Silent walk series: a ribbon of silence, reflection and fun – by Gert Bos

Gert Bos joins us in our silent walk series ‘The Walk of Wisdom in a year round’. He wrote a report of the silent walk from Kranenburg to Plasmolen in March 2023. Photos by Marja Hakkoer.

On Sunday, April 2, we leave in the morning by bus from Nijmegen to Kranenburg (DE) for the third WoW silence walk from Kranenburg to Plasmolen, 14km. The heads in the hood or under a woolen hat, it’s chilly.

In Kranenburg, just after the church service, we can visit the Peter and Paul Church. What a nice moment. The silence, space, smell and beauty of that church almost automatically bring you to your senses. Everyone here has his/her thoughts, musings, feelings. Of course, there is also just chatter.

A little further on the station where we ended last time, we now start. Hans, our guide, gives some housekeeping instructions and reads some lines of poetry by Hans Ridden.

It’s good

When I’m dead, I’ll stay with you.
Even more so than before.
I don’t run away anymore,
when you get angry.
I’m with you everywhere.
So you don’t have to look back.
And most importantly,
that you don’t have to be afraid anymore,
that you lose me.

A short and poignant poem that we take with us for the first few kilometers.

We are now taking our first steps into the open terrain with the higher Reichswald in the distance. The group is large, 22 people, various ages and they all have their own pace. An elongated ribbon is formed. The former regularly wait for the latter so that we are together again. After a while we leave, wait again, are together, leave, etc. A beautiful rhythm where everyone looks for his/her own place, finds his/her own place and yet feels connected to the rest. This connection with each other and nature, being quiet while walking and talking during the big breaks characterize the WOW silent walks. I like that, it’s casual and gives space. In addition, it is also just nice to walk. You don’t have to keep looking at how to walk, you just follow the ribbon.

After the open country, there is the Reichswald, a different landscape, a different atmosphere. Sandy paths, climbing, descending, it’s more intimate. We share the first part with the cyclists of TCG Gennep. They do it this day by bike, 75km long, a different experience, a different breathing. We give them space and a greeting, but after a few kilometers we are not sad when we say goodbye to them and follow a different path. It’s getting quieter again in the forest. I hear birds and sometimes some people. See budding greenery and the Mookerheide in the distance. Finally, follow my fellow hikers at a smaller or larger distance. It feels harmonious.

After about ten kilometers, it has become sunny and warmer, we take a break at a place next to a flock of sheep, have a cup of coffee at restaurant de Diepen, chat, grab a bird ring and continue cheerfully. The sun is shining and that makes a difference.

We now come to the St Jansberg. Water streams and large differences in altitude. Beautiful to see but also tiring at the end. My breathing starts to resemble the cyclists at the beginning of the walk. Fortunately, that doesn’t take long, soon it gets better, the climbing is over, the breath becomes calm again.

In Plasmolen, the end of this stage, we share our experiences. Hans reads one last poem, also by Hans Ridden,

Fancy again

Is there such a thing as a joyful farewell, you ask.
I answer: certainly, every farewell with reunion.
What’s on your mind?
Quarrel with reconciliation.
Guilt with forgiveness.
Getting lost is also a kind of goodbye.
No one knows where you are,
while you’re still here.
Everybody’s drowning in your farewell,
‘Cause you’re gone for good,
Until you find your way back:
You went, but you weren’t really gone.

This was it, a nice walk.
On to the next one.

Gert

More about the silent walk series

Every year, the Walk of Wisdom starts with a series of 10 silent walks. In a series of stages of 12 to 17 kilometers, the entire 136-kilometer route is walked around in a year’s time. Volunteers from the Walk of Wisdom are participating, including initiator Hans Peeerden. It’s already the fifth series! Part of the proceeds of the walks go to nature.

Photos by Marja Hakkoer.