For the second time in a week, I was working on the train. I was busy placing icons on the maps of Sweden and Norway in the new cycling guide of the S:t Olavsleden. Everything was going well until the train had to make an emergency stop. I heard a bang and, to my amazement, saw all the icons flying through the train. In no time at all, page transitions, arrows and lots of droplets with numbers, figures and train stations were everywhere. The entire floor of the compartment was littered with them. Horrified, I looked from my laptop to the floor and back to my laptop. Everything was gone. My laptop screen showed blank maps. Somewhere among the icons, I saw the scale indication: 1 to 75,000. That's not right, I thought just before I woke up...
Fortunately, it was just a dream. But that shows how intensely I am working on it. But... now all the icons are in the right place and the text and layout have been checked, checked and double-checked. The guide is now at the printer, yay! The expected publication date is January, 16. Later than planned, but still before the cycling season starts.
This is my fifth cycling guide and also the most special project I have been working on since 2019. Special, because every year there was a good reason not to finish the project. But now I am close to the finish line and very optimistic: the guide is coming!
Note that this is a guide in Dutch. Probably there will be an English translation in the future. Let me know via the Via Gaia Contact page if you are interested.
You can already order the guide! And I have an offer for those who purchase the guide in advance. Or rather, two offers:
- If you place an order before January 15, you will receive a gift. Click here to order and choose your gift: cycling guide St. Olavspad.
And here you can find detailed information about the route: Cycling route S:t Olavsleden. I should note that the English translation is not yet complete, but work is underway, and it will be finished in the coming weeks. - Package discount.
Now that the St. Olavsleden is complete, you can even cycle the entire route! Well, you have to take a long summer holiday for it. I have two packages on offer and with both packages you get, depending on the package, a 10% or 15% discount on the normal retail price. And here too, if you order the package before January 15, you will receive a gift*.
Click on a package** for more information and to order:
- Package 1 In the footsteps of St. Olav – parts 1-4, 15% discount.
Route: Kristiansand-Oslo-Selånger-Trondheim-Oslo.
Length: approximately 2,400 kilometres (about 6 weeks).
Info & Order: Package 1. - Package 2 In the footsteps of St. Olav - parts 2-4, 10% discount.
Route: Oslo-Selånger-Trondheim-Oslo.
Length: approximately 2,000 kilometres (about 5 weeks).
Info & Order: Package 2.
* while stocks last.
** the package will only be sent once the St. Olavspad guide is published and not before.
More online shop offers!
A number of items are almost sold out and will not be returning to the webshop. You can find them all in the Sales Corner. The following applies to everything: once they're gone, they're gone, so be quick:
- “Go North” T-shirts. For anyone walking or cycling north, whatever your destination. The advantage: you never travel against the sun and you have the wind behind you more often than against you! These are now available for €19.95 instead of €29.95, plus a small gift.
- There is one white T-shirt left with the Olav logo. Who will help me get rid of this last shirt? For men and women, size S. From €29.95 to €10.00.
- Merino wool buff, only available in brown/green. Makes all scarves and hats redundant! From €39.95 to €29.95, plus a small gift.
- Merino wool beanie, only available in brown/green. Wonderfully warm for winter under a cycling helmet! Or for travellers who have outgrown their hair. From €29.95, now €24.95, plus a small gift.
- Silver pendant. The most beautiful Olav jewellery as a souvenir of your pilgrimage. Now from €169.95, for €149.95, plus a small gift.
- Staff mark. To attach to your walking stick. From €5.50, for €4.50.
- Bucket hat. A nice “sunshade” for the walker! From €27.95, now €17.95, plus a small gift.
Lectures and fairs
In the first few months of the new year, I will be giving a number of lectures and attending a few cycling and travel fairs. The lectures are all in Dutch and all events are in the Netherlands and Belgium, except for the Pilger Messe in Berlin. If you are interested, you can find an overview of all activities on the Dutch-language page of Via Gaia.
Closing words
This letter is once again filled with Via Gaia news. Privately, Remy and I do not have much to report, except that we have some very enjoyable summer plans. We are finally going on a cycling holiday together again! The last one was back in May 2024. Because I don't have much fieldwork left to do for the next guide, Kystpilegrimsleija (the Coastal Pilgrim Route), we're combining it with a holiday in Sweden and Norway. And we're not just going cycling...
Remy and I wish you all a God jul og godt nyttår (N), God jul och gott nytt år (Z)!
Or: Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and loving New Year.
Greetings from Gea
