Obstacles do not block the path, they are the path...
"Do you have Grey Gehwol?" I ask the girl in the pharmacy in Monster (the village next to ours). "For the feet," I add as she looks doubtfully at me. I thought Gewohl was a well-known brand in the pharmacy world. Grey Gehwol is supposed to be a very good remedy for preventing blisters. Because yes, I really want to keep walking, despite the painful pilgrimage! I can't wait for my feet to heal, so I can train again.
The girl in the pharmacy walks over to the 'feet corner'. "I only have a yellow one," she says. In her hands she has a bag of wool...
(About the title: Veni Vidi Fietsie / Veni vidi vici… I came, I saw, I conquered. Famous words of Julius Ceasar after a victory in 47 BC. Apart from the fact it alliterates nicely, the last word ‘vici’ sounds like the Dutch word ‘fietsie’ (spoken as ‘feet-see’) which is slang for small bicycle.)
I came home a week ago. And I find it a little difficult to write this newsletter. I have never been so reluctant to return to the Netherlands. And by waiting to write this letter, I may be postponing the final return a little.
In the meantime I have Grey Gehwol which I rub on my feet every day. Another pharmacy had it and I also got expert advice.
The three months in Norway and Sweden have been intense. Very intense. I had a lot to discuss with a lot of people. Sometimes purely business related, but mostly business and private matters intermingled. Many of the people became friends for life over the years. So the conversations are different.
Logistically, it was a huge puzzle and I had not planned everything as well as I should have. It must be noted that the visits to the respective Emergency Rooms in Norway and Sweden, as well as getting Covid, were not included in the planning.
Concrete results of these three months
Achieved:
- I can finally finish the cycling guide to the route On the way to St Olav. This is not a pilgrim route, but it is a route that connects two pilgrim routes, so that a round can be cycled. The guide will be released in early 2025. Look here for more info on the route: On the way to St Olav.
Most of the Coastal pilgrims' route is now mapped out. Next year I will cycle the last bits, after which there will be a guidebook - I have checked and adjusted (small) bits along Gudbrandsalsleden (Oslo-Trondheim).
- From October 1st (maybe earlier), pilgrim items will also be for sale in the Via-Gaia webshop. Think of pins, patches, magnets, buffs, hats, etc. Everything is in limited supply, but should it be a success, the stock and range will be expanded.
Failed:
Because I got Covid and was out of the running for two weeks, I could not cycle the St. Olavsleden. This was necessary to complete the cycling guide. This route runs from Selånger/Sundsvall on the east coast of Sweden to Trondheim in Norway. I have cycled this route all the way (large parts even several times), but the Swedish part still has some ambiguities, so I want to cycle it all the way again. Later this year is out of the question, as there can be snow in the higher areas as early as October.
Postponed:
There will be no cycling guide for the St Birgitta Ways in Sweden for the time being.
Now I am getting used to the Netherlands again. After three months of peace and quiet and an overload of nature, everything comes back with a vengeance. The crowds, the noise, the smells (can there be a ban on perfume and aftershave??). But... I'm with Remy again! Sure, I've missed him a lot, and I'm incredibly happy to be with him again. And there are lots of things in my agenda that I am really looking forward to.
And I go walking! Meanwhile I have Gray Gewohl that I use on my feet. The painful pilgrimage did not cause me any walking trauma. On the contrary! I want to rebuild slowly, and in the meantime my foot is going in the right direction. One of the wounds didn't look good, and I went back to the Emergency Room in Sweden twice. The last time it looked hopeful and apart from medical advice the nurse mainly gave me tourist tips. She had all the time in the world for that. Hooray for the Swedish health care service! Although I did wonder why that lifebuoy was hanging there...
And, of course, I keep cycling! I don't have to choose, because both are fun. And comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. And of course I still ride my bike! I don't have to choose, because both are fun. And comparing them is like comparing apples and oranges. But I would like to cycle more. My morning cycle, 22 km to The Hague and back, fell out of my routine last year. This week I cycled with Remy in the mornings, and when walking comes back, I want to do it alternately.
And swimming? Yes, swimming too! Or rather, dipping (in the sea). Sadly, the neighbour's dog Bo, my dear swimming buddy, has passed away. She was only eight years old, but she had incurable cancer and was put to sleep a few days before I came home. This video shows how I returned from Scandinavia earlier and Bo couldn't wait to swim with me again: video Bo (tip: turn on the sound).
Dear people, thank you for reading and sympathizing. And thanks especially to my Norwegian and Swedish friends. Thanks to you, despite the many obstacles, these have been fantastic months again! Tusen takk / Tack så mycket!
Love, Gea
The last few days we stayed in Vanrem, at the wonderful hostel Klokkengården
On the ferry from Gothenburg to Kiel
And this morning I came across these obstacles while cycling. And a beautiful rainbow.
