Hortance from Deventer walked the Walk of Wisdom, with her elderly dog Tommy
Early April. A message via Facebook from Hortance van den Beld from Deventer: ‘Good evening, is the route easy to walk with a dog cart? My elderly dog walks with me in a cart. In Belgium I have also walked with the cart. Sometimes some difficult paths. As long as there aren’t too many fences, over which I have to lift the cart (empty) or grass paths that are too sandy/too high. If I have to make a detour, that’s no problem.’
Hortance got answers to her questions and she went: from 22 to 28 April 2018 she walked the Walk of Wisdom. She wrote a short impression.
Together with Tommy, my 16.5 year old red Cocker Spaniel, we walk with a dog cart and my backpack of 16 kg with tent and supplies to spend the night at the campsites along the route.
The first 40 km are beautiful, via the beaches of the floodplains, bridges, up and down hills, many stairs, tree roots in the path, overgrown paths and bumpy paths in nature reserve. It was pretty tough, but we made it through!
After that, the roads became passable with the occasional climb or a staircase, beautiful views and beautiful fields. Nice little campsites with owners who do their camping with love and all in their own way.
Fortunately, the weather was good, okay, we had that heavy rain shower where I got soaking wet shoes and socks, but that also turned out well! The sun showed itself a lot and it was ideal for walking in terms of temperature. Lots of candles lit in the chapels and churches along the way.
But what I also enjoy so much are the encounters along the way. With one a conversation about the weather or my dog and with another very open personal conversations. Being there for each other at that time without any further obligations.
I enjoyed this Pilgrimage and I am very grateful that I can and may experience it. What a richness! And my wisdom? What I have learned is: that I can do more than I thought!
And camping with a tent is so much fun! You are in nature day and night, cooking your own food. I can also enjoy this so much, especially in dry weather!
Initiators of the WOW: thank you very much for this experience.
Kind regards, Hortance
