More of this Feature • Part 1: Getting There • Part 2: Day 1 • Part 3: Day 2

Related Resources • International Marching League Events • Christina's '97 Viborg Review • Gary's Ireland Walk • Gary's Luxembourg Review

From Other Guides • Europe for Visitors

Elsewhere on the Web • Hærvejsmarch

Story by Gary Nelson

The second day began as the first. This time we headed deeper into the forests and the wildlife refuges. I found Eva and Eric on the route, and mid way through the march we walked along an old railway route which had been reconstructed with laid brick for six kilometers. I found this interesting. Eric explained that the brick walkway had been laid by persons serving alternatives to prison sentences and youth organizations donating time to community service.

The rest areas seemed to be more frequent, and at one point Eva mentioned she knew someone along the route who was also in the Danish Home Guard. The Home Guard is similar to the National Guard in the States. Instead of responding to a base, personnel respond to assigned positions, such as radio and television stations and points of tactical interest. This individual was the mother of three. She spoke excellent English. As I began to continue on the route the woman, whose last name was Neilson (which was remarked on) beckoned me into her home and we ate small sandwiches, drank a beer and sipped a special liqueur made from apples. I just go with the flow. When in Rome, and all that.

The scenery is the same, yet never loses its appealing nature. The end of the second day brought me another foreign decoration and great applause. The applause had much to do with my being the last official finisher. I had a long way to go to get my pace and gait much improved. And walking with Eva and Eric requires many stops and visiting with people. What amazed me about these two was they always knew when to get up and get going again and finish right on the money.

The day after the event I left Viborg on a local train to Hamburg, and took the night train to Charleroi for the flight to Ireland. New place, more walking.

> > Page 1, 2, 3