About Peter

When did you start planning your trip?

As you know my wife is from the Czech Republic and as we travel to her home in Czech quite often, by coach/car/plane – on one journey while travelling through either Belgium / Germany we were talking about all the wonderful places that we wizz through without ever having the opportunity to be amongst the living air at so many villages / towns, forests and farmlands. One thing led to anther and it was then that an idea was born. Why not walk the route or as near as possible. So this is how it all began about 2 – 3 years ago.

How many miles are you planning to walk?

Well at first I expect I will only be able to manage 10-12 miles, however I anticipate that after my body gets used to the weight and my legs become more attuned to walking daily, I should be able to cover more miles. Naturally on flat land I will tend to do more miles whereas on hilly ground this will slow me up. After all I am 63 years of age and not in my prime.

How many countries are you going to cross?

Well, naturally from my home in Bramford, Ipswich in UK to Dover, then on to Dunkerque, France, into Belgium and then cross the boarder at Aachen into Germany and finally crossing the border at Barnau into The Czech Republic.

When do you plan to arrive?

I should have left my home in May, and then June and finally set the date on 5th July, but due to various pressures and now this accident I will probably not finish the journey this year, however, next year I will do this again as I wish to complete the journey in one attempt.  I have to be back in the UK by 21st September, so not enough time really.

Your wife is from Bosnia?

No as you have now gathered she is from The Czech Republic.

Why by foot? Any particular reason?

A) I believe I have already answered this question. However, I was inspired by one of my friends who walked from The tip of UK (Lands End) to the top of Scotland (John O’Groats). I also have read the book by Satish Kumar, an Indian who walked from India to USA without any money, rucksack, food, drink in fact not anything. Naturally, I am not that brave, but he did this for Peace, in fact he was called the Peace Pilgrim and his book was a great push for me and I so admired this man for his undertaking. So in a way I am on a pilgrimage of my own. I want to be able to watch and listen and smell the world at a walking pace. See wild places, animals, sleep under the stars, watch the sun rise and set, feel the wing and rain on my face, cold and heat. Not just for the day but for all the time I am walking. I want to be alone and know that the universe is looking after me and be at one with all things. Naturally, I owe my wife so much for helping me and standing by my pilgrimage and her support and guidance would rank as the 8th wonder of the world. Without her I don’t believe I could have made this journey. She has much patience with my single mindedness and time I spent planning and talking endlessly about “MY ROUTE”, its a wonder I am still married. God Bless her.

Is this the first hiking trip like this?

Yes and no, not one of this magnitude but I have walk a few miles in the past.

Where do you sleep?

Where I can I try and sleep using the “COUCHSURFING” medium, otherwise, B & B, and where I have no choice just find some spot pitch my tent and sleep and leave early the next morning, leave no trace of my use of the land and God willing hope the owners don’t object.

Is this the first time you ‘couchsurf’?

Yes correct, I never heard of this before, my wife happened to mentioned it and so I registered. I am totally in awe of the goodness and generosity and the amount of great and helpful souls that are in this world. In fact Belgium was the most productive, UK and Czech being the worst I have to say. However, I believe this is because very few people know of this kind of social media in UK or Czech. When I get back we have already agreed to host a woman from Latvia and will open our home to whoever wants to come over, naturally, subject to it being convenient and the right time scale. My marvellous wife again is in agreement.

Do you carry everything in your backpack?

Yes, everything from food, tent, cooking, stove, and of course toilet paper is a must. ha ha 

Is this a sabbatical? What do you do professionally?

To answer this question I have to explain that I had my own company in shipping/forwarding/warehousing/transport and was the MD, over the years I had put a lot of effort into building up the company and at the ripe old age of 60 it was becoming a big burden and my energy and drive was not as it was in my earlier years. I had many peoples livelihood on my shoulders and I also wanted to accomplish this walk. So I basically, handed my company over to someone who was younger and would make sure it continued to survive for the next generation. Naturally, if I am required to assist I would be  able to do so.

Have you already visited Belgium?

Only past through it on numerous occasions.

Which places in Belgium you want to see?

Well all the places / towns/villages on my route which I sent you.

How many days you stay in Belgium?

I am unable to calculate how many days it will take to cross your country, as I know that there are some places which need closer viewing because of the beauty and the people. If I had to give a timescale I suspect it will be a month.

 

Thank you very much!!