After 3 months of hibernation, the preparation for the 2023 season has commenced. Last week was spend in Prémery. The primary goal of the visit was to deliver a new lawn mover that I bought in the Netherlands and to prune the fruit trees. Obviously this had to be done before spring starts. Taking the...

The end of the pilgrim season is already 2 months behind us, but we have not been idle. When we took over the gite in August I had an ambitious list of projects. Few of these are completely finished, but for many the groundwork has been laid. In addition to clearing out the garden, house and sheds, especially...

I am back in the attic in Gorinchem and have just looked at all the photos from the past seven weeks again. You can experience a lot in seven weeks. The photos from August seem from a long time ago now. The seven weeks were exactly the mix I expected; pilgrims who come and go; friends who stay for a...

So, the first month is completed. Great joy, beautiful encounters and a lot of work. Nearly 40 pilgrims stayed at the gite and 7 friends came to help. The month started with the same trio that walked together in 2020: George, Arno and myself, managing the transfer of the gite. George took care of all...

In two days I will be welcoming my first pilgrim guests at Le Coeur du Chemin ! Nervous and excited. I have just finished packing the trailer and car with everything I think I might need. Although the gite “Un Pas à la Fois”, was bought with all its contents it will still be a surprise what will discover....

Yeah ! I become the new owner of the Accueil Pelerins “un Pas a la Fois” ! Two weeks ago, I was not even aware of its existence and next Monday we will travel to France to sign the purchasing documents. Good things come fast. The last months I spent more time on the Le Chemin du Coeur Foundation than...

I’ve been dreading writing this newsletter for three weeks. Why ? Is there anything to report? Are the readers still interested ? Those kinds of questions. I’ve just been on Facebook, the Le Coeur du Chemin account gets congratulations from all kinds of people on his/her first birthday. Yes...

Summer is almost over so time to pick-up activities again. As you might remember I visited France during the first 2 weeks of June, right after the travelling ban had been lifted. During the trip I was able to see about 14 houses/gites in a period of 7 days, scattered along the via Lemovicensis and Via...

Last time I wrote “spring is nearly here and Corona is on the retreat”. Both are still true but everything is taking much longer then anticipated but at least we are moving in the right direction. The same is true with the Pelgrims refuge Le Coeur du Chemin. Also there I am undetermined on the final...

Spring is almost here. We want to be able to enjoy longer days, more pleasant temperatures, the sun and especially nature. Exactly 3 years ago, on this date, I took my first steps on the Camino. I will never forget the goodbye to Liesbeth who was on the quayside, when the ferry sailed across the Merwede...