Training 40 KM Wije

Training 40Kkm is starting to become a smooth endeavor now although I do have concerns over being able to do so for four consecutive days in a row. I am now walking 40km rather than the promised 50km and the reason for this change is because I fear my inability to complete the extra 10km. It isnt carved in stone and can be altered at a later date should I feel able to. Please click here for the route.

We walked through the de Sallandse Heuvelrug National Park for part of the distance and were accompanied by a rather active dog that a friend was babysitting, unfortunately we had to keep him on a leash throughout the whole trip as per the parks regulation. It isnt easy training with a jittery dog, luckily he accompanied us for only about an hour or so. There were fleeting sightings of deer.



Endless trails

 At one point the dog (I can't recal his name but it sounded Fresian) dashed into the foliage almost dragging me along with it, turns out he had sighted a deer. Whats more, the dog is a hunting breed by nature and deffinately one to keep an eye on.

This forest/wood was quite pretty and I couldnt help admire the natural flow of things which unlike many woody areas in the Netherlands that I have been in did not have the trees planted in geometrical preciseness of streight lines.

Back home theres good news and theres bad news, the good news is that on the 5 of May, parties to the conflict signed an agreement under the Intergovernmental Authority of Development (IGAD), recommitting to the humanitarian affairs in the cessation of hostilities. The bad news is said talks have now been put on hold due to a supposed insult to the conflicting parties. The term 'stupid' was used by the IGAD mediator and now our president demands an apology.


Thousands of people are dying of starvation and desease within this humanitarian crisis yet ones bruised ego surpasses all this. A halt to the talks on forming an interim government is the most 'stupid' thing I have heard in a while. You can read the story here and here.



A very Gezellig looking cottage in a valley

The right image of a hut in the valley was very ''warm and fuzzy'' one cannot help but fantasize about staying in there, cut off from the world surrounded by tranquility and nature without the sound of an automotive or civilisation for that matter. A love nest or a recluse to write, reflect or paint.

I also noticed the lack of actual dangerouse species, every time an alien bug flies at me I jump, I have to keep reminding myself that this is not Africa where you cannot just dash into the foliage and must keep an eye on what lands on you and what approaches your vacinity. Other than the Adder snake, bees and wasps I'm not sure what other life threatenning wildlife and creatures exist in this cute little country although Wolves are known to stray over from Germany.




A rare Dirt Road

Speaking of wild animals, the conflict back home also takes a toll on our wildlife. Elaphants are being hunted for their flesh as well as their tusks, you can read the sad story here.

Dirt roads are rare here, walking on them always gives me a feeling of being elsewhere as the Netherlands feels like SIM city, everything is you see has been planned, it all looks so perfect to the point where a little ruggedness is always pleasant.

We started walking around 10:20 and arrived at destination at about 20:00. The destination was a friend who had prepared a lovely meal for us in her garden. We had it in the sunlight, speaking of sunlight the days are longer now and sunset is at around 22:00. I find this quite strange to have sunlight all the way to midnight at times here, in South Sudan, sunrise and sunset times donot fluctuate for more that3 to four hours at most (my estimates although for accurate times google shall provide)



More cows

I also noticed an outdoor culture here in the Netherlands, people are always outdoors especially now that summer is upon is. There was a time when I was growing up where the males in our family had to be careful about being outdoors as they may not come back. This is because in Khartoum, forced army recruitment took place. You would be grabbed from the street and put in a truck. The next thing you know, a messenger arrives at your home telling you to collect your familys members body from the morgue, he died fighting for his country in the South!




Another dirt road.

Conscription is now happening in Unity State although there is resistance from many to it. Click here for full story. Fighting for ones country should be voluntary and conscription is a sad reality especially when it involves children as is well put in this story here from World Vision.



As people continue to flee their homes I cant help but wonder how far I would get, they say the human body is capable of enduring harsher conditions, that is true, yet at the end of every training day, the pain cripples and the determination wavers, but then again, I am not running from eminent death nor am I walking in the bush where the threat of wild animals is just as great as the threat of a gunshot wound, rape and countless more horrors. More reason to continue and hope that change is inevitable and all this horror will be over.