Days 1-4

Wow!! 4 days walking across and through beautiful countryside in Holland.
Day 1- S'Hertogenbosch - Haaren 24km Sunny with passing clouds. Busy today with cyclists and walkers as it is Sunday. Alongside canals and through grassland and woods. Leaving the city the walk takes us along the old ramparts and beside the water. Following the map isn't always easy but I get there in the end.
Day 2- Haaren - Vessem 29kms. The B&B where I stayed was great with a big breakfast provided and a lunch packet to take with me along the way. Am working out how to use the map with directions combined with approx distances I get an idea of the time it will take between turns etc. the birds are busy, cuckoos calling, geese honking, ducks on the water but thankfully no ticks from the long grass beside the canals. The weather is perfect for walking - overcast and sometimes a light breeze. In Vessem I am welcomed by the volunteers at the pilgrims refuge where I have my own room - such luxury for pilgrim accommodation. Warm typical Dutch dinner together with a glass of wine. It rains all night.
Day 3- Vessem - Waalre 20+ kms
Today my friend Janny has  joined me and we will walk together for the next 3 days. It rains all day. Puddles and mud, rain and more rain. Walking through the beech, oak, birch and conifer forests there is also the drip drip from the trees.  But, thankfully no wind. Beautiful countryside and a couple of small villages where we can drink coffee and eat soup for lunch. After 8 hours of walking we arrive at our B&B. Everything unpacked and the backpack is hung up to dry. Thank goodness for plastic bags.
Day 4- Waalre - Heeze 13km
More sandy paths through woods and meadows. Past a lovely lake with water lilies and a goose family. Mother goose, father goose and 4 goslings. Weather is overcast, still and perfect for walking. We arrive early in Heeze and take a walk around the town where we will later return for dinner. We are truly blessed to be able to undertake this adventure.

Arriving

After arriving in Paris it was the fast train to Amsterdam. Way to travel. Finally some horizontal time and a good nights sleep. Thursday and it's time to hit the road/ train station to Utrecht. Pilgrim office closed but  after sitting on the edge if the fountain someone came out and when I explained I was a pilgrim from Australia I was made welcome and issued with my Dutch Pilgrim Passport, together with stamp. Train & bus to stay with friends in Leusden for a couple of days if R & R. Walking will start on Sunday but in the meantime I have got used to my backpack and it is already feeling like an old friend.

Last Minute Stuff

Finally the bag is packed, and it's the last night at home for some time.
So, what do I pack for 5 months, a 3,000km walk and every possible weather option?
My back pack is 38 litres, so not much.
Clothing consists of :
1 pr shorts
2 merino t-shirts (usually only 1)
1 long sleeve merino t-shirt
1 down jacket
1 waterproof jacket ( so hard to get one that doesn't weigh too much)
1 merino sleeveless top
6 prs socks. This seems extravagant but I have decided to wear 2 prs at a time to hopefully prevent blisters. Underneath are Injinji toe socks and top layer, coolmax fine liner socks.
1 pr long merino leggings
1 sun hat + 1 woolly hat for the cold days
1 neck buff + ski gloves
1 pr Keen sandals with toe protection which I could walk in all day if I have to.
1 pr light weight walking shoes (this is a luxury I may regret)
1 pr Keen Targhee II hiking boots.
Toiletries:
1 bar soap for washing everything
Moisturiser with sunscreen
No shampoo - hair is very short
Leave-in conditioner to protect from sunshine (lots I hope)
Toothbrush & small tube toothpaste
Sandalwood oil - healing, antibacterial & it smells better than ti-tree.
Antifungal cream -(lots of communal showers)
Vaseline for feet
Deodorant
First-Aid:
Opsite & Steri strips
Fixomull Tape
Tweezers & needle & thread
Betadine
Tiny pot of Thars ointment
Voltaren Cream
Non-stick wound dressings & a couple of silver impregnated elastoplasts.
Space blanket
Cold sore Cream - hopefully no bed bugs but better to be prepared
Pain killers & Antihistamines
Fold-up scissors
Hydralyte sachets
1 tube PawPaw ointment
Miscellaneous:
Down sleeping bag
Silk liner
Pillowcase - all treated with Permethrin to repel bed bugs
Guide books - oh they do weigh too much so will have to ditch them as I use them
Swiss Army Knife
Head torch & whistle (that's for attracting attention)
Waterproof back pack cover
1 emergency pocket sized poncho

Everything is packed into zip-lock bags of various sizes to keep them dry because no matter how much waterproofing is applied back packs always let the rain in somewhere.
Together with my back pack I wear a waist bag which holds my water bottle, sunglasses, reading glasses, passport, phone, swiss army knife, tissues, muesli bar, and of course my Pilgrim Passport.
My accommodation is booked through Holland and Belgium which is somewhat reassuring because it was quite difficult to get some places to answer emails after digging and delving to get the web contact.
it would appear that most people who walk this way are from nearby so make reservations only by phone. Thanks go to my friend Janny who made several bookings for me. We will walk together for 3 days in Holland.
Time to finish this one and go to bed. So goodnight, bon soir and tot ziens.

6 days to go

Counting down the days to the big adventure.

Will you walk with me in spirit as I make the walk across Europe? 

On the 20th of May I leave Australia to start my 2,500-3000km pilgrimage walk across Europe along the way of St James - Sint Jacobsweg, Chemin de St Jacques, the Camino. 

I am writing to ask you to walk with me in spirit by making a donation to the Catherine Hamlin Fistula Hospital & the Hamlin College of midwives in Ethiopia. 

Support my Fundraiser for

Hamlin Fistula Ethiopia (Australia).

In Ethiopia, obstetric fistula is the common outcome of prolonged, obstructed labour that causes permanent internal damage and incontinence.  Many patients become social outcasts and their suffering is life-long if left untreated.  

By sponsoring me, you will help restore dignity to women and girls, return mothers to their families and prevent the horror of obstetric fistula in the near future.  This life-changing work will have a profoundly positive impact that will be felt deeply in the community and will improve the lives of many more, beyond the patients at the hospital.  

Click at the end of the link below then click on "go to link" to visit my fundraising page:

http://www.hamlinfistulafundraising.com/NolaVulling