More of this Feature • Getting There • 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

Day Four. Getting to breakfast was a struggle. I was falling to pieces about now and my doubts were getting serious. At every rest stop beginning today I went to Sanatet (medical assistance) and they checked my feet and rebandaged. Metta was the daughter of the lead organizer, and she began to know my feet as well as her own. They began giving me pain killers, which tasted much like Alka Seltzer. I also started receiving regular doses of salt tablets. My liquid consumption went up also. I carried a 70 oz Camelback and was going through two of those a day. I limited my beer consumption to one a day at lunch.

At the middle rest stop Fodslaw served soup and I started working hard on that also. My food intake was noticeably inadequate for the calories I was burning. I wanted to rest often but the process of getting started was excruciating. I wondered if I had trained enough and after the first three events including Ireland and my improved training in the States, I figured I had done all I could. It was a simple matter of it being the Havervandring.

The Leo and All noticed my situation at the truck breaks and also noticed the difficulty of my getting started. There was no end of morale support and encouragement. Dick was also having trouble and was mentioning a pulled muscle. Han so far was doing wonderfully. Dick and Han continued to be first in and prepare the sleeping arrangements.

Day Five. Someone told me that the route was off road more often these years as a few years back a marcher was struck by an auto on the road. The trails didn't suit me very well. The fields were uneven and slowed me considerably as my feet were all but melting.

We were treated to castles today, but they were always off the route, such as across a lake. It would have been a wonderful side trip for 20 minutes or so.

Along the route I noticed mounds of earth. These were built over the years for flood refuge. From time to time the area floods, and does so with enthusiasm. Locals take refuge on the mounds. Today rescue comes not from boats but from helicopters. No one could relate to me the last time they were used.

The fifth night found us in a sports hall again, with everyone sleeping in the gym. I found it hard to sleep. The pain was getting to me so I sat in what was the registration desk near the entrance and had a few beers with my Anglo/Danish Team and Simon who I had met during the 2 day Denmark IML. I finally got down a little after midnight.

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Photos copyright 2001 Gary Nelson