Disclosure: Wendy Bumgardner attended the event as a delegate to the annual IML meeting, with some expenses paid by International Walk Fest and the organizers of the Two-Day Walk of Blankenberge.

More of this Feature • Getting There • Saturday Walk • Sunday Walk • Photos

Elsewhere on the Web • Blankenberge 2-Day Walk

Registration: Register in advance for 6 Euros for the two days, mailing in the registration and paying by credit card, Eurocheque or international postal money-order or you can register at the event for 8 Euros for the two days.

Routes
The event has different lengths of routes, each for two days:
• 42 kilometer (marathon) and 24 kilometer routes are sanctioned by the International Marching League and the IVV.
• The 14 kilometer and 6 kilometer routes are sanctioned by the IVV.
• Each day's distance is approximate. I walked the 24 kilometer route and on Saturday the distance was more in the range of 26 kilometers, on Sunday approximately 21 kilometers. The Saturday marathon was likewise longer than 42 kilometers.
• The routes are flat. Each day begins along the beach front and then through the dunes. Sand is not a problem for the 24 km walkers, but the 42 km walkers are in the dunes longer and may wish to carry extra socks to change into after exiting the dunes.

Markings: The routes are marked with green arrows and excellent maps are provided. However, the best course is to follow the other 6000 walkers around you. The numbers provide plenty of walking companionship yet it was usually easy to pass and be passed by other walkers.

Water and food: Bring money! You must purchase everything along the route, there is no free water. At checkpoints and in between you can buy water, beer, sandwiches, pastries, coffee. In each little town the walkers are welcome at the cafes and taverns, and many stop to enjoy them. There is one or more free soup stops along the way each day, with soup reconstituted from dry soup stock and provided in paper cups.

Restrooms: While there are one or two porta-johns near many of the checkpoints, you can use the restrooms in the cafes and taverns. Sometimes there is a charge of 50 cents Euro, so bring money. I was surprised at how short the lines were for restrooms, usually 5 people or fewer.

First aid: is provided in first aid tents noted on the map.

Welcome: Friday evening there is a welcome get-together at the Forum. Walkers from all over the world drop in to meet their walking friends and share a beer or glass of wine and listen to music. The room quickly fills with smoke as many of the walkers here smoke.

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