More of this Feature • Day 1 • Day 2-3 • Day 4-5 • Day 6 • Day 7 • Photos

Related Resources • Christina's '97 Review • Gary's Ireland Walk • Gary's Luxembourg Review • Gary's Viborg 2-Day Walk Review

From Other Guides • Europe for Visitors

Elsewhere on the Web • Hærvejsvandring

I am still looking for the guy who talked me into this. I am American. We don't do things like this, do we?

The "guy" I refer to is Richard Wright, RAF Flight Captain, Retired. He is a "walking fool". In Europe that is a compliment, and he deserves every bit of it. He is to date the most prolific walker I ever met. He mentioned to me last year he had walked a 300 kilometer route, and two days later, when he was mentioning this to me, we were preparing to start the Four Days of Nijmegen. I thought he was nuts. Now I think I was nuts.

Originally I was to walk three marches, take 10 days off and wander around Europe, and then do the Nijmegen. Due to Hoof and Mouth Ireland was canceled. So, I looked for some weekend marathons. None were readily available, and my eye fell on the Havervandring. I don't remember how my mind was working that week, but I signed up.

The march is organized by the Fodslaw, the Danish walking organization, and is affiliated with IVV. The march starts in Schleswig, Germany. Marchers are housed in schools along the route, and the first night was the same. I bumped into Dick at the first school in Schleswig, and he was genuinely surprised to see me show up. In his words, "You will love this, a stroll in the park". Dick has a way with words as you will see.

I had my first mini-adventure as Fodslaw did not have my payment, arranged through my bank. After returning to the States it was learned that they never sent it. The international money order was filed away. Less for my walking comrades: If you can pay on registration day, do so. They charge on the average $5.00 for late fees. The money order cost me $10.00. Hence the arithmetic, and if you can't show at the last minute everyone is happy, but DO communicate and let the organization know you are coming, helps with arranging lodging and food.

I noticed the abundance of greetings of old friends. There are those who have been doing this over 20 years. John Santa Maria was there, as well as Bill, both retired from the USAF. This was John's 23rd venture. Bill's 17th. Dick was there for the eighth time. Anne Marie Hosli was there for her second. These folks were together, helping and looking out for each other. Jan, from Holland was there (can't remember his tenure but he has been often). Dick invited me to join their group (always getting adopted, I must give off a melancholy aura). Han was a Metropolitan Police Sergeant from London. He was due for retirement in a year and he intended to become a "professional" marcher. His wife was home, but would meet him in Nijmegen the following week. I wanted to get more details from him on his having met his wife, as he mentioned he met her coming out of a WC on a march. They struck up a relationship and lo and behold, she is also a Sergeant on the Police Department. Why can't that happen to me?

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Photos copyright 2001 Gary Nelson