Walking as a tribute

‘I dedicate the remaining kilometres to my girlfriend.’ Pilgrim Willy hooked up on the route, to accompany a friend whose hiking partner had dropped out. A nice joint experience, but it didn’t go as expected. Read her moving report here:

‘What a special experience I have had. I had never studied pilgrimages before. Until a friend asked me if I wanted to walk the Walk of Wisdom with her. She herself had already walked from the Stevenskerk to Beek with an acquaintance, but he dropped out. After I had studied the route, I said yes wholeheartedly. I started in Beek. We have shared joys and sorrows together, with a smile and a tear, enjoyed the beautiful nature and tranquility. Up to Bergharen, there was nothing to worry about.

Unfortunately there was a hitch, my girlfriend got sick and has since passed away.
The loss is great. Still, I decided to walk the last part alone and dedicate it to her, but not before I had finished the first part myself.

And so I went to the impressive ceremony in the Nicholas Chapel. There I told her that I would dedicate the remaining kilometers to my girlfriend. I’m glad I did it, and it was a very special experience. Met a lot of lovely people along the way. It strikes me when you walk alone, you have much more claim with other hikers. This was also quite a revelation for me. The virus has already skipped and I’m already looking at where I’m going to walk next. Or………. Maybe I’ll do it again, but with a different goal.’