous
.The next day we went to Elspeet for supplies. We came through some heathland with old gardens from long past days. The first blisters were formed when we walked to the supermarked. There got Martin a call that he had to return to home for work. We ate something and I bought the bivvybag I borrowed. Nice peace of kit! Then we said goodby to Martin as he walked back to Nunspeet. Stijn and I walked to the forests of the crown. Quite unknown in the Netherlands, there were some nice hills. We saw a good amount of deer, and not so many boars as I expected. Our camp was in a nice 'big' (Dutch standards) beech part. When we went for an evening walk at nightfall, we'd meet another pair of guys who thought it was also nice to spent a night in the woods. Another more then 15 km with our footsteps on it.
Sunday, we really felt our blisters. But we came through some places that don't felt Dutch: slopes with beautiful green grass and farms in the middle of the forest. The day was quite hard, so we had dinner and relaxed in a small village. After that another hour of walking and problems with finding a place to sleep: trapped on a road with fences on both sides. No campfire, but Stijn's burner brought forth some hot chocolate before crawling into our sleeping bags. We had walked more than at the beginning was planned, this day was 23 more km closer to our goal.
Monday started cold. Our bodies felt the day before. This day it was really stumbling to Arnhem. Sunday, Stijn had the plan to catch a bus at the edge of Arnhem, but he didn't. We walked through Arnhem straight to a sidewalk cafe for a beer. At 13:30 we could let our feet rest there.
We walked more than 70 km in 4 small days. Not very much maybe, but neither of us had many experience with hiking. Thereby, my normal hikingshoes were damaged so I had to walk on new sandals. Stijn also learned a lesson to buy a good pair of shoes
It was a nice experience and I have learned a lot. Even with a lot of blisters, I could say it was successful.
Now I have the plan to walk it in 1 day.
