When Walking Peakers join for a walk somewhere in the Netherlands usually the host of that day has walked the route before and knows a bit about the region we’re walking in. But a few weeks ago our host had to cancel her guiding due to personal reasons. We decided to walk anyway, only had to come up with an alternative route in short time. Since I live close to the province we were supposed to go for our walk (Limburg) I decided to see what I could come up with. I found a route that sounded promising but had no time to check out for myself. In the end there were three of us who met at the starting point near Afferden for a 12 km walk in Nature Park De Maasduinen. The weathergods blessed us with a day without rain and a nice temperature and it turned out to be a beautiful and surprising walk.
De Maasduinen is a region with dunes stretching out along de river Maas in the north of the province Limburg. The course of the river, the wind and mankind are resposible for the way it looks these days.
Our walk took us through woods of oaks and pines, over the heather (which didn’t bloom anymore at his time of the year) and of course through dunes. The views were breathtaking, fall showed its beauty in many colors and we were so flabbergasted by the abundance of enormous mushrooms that we called this ‘The Mushroom Walk’.
Since we were such a small group this time and because we had a weekend without walking on our walkingcalendar we decided to plan this route again at the end of november to give others a chance to join in. No need to say that I don’t mind at all!!
This time 3 weeks ago I was on the eve of a long awaited and highly anticipated journey, walking the West Highland Way with my oldest son. Sadly it didn’t go as planned. I had to stop after walking 4 days and 96 km due to painful knee issues. It was a tough decision, and my son and I were both very disappointed. Since all our accomodations were booked we decided to stay in Scotland and make the best of our time while being there.
It took some time to get over the disappointment and appreciate what we did accomplish. We walked 96 km, mostly on tough terrain, often wondering if we had missed a sign because there seemed to be no path at all. (Well, we actually did miss a sign on the last day, but that was due to bad weather.) We saw amazing vistas, and I’m so very happy I took the time to take pictures, even when pain was dominating the fourth day. They will make a great photobook. We met nice people, had nice chats and enjoyed tasty food. And although it was raining a lot after we officially ended our walk, we were able to explore the surroundings where our accomodations were on short walks. After all Scotland’s beauty is everywhere.
And who knows, maybe the way this journey ended was a sign. A sign to show me I hadn’t be true to myself. That I was focussed too much on the goal instead of the journey from the beginning, despite everything I had said about it. I joined My Peak Challenge in 2017 mainly because of the charity part and setting goals or challenges were not my thing, like I wrote in a previous blog. And yet I let myself get tempted to set a challenge, because when I’m really honest to myself, that is what this was, a challenge. I should have known better and stayed closer to myself, to who I am: someone who takes life and its events as it comes. Life itself offers enough challenges without me adding an extra one.
So here I am, I managed to walk halfway the West Highland Way, from Milngavie to Tyndrum creating beautiful memories along that path, no one can take that away! And who knows, maybe I can walk the remaining kilometers next year. If not, well, so be it. Que sera sera!
Finally the day I have been looking forward to for so long has arrived. In only 7 hours my son and I will be on our way to Scotland. And on Wednesday our longdistance walk will begin: Walking the West Highland Way from Milngavie to Fort William. Suitcases and backpacks are packed, and boarding passes are ready.
When I started writing this blog I was in a not so happy mindset, a lot of negative and bad things had happened, and had taken a lot of my joy and excitement away. As simple as they were the items I wrote about helped me to get that back. This little written journey towards my big journey showed me again why I chose to do this and what I was looking forward to: finally return to Scotland and enjoy the beautiful scenery of one of the most amazing places there, the Scottish Highlands. And so excitement is building. And with it also came a little bit fear. Will I really be able to do this, will my body allow me to complete this journey. I always say we can do more than we think and age is just a number. Will I be able to prove I’m right? Well, there is no turning back now, and even if there was I would never do it. And I guess it’s normal to get a bit scared shortly before a dream comes true, like this quote states:
Yesterday’s walk with a group of 10 Dutch Peakers brought me to a small town in the province Zuid Holland, where the Peaker living there took us for a walk to show us her ‘backyard’. Again we discovered a beautiful part of our small country, another part of the Netherlands we would probably never have known of, if it weren’t for these walks.
Besides many familiar faces we also welcomed new members on this walk and, as happens every time, these new Peakers easily blended in in a group of Peakers who already know eachother for a longer time. We all come from different backgrounds and are of different age, but with (at least) one thing in common, we are all members of My Peak Challenge. Somehow this simple fact creates a bond even before meeting in real life.
One of the best things of these walks together, besides nature’s beauty, is that they offer an opportunity for conversation. Whether in the company of one other walker or a whole group, there is always something to talk about, chitchat or serious conversation. Especially serious topics are easier to talk about walking alongside someone than sitting opposite. It’s less confronting, there is more space around and there is room for emotions and for silence.
Talking while walking often helps to put things in perspective. Recognising your own difficulties in the story of a companion makes it less heavy. Sharing worries or issues doesn’t solve them, but somehow it makes them easier to bear. And the joy to be in nature and the laughter about the funny things in life are simply uplifting.
Walks like this spread so much positive energy, it has to be felt outside the group too. I always go home filled with energy, a happy heart, peaceful mind and feeling grateful for the friends and friendship I found through them.
I live in the Netherlands in the province Noord-Brabant. Besides its beautiful nature reserves Brabant is also the province where The Efteling, the largest themepark in the Netherlands, is situated. The Efteling has a history of 68 years and started as a place to relax and where fairytales were brought to life. Nowadays it’s a World of Wonders where fairytales, adventure and rollercoasters guarantee a day filled with fun and joy.
When I was little my parents often took me the Efteling. Especially on very warm days it was a welcome relief to be in the cool environment of the fairytales in the forest. In those days there was also a swimmingpool. When our own children were young hubby and I went there with them too, often when there was a fair in our hometown. The boys then had a free Monday and Tuesday from school while there was no nationwide holiday and often the only people in the park were from our hometown.
Dutch Peakers in the Efteling (2018) Photo: Amfion
In October 2018 I visited the Efteling myself with a large group of Dutch Peakers of various age for a fun day out. And a fun day it was! No matter your age, the Efteling always brings your inner child out and makes you feel like a teenager again for a day, strolling through the fairytale forest, and taking rides in the rollercoasters and other attractions. And we talk. A lot!
Talking with other members of my chosen family are always the best part of these gatherings. They vary from chitchat to serious talks about the issues we encounter in life. And so, in the course of this wonderful day, one of our members, who lives in the province Flevoland, told about the challenge she had given herself: walking the dykes that surround Flevoland before the end of the year. To understand what that means I need to tell a bit about Flevoland.
Photo: Google
Flevoland is the youngest and smallest province of the Netherlands, and above all, it’s a ‘man made’ province, a polder! The land was once covered with water, but by building dykes and using mills to pump away the water it became dry land where people could live. (This is a very short and simple way to explain, in fact it takes many many years before a polder is ready). The Netherlands know many of these areas that once were water, but now are dry land. Polders were created for various reasons, but mainly as protection against the water that surrounds our country and to create more space to live.
The Dutch Peaker who planned to walk the dykes that surround Flevoland wanted to do this as a way of embracing the province she is living in for 50 years now and we were welcome to join her on her walks which she had planned on the following Sundays. Two weeks later I joined her on her second walk.
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It wasn’t my first visit to Flevoland. Fifteen years before, in November 2003, I went there too, with my whole family, to plant trees for my father in ‘Het Wilhelminabos’ in Dronten. From 2000 until 2015 trees could be planted there (in November) in memory of loved ones who had lost their battle against cancer. The forest created this way, symbolises life. It grows, protects, dies and passes life on. It’s also a peaceful place, for memories, sadness and joy. The names of loved ones (many thousands) are engraved in glass panels at the site of the forest. My father had lost his battle in March 2003 and his grandchildren planted 2 trees in his memory. A few years later we visited the site again, to see for ourself how much the trees had grown.
And so last years visit to the themepark I once went to with my parents caused my return to the province where my children planted trees in memory of one of them ….
I embrace you with my feeling I cross Distance and time Just touch you Be close to you Just for a moment Just Be with you
In 2017 I joined My PeakChallenge (shortcut: MPC). According to its founder Sam Heughan, who I also mentioned in a previous blog, My Peak Challenge (founded in 2015) is “A healthy lifestyle and fitness program. It offers a workoutplan and nutritionplan and it is scalable to all levels and abilities. It aims to give our community the support and knowledge to help themselves, whilst helping others. On top of that 50% of the membershipfee goes to Bloodwise for Blood Cancer research.”
My Peak Challenge encourages its members to set a challenge (physical or nonphysical) and while working towards it with help of the program, learn to live a healthier, happier and more balanced life. On a private Facebookpage members, called Peakers, can share their stories, worries, goals and achievements. It’s a safe place to find help, encouragement, inspiration and motivation and give the same in return. Meanwhile 50% of the membershipfee goes to charity and worldwide there are more than 10000 Peakers at this moment!
Photo: Google
I mainly joined MPC because of the charity. In 2003 my father died of cancer. One of the 3 forms of cancer he suffered from was a rare type of bloodcancer, so this was, and still is, a perfect way to help raise money for Bloodcancer research.
MPC is a global community. It connects people from all over the world, as I experienced myself. And although I may never meet some of these friends in real life, the friendships are strong!
Photo’s: Google
In many countries Peakers also founded national groups and shortly after I joined MPC I joined the Dutch Peakers in the Netherlands. Little did I know at that time how important this group would become in my life. These past 2 years I participated, together with them, in activities I never would have thought of before and we all stepped out of our comfortzone more than once. We come in different ages and shapes, and from different backgrounds, but we lift eachother up, help, encourage, inspire, motivate and comfort when needed.
And so, while not following the mealplan and workouts on a daily basis, I benefit from MPC in more than one way:
Adjustments to my meals helped me to lose the last few kilo’s I never got rid of before (and they stay off!!)
The workouts, goals, progress and achievements from other Peakers made me realise that I set my own limits, my own goals and that age is just a number!
But best of all: My Peak Challenge enriched my life with a group of women, here and around the globe, who have become more than friends, they are my chosen family!
Take a walk! 