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!
When I drove to Flevoland the first time, late October 2018, I was under the impression it would be a one time thing only, accompany a Peaker on one of the legs of her challenge. Little did I know it would be the first of many early morning drives to join a group of Dutch Peakers for a walk.
It was still dark when I left home at 6:30 am on that Sundaymorning and after a 2 hour drive, and picking up another Peaker halfway, we arrived at the starting point near Elburg, a parkinglot near a Beachclub. It was a chilly morning and we were craving for coffee and in need of a restroom and neither was available, since the Beachclub was closed. Until the owner appeared and we decided to give it a go and asked if we could please please have a cup of coffee. Shortly after he returned with coffee and even let us use the restroom, showing that hospitality and kindness still exist.
I have no idea what I expected from this walk. Of course I looked forward to this meetup and activity with other Peakers. And the 20 km walk would be a next milestone in distance, since, until then, a 16 km walk during a one-day visit to Istanbul and a 16 km downhill hike through the Samariagorge on Crete were the longest. I can only say that when I drove home I knew this was the first but definitely not the last part of the dykes I had walked! A long story short: in the end I drove 6 consecutive times to Flevoland for a walk over the dykes, a total of about 120 km for me. And I was not the only one. There was always a group of Dutch Peakers, varying from 2 – 10 to accompany our friend on her challenge. The total distance was 190 km, devided in 9 walks, of about 20 km each.
After the chilly start we were blessed with a gorgeous sunny day during our first walk. And even November let us mostly walk in sunny circumstances, chilly but sunny. It was as if the elements thought we needed to be tempted to come more often, which was completely unnecessary. We walked, regardless of the weatherforecast. Sun, rain, wind or cold, it didn’t matter. In fact, to me, sometimes the weathercircumstances added something extra to a walk. Afterwards it felt as if I had conquered an extra element. And I always drove home with a feeling of immense content, physically tired, but mentally revived and energised.
The surroundings were absolutely amazing. I never thought there would be so much variety in landscape while walking on or alongside a dyke. The southeastside and southside of Flevoland are slightly wooded and across the water the other shore is visible. Here we passed a lot of campsites on the shore and small and bigger towns on the other side. Flevoland is a flat province with wide open space and the more westward we walked the more the large energy generating windmills dominated the dykes. It’s a sight that is not to everyones liking but somehow they fit in this landscape, although I can understand that people living in close proximity don’t agree with me. They cast a giant shadow and are very noisy!
Along the westside and northwest side of Flevoland one side is dominated by the IJsselmeer, with sometimes a glimpse of Amsterdam across the water. Although the weather still treated us with sunshine, the winds were stronger and extra warm clothes became a necessity. Eventually November showed its true face. Our walk on the westside, through the Oostvaardersplassen, was a real challenge in itself. It was a grey and sometimes misty day, with temperatures just above 0°C that felt freezing due to the cold wind from the north blowing in our face, and stops were as short as possible to prevent from getting too cold. A deep sigh was heard when we finally reached the other side of the dyke where we found at least some shelter from the cold wind. On our walk along the northwest side rainprotection was needed, but on our last part, that ended where our Peakerfriend’s journey began, we were again blessed with a cold but sunny day.
Like I said before I never expected so much variety in landscape along these dykes. Whether it’s a landscape with forest, campsites and harbours or meadows, distant towns, or the vast open space of the IJsselmeer and the Oostvaardersplassen, each has their own charm. Combined with the uplifting company of friends it was a unique experience in every way. Challenges were accomplished, limits were pushed, elements were conquered and friendships were formed. But most of all, it was pure joy to be in the presence of a group of likeminded people, who were (sometimes) strangers at first but became friends along the way.
After all these Sundaywalks together we realised that we would miss these walks very much once the challenge was accomplished, and started thinking of continuing walking with groups of Dutch Peakers in 2019. Before the end of 2018 we had a scheme with 22 walks all over the Netherlands in 2019. Walks where one Peaker would/will show us a part of the province she lives in, her own ‘backyard’ or another part she’d like to show us. As I write this we just completed walk number 9 (blog: https://wp.me/paWbrQ-7C ) and I was lucky to participate in almost all of them so far. It already brought me to beautiful places and there is more to come from Dutch Peakers walking the Netherlands.
I am still grateful for the fact that one Dutch Peaker challenged herself to walk the dykes of Flevoland and allowed us to join her and that I took the step to do so. Going through the photoalbum I made and seeing the joyful photos makes me smile every time.
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life. Tiptoe if you must, but take the step!
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.
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! 