June 18th to 23rd, 2013

June 22nd: Day 4 - Alkmaar, Geestmerambacht, Warmerhuizen, Koedijk and Alkmaar
With our bicycles parked close to the finisch in Alkmaar city center we were stll in time for a start at the head of the almost 7000 hikers on the last day of the event. I was a bit worried about Vera who had some trouble walking after we had maybe pushed a bit too much yesterday in the rain. But halfway during today's track my worries were gone as it were her spirits that were pushing me through a period wondering why I was actually doing all this.
After walking north through Alkmaar we walked around the Geestmerambacht recreational area. At warmerhuizen we had reached the halfway poin of the day and although we never doubted we would not make the event at that time the countdown of the last kilometres really started!		View Alkmaar Dag-4 in a larger map
Nevertheless our support team (my Mom and Hans) met us at Schoorldam, also because Vera had asked for a sweater as it was relatively cold today. From there we found our way to Koedijk and followed the canal back into Alkmaar. Unfortunately it had started to rain just before we reached Koedijk which was not very nice for us and all the people that were on the side of the track from Koedijk to make it a festive entry into Alkmaar.
For us our Mom, Hans, my daughter Shaula and her boyfriend Bart were waiting at the finish and after we collected our last stamp and the medal we searched for a restaurant where we could sit down and celebrate. Also my nephew and niece had come downtown to congratulate and clebrate with us. Thanks to Shaula we have this picture of the stamp card next to a glass of white wine: so typical for how we celebrated together during and after training hikes. After we had a shower in the holiday house we opened a bottle of champagne to toast to our success of completing 4 days 40 kilometres!

June 21st: Day 3 - Akersloot, Castricum, beach, Egmond and Heiloo
Thanks to the rain that was already falling down at our early breakfast we decided to take the car to todays starting point: The AZ soccer stadium. We started in the front lines of all hikers and have maintained that for the whole day as thanks to the rain we decided not to stop; no fun sitting down for a drink in wet clothes. Because of the rain my camera was inside my backpack so there are only a few pictures of the day.
View Alkmaar Dag-3 in a larger map			Apart from the rain we did enjoy the route and at some places hoped for the rain to stop but that did not happen. On the beach between Castricum and Egmond we had a strong wind in the back but you can see from the picture below we enjoyed it:
When we finally arrived at the finish in the stadium every thread of the clothes we were wearing was wett! Thanks to the steady going to get out of the rain into a dry place we had actually completed the 40 kilometres in just over 6 hours and 43 minutes. An average of 6 km per hours. It was nice that we were with the car so we left as soon as possible for a warm shower and dry clothes in the holiday house!

June 20th: Day 2 - Oudorp, Rustenburg, Zuid Scharwoude, Broek op Langedijk
Today it took us a bit longer to reach the starting point on the bicycle so we started in the back of the 40 km group. In Oudorp, a suburb of Alkmaar our nephew Nieck and his wife Thea greeted us as we almost passed by their house. After recieving their good wishes for the day and the days to come we continued our catch up to get in front of the 'slower' hikers. Outside of Oudorp we followed the dyke of the Schermer polder and coming close to Rustenburg walked by some windmills used to pump the lower lands dry.
Vera is not in favor of tracks over the grassland but I really enjoyed this part where we walked over the polder dyke and had nice views of the windmills and surrounding landscape.		View Alkmaar Dag-2 in a larger map
Believe it or not: today was my (59th) birthday! In Hotel Babylon, Heerhugowaard, Hans was waiting for us to have lunch together, off course with a nice glass of white wine! My Mom was visiting my nephew and niece today. The last part of todays hike took us through the village of Zuid Scharwoude to Broek op Langedijk, well known for it's vegetables auction hall where the goods are brought in by boat. Now a museum that was open to the participants of the 4-day marches. You can see pictures of the Broeker Veiling museum that I took 2 years ago when I visited with my friend Joy!

June 19th: Day 1 - Egmond, beach, sand dunes and Bergen
After an early wakeup and a 9 km bicycle ride the moment was there that we were ready to start the 4 day 40 kilometres marches where we trained for so much! At 7 AM we were at the front lines and soon found out that we were a good match for the 300 or so people around us that were paricipating in the 40 km marches. From Alkmaar we walked to the beach at Egmond and from there north over the beach to Camperduin.
View Alkmaar Dag-1 in a larger map Once we were on the road again and in the center of Bergen village			At Camperduin we met my Mom and Hans on the terrace of a beach pavilion for well deserved cup of coffee! Through the sand dunes of Schoorl and Bergen we walked to the restaurant Duinvermaak for a nice lunch outside.
we realised that it was not that far to the finish of our first day! In an area famous for it's Dutch cheeses it was obvious that a dairy company would sponsor this event and gave us the option to taste some of their cheeses! When I was collecting my camera to take a picture of Vera crossing the finish line on our first day she was already chatting with the speaker about me arriving late!

June 18th: Travel to Alkmaar - Schoorl
		Finally but also faster than expected the day was there that we were traveling to the Alkmaar area for the 4-day marches. For me this meant a train ride to Alkmaar and from there a short ride on my bicycle to the holiday house we had organized in Schoorl. Vera, Hans and my Mom came by car from Ede and it did not take us long to make up the beds, unpack our bags and fill the fridge with the groceries for the early breakfast next day. Then it was time to take our bicycles and go to Alkmaar to register for the event and enjoy dinner on a terrace.

To keep the muscles loose and be prepared for the 4-day hiking event in a few days we decided to take en 'easy' walk on this Saturday. The rotary club of Veenendaal, a small city close to Ede where Vera lives is organizing the 'Heuvelrug hiking event' every year in the spring and that gave us an opportunity to hike 25 kilometers on a marked track without any preparations. We met at the starting point (a canteen of a soccer club) and after registrations and a cup of coffee we started to hike.
View Heuvelrug Hike in a larger map			The first part took us through the forests and the heath fields on the hills between Veenendaal and Amerongen. By the time we had reached the village of Amerongen it had started to rain but the rain did not last for more than an hour. Enough to get quite wet though! From Amerongen we went into the hills again

	in an easterly direction and after we reached the highest point we could see Veenendaal in the distance (see picture on the right) and started a long slow descent back to our starting point.

After the issue with my photo camera during the hike from Utrecht to Ede I decided it was time for a new camera! My Canon EDS 350 camera has served me for more than 6 years, traveled with me a lot and suffered from the way I handled it. I did not want to spend more on repairs and bought a new Canon EDS 700. Although I am still wondering how it could happen I have probably by accident deleted from the memory card all the pictures taken during the hikes in these two days! I still hope some professionals will be able to recover them but for now I can only write down the story of the 2 day hikes without showing any pictures.
View The Hague - Katwijk in a larger map			On Saturday Vera came to The Hague early and after a coffee in my appartment we left with the plan to take lunch in Katwijk and then walk back to The Hague. Via the Oostduinpark we walked to the fields of Waalsdorp and the farm house Meijendel in the sand dunes north of The Hague. At Meijendel we turned onto the beach and were surpised by the high water and (sea)foam blown onto the beach by the strong winds. It made our going difficult and slow as the sand at the higher regions of the beach was soft.
North of the Wassenaar beach entrance we left the beach to have a well deserved coffee in the pavilion 'The Dunes'. After we left the pavilion we walkd by the ruins of the 'Atlantic Tank Wall'; a barrier build by the Germans in the second World War to protect them against an invasion from the sea. Via the route on the borders of three ponds in the dunes we arrived south of Katwijk and walked through the village to the beach again for our lunch in a beach pavilion. After the luch we went south on the sea-side boulevard of Katwijk and on the beach to the beach entrance at Wassenaar from where we took the hiking trail through the dunes again all the way to the water tower at Schevenigen. From there it was about 4 kilometres to the Plein square near my apartment where we enjoyed a drink on a terrace in the sunshine that had finally come through on this day that started cool, wett and windy! The total hike length was 40.4 kilometres.

On Sunday we drove to the sports centre 'De Schilp' in Rijswijk. From there we participated in a hike organized by the local hiking association and walked from Rijswijk via Voorburg to Leidschendam; all suburbs of The Hague. After Leidschendam we walked in a southerly direction through the polder landscape to Zoetermeer. We did not go into the village but continued south through the Buytenpark, Botanical Gardens, Westerpark and Floriadepark.		View Haaglanden Wandeldagen in a larger map
Before leaving the area we had lunch on a terrace in the sun! After lunch we walked in the direction of Pijnacker and from there to Delft via the Bieslandse Bos. Leaving the old city centre of Delft to our left we walked back to the starting point in Rijswijk via the village of Wateringen. An amazing hike through 7 villages and different types of countryside with a total length of 39.5 kilometres and often a view of the highrises in The Hague, including my own apartment tower.

The longest hike to be done according our training schedule was 45 kilometres and after reviewing possible options I suggested to walk from Utrecht to Ede so we both had a short travel in the morning and after the long hike would be in Ede to have dinner together. Our Mom showed being our great supporter by offering to cook dinner for us at her place! We arrived in Utrecht by train shortly after 8 AM and walked through a deserted city centre via the DOM church tower in an easterly direction of De Bilt where we already passed through a few weeks ago. Now we were heading for the village of Zeist and from there to the pyramid of Austerlitz on the highest point of the area called 'Utrechtse Heuvelrug'.
It was build by members of the French-Dutch army in 1804 that was based in the area to protect the country against a possible English invasion. The leading general designed it to honour his Emperor Napoleon with whom he had conquered Egypt and where they had seen the pyramids of Gizeh that served as examples for this monument.		View Utrecht to Ede in a larger map
In the village of Woudenberg we had our lunch break (sandwich and glass of wine) in a local café and then continued through the villages of Scherpenzeel and Renswoude from where we headed for Lunteren. That was not the shortest way back to Ede but we needed to make the minimum of 45 kilometres. In the end, when we reached my Mom's house it turned out that we had made 47.6 kilometres this day in just over 9 hours including the 1 hour lunch!

As I had prepared the routes of most of our training hikes so far Vera suggested that for this hike, in and around Ede, she would take her turn. With the help of Hans she had send me the route on Google maps so I was still able to load in into my hand held GPS and we would not have to be afraid to get lost. Not that we expected this to happen as we crossed through countryside that we both know very well as wel grew up in the area. After the coffee at my mom's place to celebrate her 86th birthday we left in the direction of Otterlo.
Halfway between Ede and Otterlo we turned into a south easterly direction to the farm house and tea garden Mossel in the middle of the meadows, forests and heathfields we passed through. We had lunch at the Planken Wambuis and from there continued in the direction of Renkum. After walking by the railroad between Ede and Arnhem for a		View the hike East of Ede in a larger map

while we turned in a northerly direction to the Sijselt forest and from there back to Ede. The total hike length was 30.6 kilometres.
View Driebergen - A'dam Rijnkanaal - Utrecht in a larger map			May 5th As we did 2 weeks ago we met at the trainstation of Driebergen but this time we started to walk in a southerly direction following the river Kromme Rijn (Curved Rhine) through the village of Odijk and from there to Werkhoven and the Amsterdam - Rhine Canal. The first part of the hike took us through an area full of fruit trees.
that had finally come to blossom in the spring weather that arrived so late this year. The walk on the side of the canal was a bit boring as it was long and straight walking over the dyke and we did not see much shipping in the canal. Getting closer to Utrecht we found a nice place for a rest in the garden of a farmhouse on the border of the canal where the owner was serving drinks and simple snacks.
We approached the city centre of Utrecht from the south and walked via the 'Sterrenburg' city walls to a café at the 'Oudegracht' where we enjoyed a drink before saying goodbye and take our trains back home again. The total hike length was 33 kilometres.

This Sunday Vera, Hans and my Mom came to The Hague in the mroning and after a coffee Vera and I left for our walk to meet Hans and Mom later at Scheveningen Beach. Via the Laakkade we walked to the Zuiderpark in the southwest of Tha Hague and after a tour of the Park headed for the 'Bosjes van Poot', a park near Scheveningen. From there we climbed a steep sand dune and via Scheveingen harbor and boulevard arrived in beach pavilion Summertime where Mom and Hans waited for us lunch.
View Training April 21st in a larger map			After lunch we went onto the beach and along the low tide waterline we walked in a northerly direction to leave the beach again after the last Scheveingen beach pavilion. Through the sand dunes we walked to Meijendel and from there to the Waalsdorp fields and back home via the Haagse Forest.
Although I carried my camera around the whole hike only 2 pictures were taken. Above the steam trains maintained by a group of hobyists in the Zuiderpark and on the left a view of Scheveningen when we left the beach for the sand dunes at Meijendel. The total hike length was 32.6 kilometres and excluding the 1 hour lunch at the beach club it took us 5 hours and 30 minutes.

This time both Vera and I took a train from our home town and arrived in the village of Driebergen (coming from opposite directions) about 5 minutes after each other. The first part of our hike was in a westerly direction through a landscape of farmland and small forests untill we reached the river 'Kromme Rijn' on the border of the village Bunnik. We followed the river for a while until we reached the Fort Rijnauwen, part of the New Dutch Waterline. We then turned north and walked through the botanical gardens of the University of Utrecht in the Uithof area. This garden is being developed in and around Fort Hoofddijk. From there we continued to the village of De Bilt with the Dutch National Wheather Institute. This gave me special memories about my sailing time as on board of Dutch ships we used to send weather reports to them every six hours from all over the world.
View Driebergen to Utrecht in a larger map			From De Bilt we went in westerly direction and walked by the Fort Voordorp. This fort is renovated in the ninety's of last century and is now an event location for (private) party's with 20 to 1500 people. About one kilometre further to the west we reached the Fort Blauwkapel on the north of Utrecht.
This fort is build around the village Blauwkapel as can be best seen on the air photo. We walked from south to north through the Fort and after passing Fort Ruigenhoek we turned south to the city of Utrecht and entered the city center on the borders of the river Vecht. When we entered the cafe in City Castle Oudaen, well known for it's local beer we had walked 4 hours and 55 minutes and we covered a distance of 26.8 kilomtres without a stop or break. Here is the link to the Photo Album of the day and below the map above is a link to view the trak on a bigger Google Map.

After a train ride from The Haque to Barneveld I met Vera at the station where she arrived by bus. We started our hike in a southerly direction to the villages of Scherpenzeel and Renswoude. It was a cold but sunny day that gave us the impression that the spring was finally arriving o this Easter Sunday. We made that statement at the time we were approaching the mill at Walderveen, not aware of the (small) snowstorms that we were still to meet during the day. Before we actually reached Scherpenzeel we turened into an easterly direction to find and follow the 'Grebbelinie, an old army defence line that was abandoned after the 2nd Word War but still visible in the landscape. Looking down from the Grebbelinie to some of the surrounding area's it can still be seen that this once has been wetlands but as the waterflow is now well maintained through canals and pump stations it is mainly meadowland used by farmers. It took us 5 hours and 16 minutes to reach Vera's home and we covered a distance of 30.3 kilomtres without a stop or break. Here is the link to the Photo Album of the day and below the track can be viewed on Google maps.
View Grebbelinie in a larger map.

This morning I took the train to Ede-Wageningen to meet Vera there at the trainstation for our hike. Not expected but also not unusual for this time of the year it was snowing lightly when I left The Hague and the more east I was traveling the more snow there was. From Ede we had a relaxed drive to Malden, a village on the route of today's track where we decided to park the car. When we started hiking there was still a light snow falling down but it stopped soon after. From Malden we walked south on the side of the Maas-Waal canal that connects the rivers Maas and Waal. Once we reached Mook we left the border of the Maas river and headed for Groesbeek. This summer when we will be doing 40 or 50 kilometers (Thursday July 18th) we will have to continue a bit more south. From Mook we entered the forest area which was nice for the snow around us and the hills were not bothering us. From Groesbeek we turned north again and we discussed that in the summer that will be the last 10-15 kilometers of hills after 3 long days walking already. Will most likely not go as fast as today. Although there was a cold wind blowing we did actually like the 'Zevenheuvelenweg' (Seven Hills Road). After just over 20 kilometers in less than 4 hours we reached the center of Nijmegen where we enjoyed a sandwhich and a warm coffee. The last 10 kilometres to the car in Malden were fairly easy and when we got there my GPS told us we did 30.7 km in 6 hours and 15 minutes including the stop for lunch. This is the link to the Photo Album of the day and below is the track we followed on Google maps.
View the Malden, Groesbeek and Nijmegen hike in a larger map.

Although snow was predicted to fall all day we decided to continue on the planned hike and I took the train to Ede-Wageningen where I met Vera and we took a local train to Wolfheze, the starting point of our hike. With light snow falling down we started hiking soutward following the country trails to Renkum. From Renkum we followed paved roads and cycle paths as that will also be the case for the 4-daagse. Viewing the river Rhine over the wide flood plains we reached the city of Wageningen where we stopped for lunch. When we left the cafe 'De Kater' the snowfall had actually increased but that was only for about 30 minutes. It was a nice walk in an area where I cycled around a lot growing up; my sister Vera still lives there. The snow gave us nice views and the last shot I took was a picture of the Keetmolen in Ede near the trainstation where we entered the village on our way to Vera's home. This is the link to the Photo Album of the day and below is the track we followed on Google maps, total track lenght was 23.4 km.
View the Wolfheze to Ede hike in a larger map.

On this cold but sunny Saturday we started our hike form the train station at Rhenen. After I managed to get my Garmin GPS going with the route pre-set we enjoyed a lovely hike. After we came down from the hill in Rhenen through the village of Achterberg the roads were a bit boring and the meadowland flat but that was good to practice and maintain a high average speed of about 6 kilometres per hours. Once we got to the cycle track next to the Grift river we had the wind coming from behind and the hike became even more enjoyable. When we approached the Grebbeberg just north of the river Rhine we had a few drops of rain but that was all. After enjoying the view over the river Rhine from the Grebbeberg we came down to the river and walked back to the village of Rhenen where the car was parked. This is the link to the Photo Album of the day and below is the track we followed on Google maps. Total track lenght was 20.4 km.
View the Grift and Grebbeberg hike in a larger map.

No pictures of our hike today as it was raining from the moment we left my apartment in The Hague and I did not bother to bring my camera. The training took us through the 'Hague Forest' to the sand dunes north of The Hague. Then, from the Meijendel area in the sand dunes we turned in south westerly direction (against the wind and rain) to the beach and Scheveningen beach resort. After a stop for lunch in the Crazy Piano Bar on the boulevard (we need to come back one night), we continued south over the boulevard to Scheveningen Harbour and from there back to my apartment via the International Palace of Justice and the houses of parliament 'Het Binnenhof'. We felt great and actually were not bothered by the rain and wind! Below is the track we followed on Google maps. Where the track appears to be in the North Sea we did walk over the beach, close to the waterline at low tide. Total track lenght was 22.8 km which we did with a moving average of 5.7 kilometres per hour.
View the Meijendel and Scheveningen hike in a larger map.

Finally the day was there that we managed to meet for a hike together! At the same time it was going to be the longest hike so far for Vera who had already been training actively with her partner Hans; 2 days before today's hike they already completed a 13.7 kilometre hike together! Using the Garmin Basecamp program on my MacBook and the Onroute Hiking map of The Netherlands I had prepared a 19.7 kilometres hike starting from the train station of Lunteren to Vera's home in Ede. We agreed to meet just after 10 am but as my train was delayed I managed to contact Vera before she had to leave home and we met half an hour later. From the village of Lunteren we walked into a northerly direction with the help my good old Garmin Oregon 400t GPS that had the map and route loaded! Before leaving Lunteren Vera already wondered why I was turning into a street with a 'dead-end' sign but she understood when she saw the hiking trail starting at the end of the street (see picture 3 of today's album). Over the 'Goudsberg' (Gold Mountain: In the Netherlands anything higher than 30 metres is called a 'mountain') we walked to and through the sand dunes of the 'Wekeromse Zand' and then via the 'Roekel' estate to the 'Ginkelse Heide' and Vera's home in the city of Ede. It was a great hike through nice landscape that I know so well from my youth when I grew up in Ede. For me Vera is a natural hiker! After we did 21.3 kilometres in 4 hours and 15 minutes I think she was even feeling better than I did! Time for some real catch up and exercise Menno! View all 10 pictures in today's photo album.
View the Lunteren to Ede hike in a larger map.

On this day I visited my sister Vera and her partner Hans and we had dinner together with our mom. At one moment Vera talked about having her sixtiest Birthday next year and that she wanted to do something special. When I asked her what she meant with 'something special' she mentioned hiking the 'Nijmeegse 4-Daagse' in July 2013! She took me more or less by surprise with that statement. They call me the 'hiker' in the family and although she is healthy person she is not really seen as being a dedicated sports person. She does the regular cycling, fitness with friends or at home and a skying holiday every year but since playing basketball during highschool I have not seen her in any competition. After thinking about it I made her the following proposal: If she really wants to participate in the 4 day hiking event I would support and join her in the training and we will walk the 4 days together! I gave her a month to think about it, try understand what it is to walk for 4 days in a row 40 or 50 kilometers and think about the training effort to make the event a success.