Things to enjoy
The "special effects" is the next thing to pay attention to. The paths must have been so warm that by now, when the rain is over, the water evaporates quickly into a rising mist. You have to pay a fortune to see this on a rock-concert. Here it is all included! On one of the laps I see a mole frantically trying to get off the path, but it blindly goes into the wrong direction. It must have found it, however. Next lap it is no longer there. The paths of biggest part of the lap are made of asphalt. There is however a road where building activities have been going on. The pavement is a mess and every step is different. There is the steep wooden and slippery bridge in the park to enjoy and some small and bigger pools. One of the pools gets bigger and bigger. I forget where the shallowest part is, so I go along side through the mud as others do. The "blue jacket official" thinks this very funny and again typical for the frail and unfit, I suppose. A few hours later the RWV lays some beams in the pool for an improvised bridge. It works well. A bit further on big sheets of iron or steel were put on the path for construction vehicles. We don"t need it but it does keep one alert. It starts raining again and this time it simply goes on and an on and on. Nobody is singing but a few birds and frogs. The heat has disappeared completely.
Time for dinner?
At about 7 "o clock I warn Jill that it is about time for dinner and dry socks. However, the pools on the paths and the ongoing rain make it ridiculous to stop and change. So I go for another lap, and another. There are blisters coming up. I am not surprised. After about 60 km. at about 8 "o clock it doesn"t seem sensible to wait any longer. I need to put on warmer clothes and I need something more solid to eat. I decide to do "The Full Monty". Neighbours at the support point allow me to change in their tent. Thank you so much! It is still raining. Fortunately Jill Green helps me. The clothes stick to my body and I can"t get them off by myself. Putting dry clothes on is an adventure too. I allow my feet a few minutes to dry before I attend the blisters, put on dry socks and move on. In the meantime I have had dinner: some vegetable pie I made at home and are just the thing I like right now.
It is a miracle. When I leave the tent after a 22 minutes stop it is almost dry. Perfect timing by accident. At the near 80 km. point I am right on schedule: 11 hours gone so far and halfway!
More than just walking
You may think that the walkers do a great job, but there is far more to it. We couldn"t possibly do this without many other people who"s name never appear on any list. The organisation of the RWV is simply great, supportive and enthusiastic. Halfway the lap is the already mentioned water and sponge stop. Wilfried, the youngest of "The Daltons", works hard bringing in the water and cleaning the cups, while his father fills them and his brother Jacques or his friend hand them out to us, or give us a sponge (also very useful for cleaning hands after having eaten a banana). On a few occasions they miss a walker, but they work hard and do a great job. At the finishline two to four people work the clock and enter the times in a computer database. Some 50 meters behind that line someone asks you what you want to drink or eat. You tell it and then he or she shouts it to other helpers 20 meters further down the lap and by the time you are there, they hand out the tea, coffee (with/without sugar or milk), isostar, milk, sandwiches, bananas, yoghurt, sweets. You name it, they have it (as long as you don"t ask for a Christmas Dinner). I often order tea and just plain bread, a banana every now and then and some licorice. Then there is a line up of personal helpers. My favourite guardian angel is of course Jill Green. Well known in the long-distance-walkers-world this lady, mother of two sons, grandmother of a lovely granddaughter, walked a/o. the approx. 340 km. of Chalon to Colmar non-stop three times, did Roubaix (28 hours) eight times. Jill came all the way from the Isle of Wight (England) to help me! Roger le Moine who starts later for the 50 miles is very supportive too. Spencer Lane drove up from London in his car and brought a table and chairs. This weather is not at all his favourite and Spencer had to give up. I left all my stuff with Jill and Spencer in the car. I put everything into plastic bags or boxes and put stickers on them: "shoes", "socks", "hot weather clothes", "night-dresses", "first aid kit", "raingear", etc. Jill says she found everything.
Volunteers from the Red Cross are stand by too. After the finish I hear Dave Bindervoet has had trouble with his foot and lower leg. Icepacks and tape helped only a bit. Dave felt very uncomfortable, but finished his 100 miles in a little more than 23 hours. Well done Dave, I hope you will recover soon!
