It is not the goal that matters, but how one gets there.
A range of pictures from the summer of 2005, starting in Rotterdam and literally finishing in Rotterdam: this is the season for the longer distances.
The S.D.S. (Stronger Through Struggle) Summer Walk (50 km) leads through villages south of Rotterdam, like Rhoon and Heerjansdam. The river banks out there are lined with swamp areas.
These swamps are man made in order to grow and harvest (by boat) willow trees. Bridges and narrow paths allow access for walkers.
Two of my friends I walked with during the Death March in Bornem, Belgium: Richard Boosten and Erik Dikken.
The last kilometers of the 100 km Death March walk along the dykes of the river Schelde towards the village of Bornem. Although it does not look like it, over 9000 people start the Death March anually. Only about 5000 will finish it.
Richard has just taken a 'refreshment' break in a corn field and is catching up with me by running. This is allowed on many walks in Belgium, although almost no 'walkers' or 'runners' manage to keep running for the entire 100 km. Richard only ran 200 meter and walked the rest.
In preparation for the winter walks, the board of walking club WS'78 accompagnies me on the walk I made for their winter series. Amongst them walkers such as Erik Dikken, Gert Hozee, Albert Smit and local walker Hans van Ginneken. This 40 km walk will be held Januari 7th of next year in and around Dordrecht.
Part of the walk leads through the Malta Polder, a nature resort in the heart of the Biesbosch area.
This Biesbosch area is the large swamp east of the Dutch delta, where several rivers meet. This is on the banks of the Nieuwe Merwede, the river which connects the river Waal to the Hollands Diep.
The first picture is taken by me, of my father photographing me. This picture is the reverse angle...
A totally different scenery (heath fields), but equally wet, is National Park de Hoge Peel in the southeast of the Netherlands. Here, long bridges ('knuppelbruggetjes' or 'vlonders') are used to keep our feet dry near the rest stop at visitors centre Mijl op Zeven. This 60 km walk is the Peel Walk in a tiny village called Helenaveen.
During the World Harbour Days in the harbour of Rotterdam, it is possible to do the 40 km Wereldhavendagentocht. Walkers traverse the city centre, the banks of the river Maas, the main Rotterdam bridges and the parks and recreational areas east of the centre.
This is the chairman of the Rotterdamse Wandelsport Vereniging, Gijs den Ouden (the orange jacket on the island) chilling during the first stages of the Nijmegen - Rotterdam walk (160 km). After leaving Nijmegen at 11.00 hrs. Saturday morning, the whole group reaches Heteren for a quick lunch about three hours later.
Whereas Gijs did the walk on his bicycle, taking care of us all day and night, walkers such as Wim Veerman had to do it on foot. That gave him time to admire the rainbow behind him as he approaches the first main rest stop after 40 km.
Sunday, when we reach one of the last feeding stations after about 150 km, the weather is equally impressive. After some fruit, drinks and candy, walkers cross the bridge to the left and enter the nature park and recreational areas of the Rottemeren, just outside Rotterdam.