English report untill May the 30th

Yesterday, 22 May, Henry walked 28 kilometres in the company of a Frenchman and today another 43. He is now in Vercelli. Altogether, Henry has covered 1,275 kilometres – another 700 lie between him and Rome. Yesterday and today, the road was long and straight with lots of traffic, and rice fields on either side, which made him think of India. But it became deadly boring after a while, making today one of the toughest days so far.He is still walking with the Frenchman but it is doubtful whether they will be together tomorrow. The Frenchman is worn out and doesn’t know whether to continue to Rome. If he decides to keep going, he might be better to rest for a few days first. Henry – a true diehard – will set out again tomorrow as usual.It was difficult finding a place to sleep today. They thought they could spend the night in the town hall, but no luck. The church was closed as well. Fortunately, they managed to find shelter in a nearby village hall.News from the home front:Yesterday, Christien, Henry’s wife, gave a talk about the Child Learn Walk during the Haasdaler Feast Week and raised € 233.00!!!! A huge thank-you goes to Christien on behalf of Child Learn!! Posted by Joyce on Childlearn sponsortocht on 5/30/2008 at 09:00:00


News from the home front:Yesterday, Christien, Henry’s wife, gave a talk about the Child Learn Walk during the Haasdaler Feast Week and raised € 233.00!!!! A huge thank-you goes to Christien on behalf of Child Learn!! Posted by Joyce on Childlearn sponsortocht on 5/30/2008 at 09:05:00


www.childlearn.nl] On 25 May Henry walked 38 kilometres to Pavia and another 4 to the camping site – making a total of 42 kilometres. On 26 May he walked 24 kilometres to Santa Cristina.Henry was again walking alone – along a busy road on 25 May and along a quiet road on 26 May. He has had enough of the Po Valley with its never-ending rice fields. The weather was warm so he decided to ditch the water pan and the gas burner. It made a difference to the weight and it couldn’t rattle any more in his rucksack. So no more tea, coffee or instant soup en route – only water. He doesn’t mind. In any case, he often gets food and refreshments from passers-by. He also has plenty of opportunity to grab something to eat in the evenings (usually pizza). On 25 May he slept in the tent on a camping site and today he has again found a real bed in the church.At this rate, it looks as if Henry will be in Rome by 17 June. And, if everything goes according to plan, he will be back in Schimmert on Saturday 21 June, where a hero’s welcome awaits him.After walking 38 miles on 27 May, Henry arrived in Piacenza, where he slept in the local friary. On 28 May he walked 42 kilometres to Costamen Sadana, this time he slept in an old school.With the weather becoming humid, he was glad to have left the monotonous landscape of the Po Valley and its rice fields. The roads are much quieter. He is now within 500 kilometres of Rome.
Posted by Joyce on Childlearn sponsortocht on 5/30/2008 at 09:06:00

Child Learn Sponsored Walk“Centre of Weert (NL) to Chateau Chiqy in Tazilly/Luzy in the Morvan (FR)”Day 1Weert –Altweerterheide –Beek (B) –Bree –Wijshagen –Plockroy –Houthalen Oost – Houthalen Helchteren. 41 kmDay 2Houthalen Helchteren –Hasselt –Sint Lambrechts Herk –Sint Joris –Sint Truiden. 31 kmDay 3Sint Truiden –Bevingen –Gingelom –Montenaken –Cras Avernas –Trognée –Poucet –Blehen –Lens Saint Rémy –Braives – Oteppe – Burdinne. 32 kmDay 4Burdinne –Vissoul –Hannéche –Forville –Tillier –Waret La Chaussée –Gognelée –Leuze –Daussoulx –Emines –Rhisnes –Suarlée. 32 kmDay 5Suarlée –Floriffoux –Floreffe –Buzet –Boix de Villers –Riviére –Profondeville – Godinne.23 kmDay 6Godinne –Montigny –Saint Gerard –Graux –Florennes –Rosée. 30 kmDay 7Rosée –Vodecée –Villers le Gambon –Merlemont –Villers en Fagne –Cinse Mélot –Matagne La Grande –Chemin du Paradis –Olloy sur Viroin (FR) –Cheraivoic –Olloy sur Virioin –Treinet. 22 kmDay 8Treinet –Oignies en Thierathe –Fumay. 28 kmDay 9Fumay –Revin –Laifour –Monthermé (along the Meuse) 30 kmDay 10Monthermé –Bogny sur Meuse –Joigny sur Meuse –Nouzonville –Charleville Mézières. 24 kmDay 11Charleville Mézières –Le Francheville –Poix Terron –Saint Loup Terrier. 31 kmDay 12Saint Loup Terrier –Guincourt –Saint Lambert et Mont de Jeux – Attigny. 15 kmDay 13Attigny –Mazagran –Sommepy Tahure. 28 kmDay 14Sommepy Tahure –Souain Perthes les Hurlus –Suippes –Saint Étienne au Temple – Châlons en Champagne. 41 kmDay 15Châlons en Champagne –Vatry –Sommesous. 30 kmDay 16Sommesous –Mailly le Camp –Villiers Herbisse –Herbisse –Allibaudières –Arcis sur Aube. 23 kmDay 17Arcis sur Aube –Voué –Aubeterre –Feuges –Pont Sainte Marie (Troyes). 26 kmDay 18Pont Sainte Marie –Saint Parres Aux Tertres –Saint Julien Les Villas –Buchères –Chaource 32 kmDay 19Chaource –Lagesse –Épineuil –Tonnerre. 29 kmDay 20Tonnerre –Yrouerre –Saints Vertu –Nitry –Joux la Ville –Lucy le Bois –Avallon. 52 kmDay 21Avallon –Chastellux –Saint Martin du Puy –Lormes. 29 kmDay 22Lormes –Vauclaix –Montigny en Morvan. 22 kmDay 23Montigny en Morvan –Vaumery –Sermages –Moulins Engilbert. 29 kmDay 24Moulins Engilbert –James –Le Grétaude –Saint Honoré Les Bains –Le Vernay –Sémelay –Avrée –Fléty –Tazilly –Chateau de Chiqy. 35 kmTotal of 717 kilometres covered (including the walk to/from camping site or alternative lodging) in 24 days. Average: 29.88 kilometres a day.Henry Okkersen (Schimmert)Nanning Schotanus (Weert)
Posted by Joyce on Childlearn sponsortocht on 5/30/2008 at 09:09:00

Henry has really been enjoying the walk in the past few days. He left the Po Valley just in time and passed Mont Blanc before the roads were closed due to flooding. The temperature is perfect (23 degrees). On 29 May he arrived in Casio after walking 38 kilometres. He paid € 15.00 for bed and breakfast in a local hostel. The next day he covered 37 kilometres and stopped in Pontremoli. Another 440 kilometres to go. He is now expecting to arrive in Rome on 12 June. He does say that walking alone is lonely and that he misses Nanning, especially in the evenings when he is ready for a chat and a beer. --Posted by Joyce on Childlearn sponsortocht on 5/30/2008 at 09:12:00